Booking an inferior hotel can be nightmarish. It can cost a lot and that’s a mistake you shouldn’t make more than once. Use the following tips to make sure that you get a nice hotel room without having to spend a lot of money.
Before you make reservations at a particular hotel, check its reviews on websites like TripAdvisor. These reviews can give you a customer’s perspective of the hotel you are planning on staying at. These reviews can help you decide which hotel you should select.
Check online reviews before booking a room. These websites have reviews and comments from people who have recent experience with their stay. Consider what they say to help you make your decision.
If you belong to any organizations, find out if they get any discount from certain hotel chains. Sometimes you can get discounted hotel prices through these organizations. These discounts are often neglected; however, they can save you upwards of ten percent. You end up with an even bigger savings if your hotel stay is going to be for multiple nights. It can add up to equal a free night!
To get a meal later at night order yourself some room service. The cost will be a bit higher, but not having to dress up and go out will be worth it.
Make use of online tools to find a hotel. These kinds of websites allow you to locate great deals fast. They also list the average cost of a hotel room, allowing you to ensure you are receiving an acceptable deal. They might even offer some decent entertainment venues that you should experience while you’re in the local area.
Look at organizations you’re part of for discounts. Hotel discounts are often one of the benefits offered. It is easy to forget about the discounts. When you’re staying for more than one night, this can add up to a decent savings. If you stay for a week, these discounts will almost add up for a free night.
Don’t book a hotel room without looking for online deals. Hotels don’t usually advertise their lowest rates, so you may have to ask. It is your duty to perform due diligence. Check websites like Hotwire.com, Kayak.com and Priceline.com for great discounts.
When thinking about selecting a hotel, there are quite a few salient points to consider. You should look at the price, but you should also look at the location that is most convenient for what you want to do. You may or may not care about such amenities such as a gym, large pool, WiFi or a free breakfast buffet. Choose a hotel that meets all of your needs.
Be clear about check-in time at the hotel you have booked. Many hotel guests will forget their check-in time; therefore, they will arrive at the hotel just to discover that they cannot check in yet. If you can’t help your arrival time being early, you can ask for an early check-in but it might cost a bit extra.
You can use online travel sites to find great hotels. It is possible to find good deals fast when using sites such as these. Hotel search websites also let you see the regular rates of hotels, so you can compare and see whether a supposed deal is really a good one. The websites can also help you decide the best time to take a trip and where you can eat, shop or sight-see.
Do not make the assumption that your pets are welcome at all hotels. Therefore, make sure you call the hotel staff to confirm that they will allow pets. Even if they have a website that states pets are allowed, you should still call to confirm this. Make sure they specify what pet-friendly means since there may be certain restrictions on pet sizes and breeds that are allowed on the property.
Prior to booking your hotel room, search the Internet for deals. Often, the only way to learn about discounts is to look online. It’s your job to find them yourself. Look at websites such as RueLaLaTravel, Jetsetter, and SniqueAway.
There are some things you have to do before taking your pet on a trip. Find out if the hotel you have selected is pet-friendly. It is also a great idea to bring along some plastic bags to clean up when your pet makes a mess. When you make your reservation, request accommodations near the very end of the floor in order to not disturb other guests.
Verify the check-in time at the hotel. You don’t want to arrive early only to find out your room isn’t ready yet. If you will be arriving early, call and ask if this is okay.
Do you travel on a periodic basis and use the same hotel chain? If so, check out the loyalty programs provided by that hotel. These programs provide perks to those who stay at a particular chain regularly. Some of the useful things that you can earn are extra upgrades, free nights, and late check-outs.
If you want to find the absolute rock bottom hotel prices, plan your trips weeks or months ahead of time. Some hotels have a discount if you book your room a month or more ahead of time. You may find yourself saving as much as half off of the room’s typical rates.
If you often stay at the same hotel chain, check to see if they offer membership to frequent stay programs. These are similar to frequent flyer programs. They allow you to accrue points during your hotel stay. They will get you discounts on the hotel restaurants, spa deals, and just a number of great stuff.
There are three things to do ahead of time if you want to bring your pet to a hotel with you. Make sure the hotel is actually pet-friendly. Remember to bring bags so that you can pick up your pet’s waste when you travel. When you make a reservation you should see if you can stay near the back of the hallway to keep other guests away from your pets when they are making noises.
