Read on to learn how you can find a great hotel.
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 prices by checking out travel sites like Orbitz and Expedia.If you have a hotel loyalty program your a part of, make sure you input that data when checking out rates. You may also be eligible for other discounts through AAA or AARP.
There are several things you should consider when booking a hotel. The location of the hotel may be just as important than the price. For example, you might want a room that is in walking distance to gym, or a hotel that has free Wi-Fi. Choose a hotel that meets all of your needs.
You can stash your expensive electronics and jewelry in the hotel safe.
Checking online is the best way to find a good price and get the information that you need about hotels. Often, the reservations clerk will not advise you that a better deal is available online. This is why you should look for discounts yourself. Sites, such as Jetsetter, will let you know of any discounts available.
Check with the organizations that you’re a member of. Some offer big discounts on hotels. People often forget about these discounts, and they can be 10 percent or more. It can add up to almost a free night!
When you get to your hotel room, look over the room before unpacking. Is the room mildew-free and otherwise clean? Do the plumbing fixtures function properly? Do you have enough towels and linens? If you notice a problem, be sure to inform the front desk right away to have these problems resolved.
Know your check-in time is. Some people neglect asking what the check-in time is and get to the hotel when their room to be available because they forget to check this critical detail.Call the front desk to find out if you think you’ll be early.
Make certain you know when your check-in time is. Many people forget the time, then they show up early and the room isn’t ready yet. Therefore, if you anticipate arriving early, call the hotel in advance and see if it is possible to check in early.
Do not make the assumption that each hotel welcomes pets.
Plan your trip as far in advance as you can to ensure best rates. A lot of places will give you a discount if you’re going to book about a month or so in advance. Some of the most popular hotel chains can end up giving you up to 50 percent in savings.
If you’re a member of the AAA, ask about a hotel discount. You might be surprised where hidden discounts may be lurking. You may be able to save 5 percent at hotels nationwide. This really add up over several nights.
If you need to travel with your pet, you need to make three advance preparations. Be sure that this hotel will be friendly to pets. Also, take a good supply of plastic bags, such as grocery bags, to clean up after your pet. Reserving a room near the end of a hallway will keep other guests from being disturbed by your pet.
Spa Deals
If you belong to the AAA, see what kinds of discounts the hotel offers. You may not have known that, but it’s true. You can save five percent or more on certain hotels. It really is a savings that adds up over time.
If you go to the same hotel often, find out about the programs they offer to frequent guests. These programs give you points for each stay. They can amount to show tickets, free nights, spa deals, spa deals and a whole lot more.
Join a frequent customer program if you stay at the same hotel chain a lot. Many hotels offer membership programs that allow you to earn points for each of your stays. They will get you discounts on the hotel restaurants, spa deals, and just a number of great stuff.
Join a membership program to get deals on your stays. These programs allow you to collect points can be applied toward further travels.
Inquire about the price of a transfer before you place a booking. If you are getting a very low price on the room, it is especially important that you ask about any hidden fees that might be tacked onto your bill. Ask the hotel representative ahead of time to make sure you get the most savings.
Get an AAA membership for hotel when you travel. Parents of younger children will appreciate the free car seat provided in some locations.
For those frequent travelers, it may be better to build loyalty and perks by joining the membership club of your favorite hotel. This allows you to earn point you can redeem for vacation freebies for you and your family.
Don’t make any long distance in your hotel room. Many hotels now offer Skype connections on their Wi-Fi.You can stay connected with family and friends while you are away without the additional expense of costly phone calls.
Sign up as an AAA member to make hotel arrangements easier when you are traveling. Not only will AAA members receive discounts for a lot of hotel chains that make it worth getting into, you may also find rental cars more easily than those without the membership. Some places provide free car seats too.
Be sure you understand your hotel’s smoking policy is if you smoke cigarettes. A lot of places have specific rooms just for smokers. Ask for those rooms if you are available. If they find you have smoked in a non-smoking area, you can be hit with some major penalties for lighting up in a non-smoker’s room.
