Sooner or later, you will have to book a hotel. No matter why you need to stay at a hotel, you should be aware of what you need to be looking for. Here are some tips that will prove to be of help.
Online travel sites like Orbitz and Expedia can help you find the lowest rates on hotel rooms. If you have a hotel loyalty program your a part of, be sure you enter this information while looking through rates. Some organizations like AAA and AARP offer lodging discounts for a variety of hotel chains.
Prior to reserving a room at a hotel, look on the Internet for reviews. One great site is TripAdvisor. Reviews allow you to read about recent experiences at a hotel. What people say about their experiences at the hotels you’re thinking of booking can aid you in coming to the right decision.
Room service is one of the best parts about a hotel. How else could you possibly enjoy a midnight snack without leaving your bed? Room service can be expensive, but the luxury of being able to lounge about in your room in your jammies can make it worthwhile.
Be sure to put all valuables, such as jewelry and electronics, in the hotel safe. This safe will store your small important items, such as your iPad, iPod, GPS, jewelry, etc. By doing this, you can keep these items secure and enjoy your day without fretting about someone stealing them.
Use the closet safe to protect your electronics. You can put just about anything in there, as long as it isn’t too big, and you won’t have to worry about it.
Always check for online deals prior to booking your hotel room. The hotel representative is unlikely to inform you there are better deals online. For this reason, making a proactive search is advisable. Websites like TripAdvisor, Expedia, and Jetsetter always have promising bargains for certain hotels that you won’t find anywhere else for a better price.
If you belong to any organizations, check with them for travel deals. Sometimes you can get discounted hotel prices through these organizations. A lot of people don’t use these discounts, and you may save 10% or even more. This can result in significant savings, especially for longer stays. That’s almost an extra free night throughout an entire week.
Know your check-in time in advance. If you show up too early for check-in, then your room may not be ready for you yet. Therefore, if you anticipate arriving early, call the hotel in advance and see if it is possible to check in early.
Prior to making a hotel reservation, check for deals online. Often, the person booking your room won’t tell you about discounts available online. So, it’s up personally to you to go searching for such discounts. Websites like Orbitz, Travelocity and Hotels.com usually have some great discounts.
Although many hotels have certain rooms that allow pets, never assume your hotel will without researching ahead of time. Call and ask before you reserve. Also, find out if there are any size or breed restrictions.
Taking a pet on a trip requires some extra responsibility. Make sure it’s a pet-friendly hotel. You should bring some plastic bags and cleaning supplies to keep the room clean behind your pet. Be kind to other hotel guests by requesting a room that is as far away from other guests as possible, so they won’t be disturbed by any noise your pet may make.
Taking a pet on a trip requires some extra responsibility. First, ensure that the hotel actually allows pets. Pack a supply of plastic grocery bags with you – you will need to clean up any pet waste. See if you can stay in a room toward the end of a hall so your pet does not disturb guests.
If you are an avid jogger, a GPS watch is a great investment so you can always find your way back to your hotel. Also, don’t forget your exercise clothes! For an early morning jog, get up and throw your gear on, and then head out the front door. You’ll get plenty of good exercise and a better understanding of the city around you.
If you want to arrange for a couples massage at your hotel, be sure to book the appointment right away. Many of the top masseuses out there are booked far ahead of time.
If you stay in a particular hotel chain, ask about their membership program. They work a lot like frequent flier miles do with airlines. You earn points in a similar way. In time you may even get to stay there for free!
If you are always staying at the same chain, find out about the programs they offer to frequent guests. Like the programs for frequent flyer, these programs the hotel offer give you points whenever you stay with them. They will get you discounts on the hotel restaurants, spa deals, and just a number of great stuff.
If you are an environmentally conscious traveler, you should look into “green” hotels. There are many hotels that feature green amenities. There are newer hotels that were built to be environmentally friendly. Some older hotels simply choose a variety of eco-friendly practices to be environmentally aware. You can ask a travel agent to pinpoint eco-friendly hotels, thus making sure your vacation doesn’t hurt the environment.
If you do a great deal of traveling, consider joining hotel chain loyalty programs. Each hotel stay can accrue points towards vacation perks.
What you will be charged for a room, depends on when it’s booked. Hotels price their rooms based on how many rooms are available. Try to book a specific room at least 24 hours ahead of time, but it’s even better if you book weeks ahead of schedule. This will get you the best hotel rates. The hotel will earn no money at all if the room is empty, which gives you a much better bargaining position.
Get an AAA membership for hotel perks when you travel. AAA members not only get discounts at many hotel chains, it will also make it much easier to rent a car. It is definitely worth looking into.
To make sure you don’t have an unexpected expense, ask about how much hotel transfers will cost. Hidden transfer costs can really make a room not worth it. You save the most money when you ask about this beforehand.
Steer clear of long distance calls while in a hotel. Look to the Internet, instead. Most hotels offer Wi-Fi, but you will probably need their password and may have to pay a fee to use this service. Use these types of services to keep in contact with loved ones back home instead of having exorbitant charges added to your bill from the costly phone calls.
Maximize your hotel stays with membership programs like the ones that Marriott or Choice Hotels offer. These points can translate into some major perks when you’re vacationing.
If you smoke, it is important to know what the hotel’s smoking policy is before you book your room. Many have designated nonsmoking rooms. If this is what you’re looking for, inquire about these rooms. If they find you have smoked in a non-smoking area, they may charge you a fine.
Do not make long distance calls from your hotel room. Try using the Internet instead to stay in touch. Some hotels now provide Skype via Wi-Fi. This is much cheaper than paying for a bunch of long distance calls from your hotel room.
Always review the policy of whether or not the hotel allows pets. If you fear pets or have allergies it may be best to make reservations at hotels that have a strict no pets policy. Hotel floors and linens can glean unpleasant odors from pets. While some hotels charge fees for pets, they don’t always charge a lot. The fee may cover the extra cleaning or it may not, it all depends on the hotel in question.
Make sure to ask up front if the hotel allows smoking or does not. If you’re someone who doesn’t like cigarette smoke, you may want to find a different hotel. While it is possible to book a nonsmoking room, you can still be affected by the smoke from other areas. There are times when smokers end up staying in non-smoking rooms, and smoking in them. If you just can’t stand the smell of stale smoke, look for a hotel that doesn’t allow it at all.
As you know, everyone has a time when they need a good hotel to rest and relax in. Regardless of your reason, you will enjoy your stay more if you book knowledgeably. Use the tips you learn here and do a more research at specific hotel sites. Getting the right room can make your travel plans more enjoyable.
Always find out the pet policy at any hotel you stay at. If you fear pets or have allergies it would be best if you make reservations at hotels that have a strict no pets policy. Hotels that allow pets typically have rooms that have a pet odor in them. While some hotels charge fees for pets, they don’t always charge a lot. Depending on the hotel, that fee may or may not be enough to cover extra cleaning.