Getting a hotel booked can be hard when you know that there are so many price options, amenities and locations. So doing a bit of research beforehand is essential. Write down what you want and how much you are willling to pay, then start planning. Put these tips to use, and you can have the best hotel stay ever.
Think about using room service if you want to enjoy late-night dining without needing to leave your hotel room. It may cost more, but it’s convenient when you don’t feel like leaving.
Prior to choosing and reserving a hotel room, check review sites online like TripAdvisor or Expedia. These websites have reviews and comments from people who have recent experience with their stay. What people say about a hotel can help you figure out where you should be staying.
Take advantage of the safe you have in your room, especially if you have electronics with you. You can place your small, expensive items such as your iPad in the safe, so you can enjoy your day knowing they are safe and secure.
Find great hotel room prices by checking out travel websites like Orbitz and Expedia. If you are in a hotel loyalty program, put your information in. You may also be eligible for deals that are offered to members of certain organizations, like AAA or AARP.
Consider the benefits of any organization memberships you have. You may be able to receive discounts on hotel through these organizations. Some discounts can be over ten percent! These discounts can save you quite a bit of cash, particularly if your stay involves several nights. For a week of vacation time that adds up to an extra day!
If you want a nice meal at night with your special someone, and you are too comfortable in your room to go out, order some food through room service. Sure, it might cost a bit more, but it is completely worth it to be able to kick back and relax, while your food comes to you.
Know the hotel’s check-in time. Some people neglect asking what the check-in time is and get to the hotel when their room is still not ready. If you anticipate arriving early, check with the hotel to find out if your room will be ready.
Check your hotel room prior to unpacking. Your room should definitely be neat and should not have any odd smells, suspicious stains or mildew. Does the plumbing work right? Make sure you have the linens, bath supplies and towels that you will need. If you see that there are problems with your room, let the people at the front desk know right away so they can get things taken care of. Or, they can move you to another room.
In order to save money on hotel stays, book far in advance. A lot of hotel locations offer discounts for reservations a month or more in advance. This will allow you to save up to 50 percent even when staying at an elite hotel.
Don’t assume a hotel is pet-friendly. Call and ask before you reserve. Verify exactly what is meant by “pet-friendly” since certain breeds and pets over a certain size may not be allowed.
If you need to have a pet stay with you in your hotel room, do a few things ahead of time. First, you’ll need to find out if a hotel is even pet-friendly. Make sure you bring along plenty of plastic bags to dispose of any pet waste. When you make your reservation, request accommodations near the very end of the floor in order to not disturb other guests.
There are three things you must do before bringing your pet along on your vacation. You want to ensure you’ve chosen a pet-friendly hotel. Bring along lots of plastic bags for clean ups. Ask for a corner room since this can reduce the number of guests disturbed by a noisy pet.
If you want to have a massage with your partner on your vacation, make sure that you schedule an appointment with a masseuse as early as possible. Frequently, the most skilled massage specialists at the best hotels are reserved by name, so when you plan ahead, you can get the best.
If you want to get your daily runs in while on vacation, make sure to bring your running gear with you. Try enjoying an early jog at your new destination. This can be a great way to stay in shape while seeing some of the local scenery. Running down city streets or country roads can give you a fresh view of the place you are visiting.
If you enjoy a morning run, try booking a hotel room that’s near the beach or an open park. In this way, you can simply suit up and enjoy your workout as usual while on the road. Spending time on the road with your own two feet will give you a perspective that you’ll never get while riding in a car.
If you often stay at the same hotel chain, check to see if they offer membership to frequent stay programs. Similar to frequent flyer programs, hotels have programs that add points on to your account each time you stay with them. They will get you discounts on the hotel restaurants, spa deals, and just a number of great stuff.
How much your hotel room will cost depends largely on the time you book. Hotel rooms are priced based on how many are available. If you can, make your reservation no earlier than 24 hours before you arrive. This will get you a great price on your room. Hotels don’t earn money on empty rooms, so they are often willing to reduce the price.
Inquire about the price of a transfer before you place a booking. If the rooms are cheap, the transfer could ruin the deal. You will save more by asking about such a thing in advance.
You should always find out how much hotel transfers will cost before you book a room. You don’t want to ruin the deal you are getting on your room by paying for an expensive transfer. If you know this upfront, you can save more money.
Join the hotel’s membership program if you frequently stay there on business trips. These programs allow you to collect points that can be applied toward further travels.
If you travel frequently, you can maximize your hotel benefits by looking into reward programs from large hotel chains. That way, each time you stay, you accrue points that you can turn into vacation freebies when it’s time to take the family on an adventure.
Making a long distance call from a hotel room should be avoided. Instead, use the Internet. Skype connections that are accessed through Wi-Fi are offered by many hotels. 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.
Get an AAA membership for hotel perks when you travel. 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. Those with youngsters will be grateful for the free car seats.
Ask if there is smoking allowed in the hotel. If you’re not a smoker, a smoking room may be unappealing. Even if you book a non-smoking room, smoke can enter your room through air vents. 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.
Inquire if the hotel is a non-smoking hotel. If you are not a smoker, you probably want to avoid staying in a smoking room. The smoke flows through the hotel and can stick to you. Sometimes, smokers rent non-smoking rooms because that is all that is available, and then they smoke in them anyway. If you don’t want to smell like cigarettes after leaving your hotel room, you might want to look for a non-smoking hotel.
As you can tell, you can ensure booking a good hotel room by following the correct tips. Use these tips to your advantage. You’ll be comfortable and won’t overspend.
If you smoke, be aware of the hotel policy with regard to smoking. Many hotels have rooms designated for smokers. If this is what you’re looking for, inquire about these rooms. If you smoke in one of the hotel’s non-smoking room, you can be charged hefty fees.