Choose A Great Hotel Every Time You Vacation

Hotels may be something you need at some point in life. Many people are disappointed with their hotel because they didn’t research prior to making reservations. You have found the right place. This article will give you some great tips to improve your stay during your next vacation.

Be sure to read online review websites prior to booking a hotel. These provide you with first-hand information about people’s recent experiences at each hotel. What people say about a hotel can help you figure out where you should be staying.

TIP! Make sure you check out online review websites prior to making a reservation for a hotel. Websites like TripAdvisor will give you some first-hand accounts of hotel experience from actual customers.

You can find good deals on hotels if you go online travel sites out there. If you belong to a hotel’s loyalty program, put your information in. You may also be able to get good discounts through AAA or AARP.

To keep your electronics safe when you are out of the hotel room, use the safe that you’ll find in your closet. Valuables can be placed there with confidence, allowing you to enjoy your day without worries.

TIP! If you wish to keep things safe in a hotel, use the hotel’s safe that’s in the closet of your room. Putting these items in the safe ensures that you can go out and have fun, not worrying about what you’ve left in the room.

Consider ordering room service when the urge strikes for a late-night snack with your special meal without needing to go out. Although you’ll probably pay more, it’s usually worth the cost because you have the luxury of receiving excellent food without having to leave your hotel room.

You want to look at a number of different things when booking a hotel stay. Your budget comes first, but proximity to attractions is also important. Amenities such as complimentary WiFi, free local calls, complimentary breakfast, a gym and pool and a convenient restaurant are also important considerations. Seek out hotels that offer amenities that appeal to you.

TIP! You want to look at a number of different things when booking a hotel stay. Price is always important, of course, but you might also want to find a hotel near a certain attraction or business.

Use online hotel search tools online. These websites can help you find great deals.

Prior to booking your hotel room, search the Internet for deals. Usually, when you try to book a room over the phone, the clerk will not let you know that there is a better deal online. It is your responsibility to scour the Internet for these savings. Sites, such as Jetsetter, will let you know of any discounts available.

TIP! Always look for deals online when reserving a hotel room. You might not learn from the person on the phone that you can actually get great discounts over the Internet, instead.

Always look for online deals before booking your hotel room. This is why you to search for discounts yourself. Check out websites like SniqueAway, RueLaLaTravel, or RueLaLaTravel.

Check your room when you arrive. Is the room mildew-free and otherwise clean? Do the sink, shower and toilet work properly? Are all the towels you’ll need present in the room? If you have any questions or notice any problems with the room, immediately call the front desk and report them so that they may be handled. You may also asked to be transferred to a new room if the problem is serious, such as mold or mildew.

TIP! Check your room when you arrive. Is the room mildew-free and otherwise clean? Do the plumbing fixtures function properly? Are there enough of the right linens? If you see any issues, be sure to tell the front desk.

Check your hotel room ahead of unpacking. Is the room clean? Do you see any mold or mold? Are linens and towels you’ll need present in ample supply? If you notice a problem, let the person at the front desk know so they can help you sort it out or give you a better room.

Don’t assume your hotel is pet-friendly. Call the hotel in advance to ensure the hotel is pet friendly. Always ask about what exactly a pet-friendly policy entails, as there could still be limits on breeds and sizes.

TIP! Never assume that all hotels are pet-friendly. Always call to ask, even if it says pet-friendly online.

Don’t make the assumption that all hotels will be pet friendly.

Be sure to consult AAA to help you make excellent plans for your entire vacation. AAA members actually receive hotel discounts at specific hotel chains! You can save more than five percent on hotels all over the country. Those discounts add up to great savings, especially if you will be having an extended stay.

TIP! If you are an AAA member, check into your membership hotel discount. It may surprise you that AAA gives hotel discounts, but most of them do.

There are three different things you have to do before taking your pet on a trip. Be sure that this hotel really does allow pets. Be sure to have plenty of plastic bags with you so you can pick up your pet’s waste.

Sign up for frequent guest programs at hotels. You should be able to earn points every time you are visiting one of the hotels. These points can add up to hotel restaurant discounts, spa deals, free nights and much more.

