How often have people told you that they had an amazing vacation, but the hotel was awful? Where you’re going to sleep plays into how well your vacation is going to go. You want a hotel that offers great service, a comfortable room at a price that fits into your budget. The below article contains helpful advice on how to pick the best hotel room.
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.
To enjoy a late-night meal with that special someone without having to leave the comfort of your hotel room, think about ordering some room service. The cost will be a bit higher, but not having to dress up and go out will be worth it.
Room service is one of the best parts about a hotel. How else could you possibly enjoy a midnight snack without leaving your bed? You will probably pay more for this meal, but for the convenience of having it delivered to your room, it is worth it.
Use online hotel search tools. These kinds of websites allow you to locate great deals fast. They can provide you with an idea of the average rate charged by each hotel, so you will have a good idea as to whether or not the deal you are being offered is good. These travel sites also list activities available in your area.
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 all electronics there along with important documents, such as your passport or plane tickets.
Part of trip planning is knowing what time check-in is at your hotel. Many people forget the time, then they show up early and the room isn’t ready yet. If you anticipate arriving early, check with the hotel to find out if your room will be ready.
Take a look into organizations you are part of. Sometimes you can get discounted hotel prices through these organizations. Some discounts can be over ten percent! On a multiple night stay, these savings can really add up. This can rack up a free night over the entire course of a whole week.
Plan your trip as far in advance as you can to ensure best rates. Some hotels have a discount if you book your room a month or more ahead of time. You can save up to 50 percent, even on elite hotel chains.
The Internet is a great place to research hotels. Use these websites to your advantage! They also can show you the average hotel rates, letting you see whether the deal is good or bad. You can also find out about local amenities and things offered by the hotels.
Don’t assume a hotel is pet-friendly. Call ahead to their service desk and make sure, even if their website listing says they are. In addition, get specifics with regard to the pet policy, because only particular breeds or sizes of pets may be permitted at the hotel.
Prior to making a hotel reservation, check for deals online. Lots of times, when you book a room, they don’t tell you about online discounts. This is why you should always do your research well online to find these hidden discounts. Review the different websites, such as Jetsetter or SniqueAway.
If you’re interested in the massage services of a hotel you intend to stay at, reserve your appointment ahead of time. Most of the best masseurs will be reserved by name ahead of time. You’ve got to get in your reservation early to get the best masseur or masseuses.
Do not make the assumption that your pets are welcome at all hotels. Even if the website says they are pet-friendly, always call in advance to verify. Also, ask what their definition of pet-friendly is, as there may still be restrictions on size or breed of pet allowed at the hotel.
If you want to work on saving the environment, a green vacation is something to look into. Many hotels offer environmentally friendly standards today. Some new buildings are certified as green. Other older hotels will just provide green options for you. A travel agent or similar source can help you find hotels that are considered ‘green’.
If you wish to include amenities such as massage while staying at a hotel, be sure to make your reservations in advance. The best massage therapists are usually booked up for months ahead of time, and you don’t want to miss out.
The time you book the room will change how much you’ll pay. Rooms are priced based on availability. Whenever you can, maker your room reservation no more than a day ahead of time. You can often get the best price if you do it this way. Empty rooms earn no money, so the hotels often slash the prices.
Check your AAA membership for a hotel discount. You might be surprised to learn that your membership to the auto club also includes discounts on hotels. You can save five percent or more on certain hotels. This is a savings that can really add up over several nights.
Join a membership program if you travel frequently. When you stay at a hotel, you get points you can use later on.
If there’s a hotel chain you stay at often, check out their membership programs for frequent guests. They work a lot like frequent flier miles do with airlines. You earn points in a similar way. 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.
If you want to ensure happy kids while traveling, call the hotel ahead of time to check that the pools are open and in working order. Nothing is more frustrating than to have kids nagging you about swimming, only to find that the pool is closed.
If you care quite a bit about your environment, consider taking a “green” vacation. Luckily, you can choose from quite a few green hotels these days. Many newer hotels are environmentally friendly. Other older hotels will just provide green options for you. Finding hotels that are environmentally friendly can be as easy as asking your favorite travel agent.