When you travel, go through AAA to find hotel accommodations easier.` 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. Parents of small children will probably like the car seat that’s provided for free in a lot of locations.
Morning Run
Avoid making long distance calls from the hotel room phone. Look to the Internet, instead. Many hotels will give you complimentary Skype connections on their Wi-Fi. Use this type of thing to get with people you know while you’re in your hotel room so you can save quite a bit of money.
If you enjoy a morning run, try booking a hotel room that’s near the beach or an open park. Simply set an alarm or get a wake up call and take an early morning run. Whether you are running on roads or city streets, you will gain more knowledge about the city you are visiting while you run.
If you are a smoker, know the smoking policy for the hotel in which you are staying. A lot of places will have smoker’s rooms. If your selected hotel does, ask for one. Don’t smoke in a nonsmoking room, or you may be charged by the hotel for doing so.
You may wish to consider a “green” vacation if the environment is one of your concerns. Luckily, many hotels are around these days for you to choose from. Many new hotels are constructed to meet green standards, earning green certification. Also, older hotels often make several changes to become eco-friendly. Talk to a travel agent if you want to find hotels that are eco-friendly.
It is not always possible to check-in early. Plan your trip right or you might end up waiting in a hotel lobby. Usually, hotels have your room cleaned prior to check-in time. If you do arrive early, ask the desk clerk if it’s possible to check in early, but don’t necessarily expect it.
Joining certain clubs that let you accrue points can help you reap major benefits from your regular hotel stays. Each hotel stay can accrue points towards vacation perks.
If you will have children during your hotel stay that need a crib, you must bring this up when you are booking the room. Not every hotel features these options, and the ones that do only have a few. Certain hotels will even charge a fee for these things. You should discuss this with the hotel agent prior to booking so that you do not have an unexpected charge to your bill.
A membership in AAA can make booking a hotel easier when you travel. AAA members get good hotel discounts and can also find good car rental rates much more easily. If you are a parent of a young child, you may even be provided with a free car seat.
If possible, do not check out earlier than your scheduled departure day. Your hotel may charge you a fee to do so. Booked hotel rooms are taken off the market, so if you leave early, the hotel loses money. They will charge a departure fee so they get back what they lose.
If you smoke, learn the smoking policy of the hotel where you are staying. A lot of places will have smoker’s rooms. If this applies to the hotel of your choice, request that type of room specifically. Otherwise, you might find yourself paying a high fee for smoking in a room that is designated as non-smoking.
If a hotel is trying to “walk” you, then you’ll know what the rights are you have. Occasionally a hotel will be overbooked, and the room you reserved will not be available. The hotel “walks” you to a new hotel nearby. If you do choose to move, be sure that you get a better room and your travel is paid for.
You should be aware that early hotel check ins are not always possible. Plan accordingly or you will find yourself waiting a long time to access your room. The hotel must clean each room prior to the next visitor taking it. Should you arrive early, ask at the desk if it is possible to check in, but do not be surprised if they say no.
Avoid drinking bottled water from a hotel! You may be thirsty and tired when you arrive. That’s what the hotel owners had in mind when they packed the min-fridge with delicious, yet expensive, refreshments. Hotels take advantage of guests by charging ridiculous amounts for bottled water. Check the hotel gym and see if they offer it for free. Better still, pack a few bottles of your own.
If you’re going to need special sleeping arrangements at a hotel, such as a roll- away or baby bed, specify this as you make reservations. Not every hotel is going to come with cribs or rollaways. Also, you may face extra charges for the use of these items. Therefore, when booking a hotel room, make sure you ask about these things so that you are prepared.
You can often save money if you book your flight and hotel at the same time. Many times, travel websites offer discounts for booking the hotel, flight and rental car at the same time. Make sure you do your research, though, to ensure you are getting a good deal.
Booking a horrible hotel is an awful experience for anyone to endure. Even the best deal won’t be worth it if your hotel stay is a nightmare. A bad hotel can ruin and entire trip. So finding the right hotel at a price within your budget is a vital part of having a great trip. Once you choose a hotel, be sure to get all the discounts you have coming to you.
You can get better hotel rates when you don’t book during peak tourist seasons. That is when you’ll pay the highest rates. Book when the hotel is empty for the best deals. You are more likely to be offered a good rate.