It can be difficult to book a good hotel room because of all the choices you must make. So doing a bit of research beforehand is essential. Think of how much you are willing to spend, consider what amenities you want, and research away. Remember this advice and your stay will be wonderful.
Use travel websites to find the most competitive prices for hotel chains online. As you check your rates, don’t forget to include that you’re a loyalty program member. Don’t neglect to check for other discounts in which you may qualify, including AAA and AARP.
Prior to reserving a room at a hotel, look on the Internet for reviews. One great site is TripAdvisor. These will give you some information from people that have stayed at that certain hotel. Factor former guests’ reviews into your final decision.
Would you like to enjoy the comfort of enjoying an incredible evening meal with your loved one without having to dress up and leave your room? If so, consider using room service. Although you will probably have to spend more money to do this, it’s usually worth the cost because you have the luxury of receiving excellent food without having to leave your hotel room.
If you are hungry when you get to your hotel and do not want to leave, consider ordering room service. While it may cost a little extra, it is worth it if you can stay in your comfortable room as you satisfy your cravings.
If you take a lot of electronic gadgets with you on a trip, lock them up in the safe when away from the room. Place your iPad, GPS and other small electronics in the safe when you are not in your room.
Be sure to put all valuables, such as jewelry and electronics, in the hotel safe. You can put just about anything in there, as long as it isn’t too big, and you won’t have to worry about it.
If you belong to any organizations, find out if they get any discount from certain hotel chains. Some may offer discounts on hotels. A lot of people don’t use these discounts, and you may save 10% or even more. This can add up to big savings, even more so if you will be staying for many nights. Over the course of a week it’s nearly a free night!
If you belong to any organizations, find out if they get any discount from certain hotel chains. Many clubs, groups and organizations are able to get members discounted hotel rates. People don’t always remember to check out these discounts, which can often be 10% and higher. They can save you plenty of money, especially for prolonged stays. That can give you close to a completely free night when it adds up.
Take advantage of search tools online. You can use such websites to discover great deals with ease and speed. They can also provide you with the average rate for a room at a particular hotel, so you can see if your offer is really a good deal. They also help you decide the dates for your vacation and the activities you’ll want to partake of.
Search online tools for hotels. There are a lot of websites that have great deals and other useful tools to help you comparison shop to find the right hotel at the right price. On this type of site, you can find out the average and discounted rates of most hotels. Finally, they can help you determine when you’d like to travel and what you’d like to do when you’re there.
Prior to emptying out your suitcase, carefully look over your room. Is it clean? Check the shower, toilet and sink to ensure they work properly. Make sure you have the linens, bath supplies and towels that you will need. This quick check can keep you from discovering a problem later, after you have unpacked and all other good rooms are taken. Tell the front desk immediately.
Always look for online deals before booking a hotel room. Lots of times, when you book a room, they don’t tell you about online discounts. It is your responsibility to find any available discounts. Look at Jetsetter, RueLaLaTravel or similar websites for discounts.
If you wish to include amenities such as massage while staying at a hotel, be sure to make your reservations in advance. That’s because the highest quality masseurs and masseuses are typically booked way in advance due to their good name. Therefore, by planning in advance, you can ensure you have the best possible experience during your massage.
Be sure you inspect the room you are given at check in before you start unpacking. Is the room free of mildew and mold and clean? Are the toilet, shower and sink functioning properly? Are all the towels you’ll need present in the room? Call the front desk if you find any issues; they can either fix the problem or give you a different room.
Are you a AAA member? If so, hotels may provide you a discount. Many people are surprised to see hotel discounts included with their auto club membership. Membership in AARP, a union, an auto club or even being a police officer can get you a discount. It really is a savings that adds up over time.
Make sure that you know the check-in time for the hotel that you book. Sometimes there are people that don’t know when the room will be ready and so they aren’t sure of what to do with the extra time they have since they can’t check in. Therefore, if you anticipate arriving early, call the hotel in advance and see if it is possible to check in early.
If you enjoy a morning run, try booking a hotel room that’s near the beach or an open park. When you wake up in the morning, throw on your gear and head out for a morning jog. Whether you are running on roads or city streets, you will gain more knowledge about the city you are visiting while you run.
To get a good price when you want a hotel room, get your trips planned quite a few weeks or so in advance. Some hotels have great discounts when you book a couple of months in advance. You may find yourself saving as much as half off of the room’s typical rates.
Sign up for frequent guest programs at hotels. Many hotels offer membership programs that allow you to earn points for each of your stays. You might earn free stays and discounts, show tickets, or other things.