TIP! If you stay in a particular hotel chain, ask about their membership program. Similar to frequent flyer programs with an airline company, hotel programs will typically give you points for each visit.

If you are an AAA member, look into hotel discounts included. You might be surprised to learn that your membership to the auto club includes discounts on hotels. You can save 5 percent or even more on hotels in the country. These savings can really add up.

Choose a green vacation if you care for the environment. Luckily, you can choose from quite a few green hotels these days. Some hotels are certified to be green. Also, older hotels often make several changes to become eco-friendly. Ask your travel agent to help you identify environmentally friendly hotels.

TIP! If you are worried about the environment, consider taking a “green” vacation. There are several green hotels around.

Hotel Restaurants

If you wish to get a lot out of a hotel stay, especially if you’re traveling for your business, get a membership program and join it like what the Marriott or Choice Hotels offers. Every stay in a particular hotel chain where you are a member will add points to your total, which can later be used on free rooms or amenities that usually cost you.

TIP! To get optimal value from a hotel stay, especially if you find yourself traveling a lot for your business, sign up for membership programs such as those offered by Marriott or Choice Hotels. When you do, you get points every time you stay at a hotel.

If you tend to return to the same family of hotels for your vacation, see if they have frequent stay programs you can become a member of. These programs give you rack up points. They add up to free nights, discounts at hotel restaurants, spa deals, hotel restaurants discounts and much more.

When you travel, go through AAA to find hotel accommodations easier.` Hotel and rental car discounts are available to AAA members. In addition, free car seats are usually provided, which parents are certain to enjoy.

TIP! Become a AAA member if you want to make arranging hotel accommodations a bit simpler. Members of AAA receive many travel benefits including reduced hotel rates and lower car rental rates.

Get an AAA membership to facilitate the process of booking a hotel perks when you travel. Parents with young children will probably like the complimentary car seat that’s provided for free in a lot of locations.

Always avoid making long distance calls from your hotel room. Make use of the Internet, instead. With a Wi-Fi connection, you can use Skype for your calls. But the Internet is infinitely useful while traveling so it is usually worth it.

TIP! Try not to make any long-distance calls from your hotel room. You can use the Internet to make these types of calls.

Don’t make long distance calls from your hotel phone. Many hotels now offer Skype connections on their Wi-Fi.You will be able to stay connected with people back home by using this instead of making expensive long distance calls from your hotel phone.

If you are traveling with children, be sure the hotels you book have clean swimming pools that are up and running. There is nothing worse than arriving at your destination anxiously looking forward to splashing around in the pool, only to find that it is closed.

TIP! If you are bringing your kids along for the trip, then it’s a good idea to call a hotel in advance and make sure they have working pools. It can prove rather frustrating when you check in to your room with the kids screaming “pool” only to find out it’s closed.

It is extremely frustrating for you check in to your room with the kids screaming “pool” only to discover that there are none.

When you first arrive, inspect your hotel room’s bathroom. Bedbugs usually won’t stay here. This is the best place to put your bags while you look around. It is usually a convenient place for young children to sit for a moment too.

TIP! When you feel the need to check the room in your hotel for signs of bed bugs, begin in the bathroom. This is where you are least likely to find bedbugs.

Check if your prospective hotel you’re looking to stay at is non-smoking or smoking. If you do not smoke, you probably want to avoid staying in a smoking room. Smokers don’t always respect the fact that you are not supposed to smoke in.

Check if a hotel you’re looking to stay at is non-smoking or smoking. If you are a nonsmoker, you may want to avoid hotels that offer smoking rooms. Even if you reserve a non-smoking room, the smell of smoke can circulate through the hotel’s air vents and cause your clothes to pick up the odor. Even if a room is designated as nonsmoking, sometimes people smoke in there anyway. To avoid the experience of breathing in smoke during your stay, try to stay in a hotel that doesn’t allow smoking.

TIP! Look into the smoking policies in the hotel you are considering. If you are not a smoker, you might want to avoid hotels with smoking rooms.

Be sure you understand your hotel’s smoking policy is if you smoke. Many hotels set aside certain rooms for smokers. Ask for those rooms if any of these are available. Some hotels charge large penalties if they find that smoking occured in a room not designated for it, so make sure you understand and follow the hotel’s smoking policy.

