Staying In A Hotel? Read This First!

/ Hotels / By

Have you always wanted to get a hotel room without having to go through the hassle that is usually involved? The reason is because you will learn about booking the basics of a hotel. Continue reading if you are ready to learn more about it.

To get the very best prices for the hotels that you’d like to visit, use travel sites online like Orbitz and Expedia. When making hotel reservations, be sure to include information regarding hotel loyalty programs in which you may hold membership. You may also be eligible for other discounts through any memberships you have with organizations such as AAA and AARP.

TIP! Use Orbitz or Expedia to find a great deal. Input your loyalty info when you are looking for rates online.

Check online reviews before booking your stay. This will give you first-hand accounts of people’s experiences in each hotel. What others say will help you in coming to the right decision.

If you belong to any organizations, check with them for travel deals. Many of them offer hotel discounts to members. Discounts of 10% or more are often available, and people sometimes forget that they are eligible to claim them. You end up with an even bigger savings if your hotel stay is going to be for multiple nights. This adds up to a night’s stay that is almost free.

TIP! Make sure you check with any organizations of which you are a member. Do they offer hotel discounts? Some of these discounts can be pretty substantial, but many people don’t take advantage of them.

You can stash your expensive items in the hotel safe.

There are many different things to consider as you search for a hotel to stay in. The location of the hotel may be just as important than the price. Amenities like a swimming pool, a gym, free local calls or breakfast, and other amenities may be things that you prefer. Choose an establishment that offers the amenities you desire.

TIP! When booking a hotel, you need to establish what you need and what you would ideally like from your stay. Price is always a big factor, but you also need a hotel that’s geographically proximate to your target destinations.

Free Local Calls

Prior to booking your hotel room, search the Internet for deals. Sometimes, the person at the hotel desk might forget to mention a discount for booking online. It is your responsibility to find these discounts. Use websites such as Jetsetter, SniqueAway or RueLaLaTravel.

TIP! Check online for great hotel deals. Sometimes, the person at the hotel desk might forget to mention a discount for booking online.

There are things you should consider when choosing a hotel. Amenities such as complimentary WiFi, free local calls, free local calls or breakfast, and other amenities may be things that you prefer. Try locating a hotel that offers as much of your desired amenities as is realistic.

Don’t unpack upon arrival without checking your hotel room first. Your room should definitely be neat and should not have any odd smells, suspicious stains or mildew. Do the sink, shower and toilet work properly? Are there enough linens and towels? If you spot any problems, immediately notify the hotel staff so they can fix it or move you to another room.

TIP! Always check the room before you begin to unpack your belongings. Is it clean? Are all bathroom fixtures in proper working order? Is the room adequately stocked with towels and linens? This quick check can keep you from discovering a problem later, after you have unpacked and all other good rooms are taken.

Check out your hotel room ahead of unpacking. Is it without mildew and sanitary? Are linens and towels? If you notice a problem, make the front desk aware immediately so they can take care of it or move you to a room that meets your needs.

Use your AAA discount at hotels. It may come as a surprise to find that an auto club membership offers hotel discounts, but that is the case. You can save 5 percent or more motels and hotels in the US. This can add up in time!

TIP! If you’re a member of the AAA, you should see what your hotel membership discount will be. You may not know that your membership to the auto club includes discounts on hotels.

Know your check-in time is. Some people end up waiting for their room is still not ready. Call and ask if you to arrive before check-in.

Pack your GPS and running clothes while on vacation. When you wake up and feel like a jog, simply toss on your gear and head out. Even if you stick to city streets, you will gain a better perspective on your destination city before you leave.

TIP! To keep your running regimen up while you are traveling, pack your GPS watch and plenty of running clothes. Jogging around the city before you start your day will add enjoyment to your vacation.

Plan your trip in advance as possible.Many locations offer the best discounts if you book a month or two ahead of time. You may even be able to cut the room’s typical rates.

If you tend to return to the same family of hotels for your vacation, consider joining their membership reward programs. These are similar to frequent flyer programs, offering points each time you stay at a particular chain. You can exchange these points for discounts and freebies at the hotel and its restaurant. You may also be able to use them on local amenities.