If you want to inspect a hotel room for bed bugs, start with the bathroom. This is where you won’t find them. When you determine there are not any in there, set your bags down and inspect the remainder of the premises. Kids and pets can stay there as well.
You should always be aware whether or not the hotel’s policy concerning pets.These hotels sometimes have odors because the carpet and bed linens. Some hotels add an extra charge for pets, but some do not charge much. The fee charged may not be adequate to cover the extra cleaning that needs to be done.
If you need a crib, ask for it as you reserve the room. Some hotels do not have these items, and most have limited quantities. Additionally, there may be an extra fee for these items. Ask about this before you finalize your reservations, to make sure your needs are fully met.
You should be aware that you generally aren’t going to be able to do an early hotel check ins are not always possible. Plan your time accordingly unless you might end up waiting in a hotel lobby. The room needs to be cleaned after the next guest can check in. If you do arrive early, ask the front desk to make an exception, but this should not be expected.
Avoid leaving your hotel before your scheduled date of departure. If you do, then you could be charged an extra departure fee for early checkout. When you book a hotel room, the hotel takes that room off the market; thus, if you depart early they will lose money. That is why you are charged a fee.
Some hotels don’t offer these in short supply. Talk about these things when you reserve your reservations.
If you are worried about your hygiene, you might want to not use the hotel’s bedspread. Although hotels will wash the sheets that lie underneath the bedspread, the bedspread itself is not typically washed. This can make it full of bacteria, germs, and other unknown elements. Take the bedspread off of the bed.
Do not take any of the hotel’s linens with you when you check out of the hotel.
Do not take anything from the hotel. It seems like a common thing people try to get away with, but the hotel will know when you do this and may charge you later for the missing items. If you truly love them, ask the hotel about buying them.
You can often save money saved if you book a flight and hotel at the same time. Travel sites typically offers savings when you book more than one service at the same time.
If you want an upgrade, use an approach that may snag it for free. You can be sure of this by being on time to accept your hotel booking. Because many of the rooms may not be cleaned yet, you may score a better room.
Hotel Rates
In the event that you have to make hotel reservations while you’re on the road, stop at a tourist center or local gas station for information or a free booklet, and you may also find valuable coupons. Use that information to call a hotel and get your room all booked.
You can save money by not booking a hotel rates when you don’t book during peak tourist seasons. This is the time that hotel rates are highest. You should get a better rate during this time.
Any hotel stay will be more pleasant if you tip whenever appropriate. While some services, such as room service, are included in the bill, maid services deserve a tip outside of the bill. Tipping whill show you appreciate what they do and you will be seen as a patron that deserves respect during your hotel stay.
You can often get a free upgrade. You have a better chance of this by being on time to accept your hotel booking. Sometimes, rooms aren’t ready when patrons arrive, which means they offer an upgraded room for free.
Don’t pay the rate advertised. They call this the “rack rate,” which savvy travelers know not to pay. However, hotels are aware that informed travelers will never pay this rate; therefore, they will have to compromise. Contact the hotel and see if there is a promotion currently taking place. Take the initiative to get a better price. You can also find deep discounts on various travel websites.
If you’re trying to get into a hotel while you’re out and about, check out rest areas or gas stations to find tourist books which will have maps, gas stations and tourist centers for complimentary tourists books which contain hotel prices, prices and incredible discounts. This will save you call ahead and reserve the room that’s right for you.
Book a hotel stay for your special occasions. Complimentary items may be offered if you are traveling for an anniversary or a birthday. You may also be able to get free champagne. Do not fabricate a story though, as that would not be ethical.
Often people simply book the first hotel listed in the phone book or on their search engine. This is a mistake. Unfortunately, this tactic can virtually ruin a trip. Use the tips from this article so that you do not have to spend the night in unpleasant accommodations.
Unfortunately, most people don’t realize that it’s a good idea to leave a tip for a housekeeper at the end of a hotel stay. The maid is the one who has cleaned up after you, freshened up your room and kept you stocked in clean towels and toiletries. Most people are quite messy in their rooms, so a tip is always appreciated.