GUests should be aware whether or not the hotel allows pets. If you have an allergy, or you just don’t like dogs, it may not be in your best interest to book a hotel that lets guests bring their pets. These hotels might also suffer from odors sinking into the floor and bed linens. Some hotels charge extra fees for pets, but some do not charge much. It does take extra effort and expense to take care of pets issues and some hotels do not take the time necessary.

TIP! Be sure you understand the pet policy of the hotel. If you dislike or are allergic to pets, you should avoid hotels allowing them.

You should be aware that early check-ins to hotels are not always possible. Plan your trip right or you might end up waiting in the lobby for hours. Hotels need to get the room cleaned and prepare your room. If you do happen to arrive early, ask the front desk to make an exception, but this should not be expected.

It may come as a shock to you, but most hotels don’t allow you to check-in early. Plan for this, or you may risk waiting in the hotel lobby for an hour or more. The room must be cleaned and prepared so the next guest can check in. If you do arrive early, ask the desk clerk if it’s possible to check in early, but don’t necessarily expect it.

TIP! You should understand that early check-ins to hotels are not usually possible. Be sure you plan according to this rule unless you desire to sit in the lobby for quite some time.

Never actually check out before the departure date unless it is absolutely necessary. The hotel could impose a fee for early departure. When you make your reservation, the hotel takes that room off the market; thus, so they lose money if you leave early.

Try to avoid checking out of the hotel ahead of your scheduled checkout time. Hotels often charge early departure fees. You reserve a room when you book it, so if you leave early they lose money. To earn back this money they will lose, they charge you an additional departure fee.

TIP! Never actually check out before the departure date unless it’s an emergency. If you do, then you could be charged an extra departure fee for early checkout.

Avoid sleeping under the hotel bedspread.The top bedspread usually get washed between bookings. This bedspread is where you would find the comforter has tons of germs and bacteria. Remove the blanket from the bed.

If you are concerned about germs, you might want to take the bedspread off of the bed. Although hotels will wash the sheets that lie underneath the bedspread, the bedspread itself is not typically washed. This means they may be a hotbed of germs. Just get that blanket off of the bed.

TIP! If you are concerned about good hygiene, do not use the bedspread given to you by the hotel. Hotel sheets are laundered daily; however, bedspreads are not.

Don’t drink the bottled water and open it! You will likely to be tired and thirsty when finally arriving to a hotel. You may decide to reach for that bottle of water beckoning on the mini fridge. Hotels are aware of this and charge more for bottled water. You might be able to get bottled water for free in the gym. A better idea is to bring your own bottled water.

You can get some money saved if you book a flight and hotel at the same time. Often travel websites provide greater discounts for package deals. You can make the most of this deal by comparing rates across several websites.

TIP! It is possible to save money on travel by getting a package deal on your flight and hotel. A lot of travel online sites feature serious savings for anyone who bundles things together.

Do not take the hotel’s linens with you when you leave.

Don’t book your hotel during peak periods. This is the highest time for rates. Book your rooms at a time when the hotel is off-season and they’re desperate to attract new guests. You chance of getting a discount is much greater.

TIP! You can save money by not booking a hotel room during tourist season. This is when rates are highest.

You can get some money saved if you book your flight and hotel at the same time. Travel websites offer big savings to people who book both your flight and hotel.

If you want an upgrade, use an approach that may snag it for free. The best way to do this is by showing up at the exact time that you are scheduled to check in. A lot of the times your room may not be ready yet so they’ll give you a deal on a different room that’s better for free.

TIP! You can actually get a room upgrade without paying a dime. You can be sure of this by being on time to accept your hotel booking.

In summary, hotel stays are often necessary. If you do not do proper research, you could end up with a room that is unacceptable. Now that you know what to look for, you can make sure that you book the best hotel possible.

Some rooms will have better views than others. If the prices are not changed by the view, ask for a room with a better one. Little things like this can make your hotel stay more pleasant. It doesn’t hurt to ask if a better view is available.

TIP! Not all hotel rooms provide the same views. If you do not have to pay more for a room with a good view, ask for one.