TIP! If you tend to stay at the same hotel a lot, see about signing up for their frequent guest program. Just like frequent flyer mile programs, these hotel programs offer you points for your stay.

Do not make the assumption that each hotel welcomes pets.

How much you’re going to pay for your hotel room will depend on when your room is booked. Rooms are typically priced according to availability. Whenever you can, don’t book your hotel room until the last 24 hours. This will get you the very best rate on your hotel room. The hotel is not going to make any money on a room that is unoccupied, which is why the reduce the price.

TIP! The time you book the room will change how much you’ll pay. Rooms in hotels are often priced based on their availability.

If you care quite a bit about your environment, then you may be interested in taking a “green” vacation. The great thing is there are plenty of “green” hotels you can select from. Some newer hotels have been built green standards in mind. Some older hotels that aren’t that new will pick out some ways to be more eco-friendly so they can show they care. Talk to your travel agent to find green hotels.

Be sure to avoid hotel transfer fees by asking about them in advance. You don’t want to ruin the deal you are getting on your room by paying for an expensive transfer. Be sure and inquire about this beforehand so that you get your savings.

TIP! In order to avoid an unwanted expense on the hotel bill, inquire about any hotel transfer fees prior to booking them. Particularly when the room price is a big deal, the hidden fee of transfer often can be the difference.

The cost of your hotel room largely depends on the dates on which you pay. Rooms are often priced based on availability. This gives you the best hotel rates.

To get the most out of your hotel stays, particularly if you travel a great deal for business, join a membership program such as that offered by Choice Hotels or Marriott. This allows you to earn points each time you book a room. You can use these points to purchase perks in the future.

TIP! Join a membership program if you travel frequently. 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.

Be sure you know the cost associated with hotel transfer fees by asking about them in advance. If you are getting a very low price on the room, these types of hidden charges can sometimes surface. You will save the most money when you ask about this beforehand.

Become a AAA member if you want to make arranging hotel accommodations a bit simpler. You’ll get discounts on hotel rooms, easier car rentals and more benefits. If you are a parent of a young child, you may even be provided with a free car seat.

TIP! One way to get discounts on hotel rooms is to join AAA. Not only do AAA members get hotel discounts at many chains that are well worth the AAA membership, but you can find it a lot easier to find a rental car where you go.

Try to avoid long distance calls from your hotel rooms. Many hotels now offer Skype connections on their Wi-Fi.This saves you converse with those back home without racking up a ton of money.

Find out what the policy on pets is. People who are allergic to pets obviously want to avoid pet-friendly hotels. Hotels that allow pets typically have rooms that have a pet odor in them. Some hotels charge extra fees for pets, but some do not charge much. In fact, the extra charge for pets might not even cover the costs of cleaning; therefore, you should make sure you know all this ahead of time.

TIP! Know what the pet policy is before you book. If you fear pets or have allergies it may be best to make reservations at hotels that have a strict no pets policy.

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

Do not check out prior to your agreed upon departure date if you can avoid it. This could result in a charge for early departure. Booking that room means it wasn’t available when others were reserving. To earn back this money they will lose, they charge you an additional departure fee.

TIP! Avoid leaving your hotel before your scheduled date of departure. The hotel may charge a fee for early departure.

Check to see if a hotel you’re looking to stay at is non-smoking or smoking. If you don’t smoke, a smoking room may be unappealing. Smokers also sometimes smoke in rooms that the room they are not supposed to smoke in.

Avoid using the hotel bedspread. The top bedspread usually isn’t cleaned as often as the sheets or blankets underneath. This means they may be a hotbed of germs. For your health’s sake, remove the bedspread.

TIP! For hygienic purposes, you may want to avoid using the bedspread that the hotel provides. While sheets and linens are always washed, the topmost bedspread may not be, depending on the hotel policy.

Be sure you understand your hotel’s smoking policy if you smoke cigarettes.A lot of places have specific rooms designated for smokers. Ask to see if you are available. If you smoke in a room designated as non-smoking, they may charge you a fine.

Don’t open the bottled water! You may arrive at your destination exhausted and thirsty. As a result, you likely want to purchase that bottle of water you see sitting on the counter. Hotels are well aware of this, and the bottled water they provide is far more costly than it is elsewhere. Some hotels offer complementary bottles of water in their gyms. It’s best to simply pack your own bottled water.