If you are worried about bed bugs, start your inspection in the bathroom. This is the place where you are least likely to find them. Stow you suitcases and other items here and then take a good look at the rest of your room. It’s also safer to the pets and kids you may have.
How much you pay for a hotel room depends on when you book your room. Availability is one factor that plays a part in cost. Try booking your hotel room within 24 hours of your stay. This will usually ensure that you receive the best available price. A room that’s empty won’t help the hotel, so generally they will get the price lowered.
Moking Rooms
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. Then you can accrue points, get extra perks, and save money.
Ask if your possible hotel reservation is either smoking or non. If you aren’t a smoker, then you want to avoid smoking rooms and maybe even smoking hotels in general, but most hotel chains do have smoking and non-smoking rooms. Even if you reserve a non-smoking room, the smell of smoke can circulate through the hotel’s air vents and cause your clothes to pick up the odor. There are times when smokers end up staying in non-smoking rooms, and smoking in them. To avoid cigarette odors entirely, opt for a non-smoking hotel.
Don’t call long distance in your hotel room. If you don’t have a cell phone or the Internet, buy a calling card to keep with you during your trip. Some hotels offer free Wi-Fi, so you can use Skype. This is much cheaper than paying for a bunch of long distance calls from your hotel room.
If you smoke, be aware of the hotel policy with regard to smoking. Some have rooms for smokers. So if you are a smoker, be sure to ask for one of those rooms. If you smoke in one of the hotel’s non-smoking room, you can be charged hefty fees.
If you are a smoker, know the smoking policy for the hotel in which you are staying. There are sometimes rooms designated for people who smoke. So if you are a smoker, be sure to ask for one of those rooms. Some hotels charge a hefty penalty if they find any evidence that you were smoking in a non-smoking room, so be sure to adhere to the hotel’s rules with regard to smoking.
Find out how the hotel handles pets. If you have pet allergies or the noise from pets bothers you, you might want to avoid these hotels. Hotel floors and linens can glean unpleasant odors from pets. Some hotels have an extra fee for pets, and the charge is not much in some places. It does take extra effort and expense to take care of pets issues and some hotels do not take the time necessary.
What is the policy on pets? You may wish to stay away from hotels that permit pets if you have allergies or you fear certain animals. Also, pet friendly hotels may have lingering odors that have been absorbed by carpeting or linens. Some hotels charge extra fees for pets, but some do not charge much. If the hotel allows animals in any room, then you may want to book elsewhere if you have allergies.
Some people choose not to use the bedspreads provided by the hotel staff for hygienic reasons. While sheets and linens are always washed, the topmost bedspread may not be, depending on the hotel policy. As a result, the bedspread will likely contain all kinds of germs and bacteria. Pull it off for peace of mind.
Don’t check out early, if possible. The hotel may charge a fee for early departure. Booked hotel rooms are taken off the market, so if you leave early, the hotel loses money. As a result, hotels will attempt to regain some of this lost revenue by charging you a fee for leaving early.
Leave the bottled water alone in your hotel room! After checking in you may be thirsty and tired. You might want to open the bottled water they left you. Hotels take advantage of guests by charging ridiculous amounts for bottled water. Check out the gym instead; they may have free water. What would be best is if you just packed your own bottles.
Don’t open that bottles water! Sure, you’re thirsty and hot. As a result, that bottle of water on the little fridge may look very good to you. Hotels take advantage of guests by charging ridiculous amounts for bottled water. You might be able to get free bottled water in the hotel gym. Better still, pack a few bottles of your own.
When you know what to look for, you can find any hotel room you want. Hopefully, you will make use of these great tips on finding a great hotel room. It doesn’t have to be expensive to be great. Keep the tips here in mind so that you find the best hotel for your needs.
You can get lower hotel rates by booking during off season. Rates are at their peak then. Hotels are looking to increase occupancy during off-season months and this is the ideal time to book a room. You will have a better chance in getting a good rate.