If you’re taking your pet with you, do these things in advance. Make sure it’s a pet-friendly hotel. Make sure you have some plastic bags to get rid of pet messes. When you go to make the hotel reservation, see if there is room on the end that would prevent the other guests from hearing a noisy pet.
To keep from having an unwanted major expense on your hotel bill, ask about the cost of hotel transfers before booking them. 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.
Book massages as early as possible. The best massage therapists are well-known at resorts, so planning early is the best way to create a good experience.
If you want to save money, and you stay at the same place a lot, consider signing up for the hotel’s version of a frequent guest program. This allows you to get more points with each stay that you can convert into free rooms and other benefits on your next family vacation.
If you belong to the AAA, see what kinds of discounts the hotel offers. You may not know that your membership to the auto club includes discounts on hotels. You can save 5%, 10% or more at quality hotels throughout the country. These savings quickly add up, especially if you are staying for multiple nights in a row.
Avoid using the hotel phone to make long distance phone calls. Use the Internet, instead. Most hotels offer Wi-Fi, but you will probably need their password and may have to pay a fee to use this service. This is much cheaper than paying for a bunch of long distance calls from your hotel room.
Do you travel on a periodic basis? If so, consider joining your hotel’s loyalty program. There are many benefits you may be able to get. You might earn a free upgrade, late checkout time, or other great perks.
Inspect your room for bed bugs, starting with the bathroom. This room is usually free from bugs. It makes a safe place to keep your luggage when looking for bedbugs elsewhere in the room. It’s also a safe spot for kids and pets to sit for a bit too.
Your children will be happy when you call the hotel to make sure their pool is open and working. If you arrive at your hotel and the pool is closed, your kids will be very disappointed.
Ask if there is smoking allowed in the hotel. If you are not a smoker, you might want to avoid hotels with smoking rooms. Even if you stipulate that your room should be non-smoking, second hand smoke can still enter your room. Smokers also sometimes smoke in rooms that you are not supposed to smoke in. If you don’t want to stink like a cigarette when you are leaving a non smoking hotel may be a good choice.
Moking Hotel
You should be aware of the hotel’s policy concerning pets. If you fear or are allergic to pets, you might want to avoid pet-friendly hotels. If the hotel does not have good cleaning practices, you may be bothered by pet odors. Certain hotels will charge guests extra for keeping pets in the room; however, many hotels’ extra charge is very little. Depending on what hotel you choose, the fee charged might or might not cover any extra cleaning required.
Figure out if you want a hotel you can or cannot smoke in. If you are a non-smoker, you might want to stay at a non-smoking hotel. While you can book a non-smoking room, smoke can infiltrate your room and settle into your clothing. In addition, previous travelers could have smoked in the room, even if it is a non-smoking room. Choose a non-smoking hotel to a smoke smell on your clothes.
If a crib or a rollaway bed is necessary for your stay, let your booking agent know. Some hotels may not have one, so you want to know this upfront. Also, these things can cost extra. Talk about these when reserving your room so you aren’t hit with unexpected expenses.
You should always be aware whether or not the hotel allows pets. If you don’t like pets or are allergic, you want to avoid pet-friendly hotels. Hotel floors and linens can glean unpleasant odors from pets. Depending on the hotel, you may be expected to pay extra for keeping a pet, but it isn’t usually a large sum. Depending on the hotel, that fee may or may not be enough to cover extra cleaning.
Don’t let a hotel take advantage of you. When you check-in, you may discover the room you secured isn’t actually available. This is known as “walking” a customer. Avoid this if you can, but if you must go someplace else, make sure the room you get is comparable to the one you booked, and you are paid to travel there.
Avoid leaving your hotel before your scheduled date of departure. The hotel might charge you an early departure fee. Whenever you reserve a room, it isn’t available to anyone else and the hotel will lose money if you cancel. So make sure that you know the hotel’s policy on checking out a day or two early – it might cost you.
Do not drink the bottled water in your room. You may be thirsty and tired when you arrive. You can be tempted to casually open that bottled water beckoning on the mini-fridge. Hotels take advantage of guests by charging ridiculous amounts for bottled water. Sometimes you can get a free water bottle in the hotel gym. Nonetheless, it is better to bring along a water filtration pitcher and reusable water bottle and filter your own water.
With the right advice, finding a nice hotel room at an affordable price is simple. As you plan, keep these tips in mind. You will enjoy a great time at a great price.
Save your money when on the road by making your flight and hotel reservations together as a bundle. You may be able to save a lot of money by booking both from the same place. Be sure to compare rates from airline to airline and hotel to hotel to get the very best deals.