TIP! Do not open the bottled water in your hotel room. After checking into your room you will probably feel exhausted and thirsty.

Find out how the policy on pets is. These hotels might also suffer from odors because the carpet and bed linens.Some hotels charge extra fees for pets, while other hotels will add a hefty fee for keeping a pet. The fee charged may be for any cleaning needed to completely remove the odors.

You can often save money if you book your flight and hotel at the same time. It is not unusual for travel websites to provide large savings when a hotel is booked along with a rental car or a flight. You can make the most of this deal by comparing rates across several websites.

TIP! Booking your flight and hotel at the same time may save some travel expenses. Many times, travel websites offer discounts for booking the hotel, flight and rental car at the same time.

You should be aware that you generally aren’t going to be able to do an early check-in at a hotel. Plan your trip right or you don’t want to wait. Hotels need to get a room so it is ready for you to check in. If you do get to the hotel early, ask the desk clerk if it’s possible to check in early, but don’t necessarily expect it.

If you would like to pay less when staying at a hotel, don’t book during peak season. This is the highest time for rates. Hotels are looking to increase occupancy during off-season months and this is the ideal time to book a room. You are more likely to find a great rate.

TIP! You can get a cheaper price on a nice hotel if you book during their slow times of the year. Rooms typically cost the most during this time.

Not every hotel chains do offer these and those that will often have a very limited supply. Talk about these issues as you make your room.

If you want an upgrade, try to get one for free. You can do this by going at the precise check-in time. Quite often, your room has not been cleaned yet, so you may be able to get an upgraded room at no extra charge.

TIP! If you want an upgrade, try to get one for free. To help you get an upgrade, arrive at the front desk at check-in time.

Never check out earlier than your scheduled departure date unless it’s an emergency. The hotel could impose a fee if you an early departure fee. When you make your reservation, the hotel takes that room off the market; thus, if you depart early they will lose money.

If you need to reserve a hotel room while you are traveling, you can find some helpful information at welcome centers, gas stations and rest stops with valuable discounts. This will save you time and money.

TIP! If you need to book a hotel room while already traveling, check gas stations or rest areas for free pamphlets containing maps of the area and information about local services. This way you can just call ahead to book a room instead of driving around looking for a good bargain.

Avoid using the bedspread. The bedspread usually isn’t washed between bookings. It could have acquired a carrier of invisible germs and germs. Just make sure you remove it from the bedspread.

You can help ensure your stay is pleasant by tipping appropriately. If you order room service, you should probably tip, for example. The tips you hand out at the hotel ensures you are respected and liked.

TIP! Tipping hotel staff can ensure you have a more pleasant stay. Room service should get a tip, but maid service shouldn’t.

Hotel Rates

The price that the hotel advertises is usually not something you should pay. The advertised price is known as the rack rate. If you are a savvy traveler, then you can get away without paying as much. It is just assumed that a hotel will let you haggle over a better price. All you have to do is call the hotel you like and ask them for an exceptionally great deal. Fortune favors the bold. Various travel sites offer deep discounts.

TIP! Never let a hotel charge you the advertised rates. They call this the “rack rate,” which most travelers know not to pay.

You will be able to get better hotel rates when you don’t book during the off season. This is the highest time that hotel rates are at their highest. You chance of getting a much better price.

Watch out for hidden fees if you are using a site other than that of the hotel’s to make your reservations. There are times when the price you are quoted does not show the extra charges. Reading through the fine print will help you figure out what kind of charges you’re paying when you book your hotel.

TIP! When you make your hotel reservations online via a third party site, watch out for surcharges and fees. Many times the quotes you are given do not reflect all of the charges.

After reading this article, you should understand how to book a room and enjoy your stay. Hotel reservations aren’t all that complicated once you master the knowledge of this article. Be patient and you will find what you need.

There may be lack of consistency in the quality of individual hotels in a particular chain. A good experience at a hotel in one city does not mean a hotel in the same chain in another city will give a good experience. The best thing to do is check the ratings of each individual hotel to avoid any unpleasant surprises.

TIP! Hotel chains may have inconsistent quality in each establishment. A good experience at a hotel in one city does not mean a hotel in the same chain in another city will give a good experience.