What hotel you stay in could make or break your whole experience. You must know what things to look out for when you are reserving a room. These tips will help you find the best value.
Look at organizations you’re part of for discounts. Some of them may provide discounts on hotel stays. People frequently forget these discounts are available, and they can be 10 percent or more. This can lead to a great amount of money saved, especially for those spending multiple nights at the hotel. If you stay for a week, these discounts will almost add up for a free night.
Prior to reserving a room at a hotel, look on the Internet for reviews. One great site is TripAdvisor. This gives you first-hand accounts of people’s experiences in each hotel. Other customers can give you some valuable insight and help you choose the right place to stay.
When you’re looking for the perfect hotel, there are a few different things you should always check for first. Your budget comes first, but proximity to attractions is also important. A gym, pool, free breakfast, free wireless Internet, free local calls, and all kinds of other things may be important. Seek out hotels that offer amenities that appeal to you.
Use travel websites, like Expedia and Priceline to find great hotel deals. When making hotel reservations, be sure to include information regarding hotel loyalty programs in which you may hold membership. You might also be entitled to additional discounts through your other organizations, such as AAA or AARP.
Check the Internet for the best deals before you book a hotel room during your next trip. It’s not uncommon for a hotel employee to not mention to you that it is possible to receive a great discount online. It’s your job to find them yourself. Sites, such as Jetsetter, will let you know of any discounts available.
Check with any membership programs for deals. Some organizations offer discounts on hotels to their members. A lot of people don’t use these discounts, and you may save 10% or even more. This can help you to save some cash, especially if you’re going to be staying for a few nights. A stay of 5 days or more could add up to one free hotel night stay!
Find out the exact time for check-in and check-out. People sometimes forget when they will be let into their rooms, showing up early only to learn that their room isn’t ready yet. Call the hotel if you are early and find out if your room is ready.
A number of factors all need consideration in your hotel reservation process. While price is obviously a factor, you may want to think about room size and amenities as well. A pool, a gym, a restaurant, free breakfast, free local calls and free Wi-Fi are other amenities that may be important to you. Seek out hotels that offer amenities that appeal to you.
Use your AAA discount at hotels. Many people are surprised to see hotel discounts included with their auto club membership. You can save five percent or more on certain hotels. The more nights you stay, the more you will save.
Use hotel search tools online. These websites can help you quickly find the best value. They can tell you what the average rate at a hotel is, ensuring you know the general pricing. On top of that, they can help you determine the cheapest destinations.
If you travel a lot, you should consider joining hotel loyalty programs. They offer benefits to people that stay at the same chain quite often. You might receive an upgrade at no cost or be allowed to check out later than others with your points.
Check out your room ahead of unpacking. Make sure there is no mold or mildew anywhere in the room. Are the facilities operating correctly? Do you have the blankets, pillows and towels you need? Call the front desk if you find any issues; they can either fix the problem or give you a different room.
Do you care about your environment? If so, a “green” hotel may be for you. Fortunately, there are many green hotels available nowadays. Some of the newer hotels were built with green standards in mind. Many older hotels are environmentally aware and have eco-friendly measures in place. Your travel agent can help to identify the environmentally friendly hotels.
When can you check in? If you are early, your room may not be ready. If you might be arriving before the check-in time, ask the hotel whether it’s okay to come.
Being a member of AAA can save you money on hotels. The AAA membership fee is well worth the discounts offered by many chains, and renting a car will also be easier. At some locations they even offer free car seats.
Don’t assume your hotel is pet-friendly. You should call ahead to double check, even if it was stated on the website that this is a pet friendly hotel. 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.
Don’t make any long distance calls from your hotel room. Use the Internet, instead. Many hotels now offer Skype connections via Wi-Fi. This is much cheaper than paying for a bunch of long distance calls from your hotel room.
Check your AAA membership for a hotel discount. You may be surprised that your auto club membership includes hotel discounts, but it does. You can save 5 percent or more motels and hotels in the US. This can add up on a long trip.
When you look for bed bugs, start in the bathroom. This is where you won’t find them. It makes a safe place to keep your luggage when looking for bedbugs elsewhere in the room. Put kids and pets in there, too.
If you want to keep up your running regimen on the road, make sure that your packing list includes lots of running clothes and a GPS watch. Go for a jog every morning. It will give you a better perspective of the city you are visiting.
Determine whether or not the hotel you are considering allows smoking or not. If you’re not a smoker, it may be wise to stay away from rooms that are for smoking. You may rent a non-smoking room, however, the smoke from the smoking rooms can still be present in the air and make your clothes smell like it. Smokers also sometimes smoke in rooms that you are not supposed to smoke in. If you just can’t stand the smell of stale smoke, look for a hotel that doesn’t allow it at all.
It is wise to join a hotel loyalty program if you travel frequently. They offer benefits to people that stay at the same chain quite often. These loyalty programs allow you to earn free upgrades, late check outs and even free stays.
Review the pet policy at the hotel. If you fear pets or have allergies it would be best if you make reservations at hotels that have a strict no pets policy. Hotels that allow pets typically have rooms that have a pet odor in them. Some hotels have an extra fee for pets, and the charge is not much in some places. The fee may cover totally or partially the cost of the extra cleaning involved.
There are membership programs that hotels offer for those that stay frequently at their chains. These are similar to frequent flyer programs. They allow you to accrue points during your hotel stay. In time you may even get to stay there for free!
It may come as a shock to you, but most hotels don’t allow you to check-in early. If you are going to arrive early, plan on doing something to fill your time. The room has to be cleaned ahead of your check in. You can inquire about checking in early, but do not expect that you’re going to be able to do it.
If you are worried about the environment, consider taking a “green” vacation. There are a lot of eco-friendly hotels out there. Many new hotels are constructed to meet green standards, earning green certification. Also, older hotels often make several changes to become eco-friendly. Speak with a travel agent to see if they can help you pick out hotels that care about the environment.
If a hotel is trying to “walk” you, then you’ll know what the rights are you have. Hotels will overbook, leaving you without a room. The hotel will attempt to foist you off on another hotel. 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.
A bit of research goes a long way in reserving a hotel. You have to know the right times to book and what you should look for. So keep the above suggestions in mind so you ensure you find the perfect hotel that will fit all your needs.
Don’t decide you need new linens as you are sitting in your hotel room. They might be lovely, but you will be charged for them. If you really have to have the stuff, see if the hotel will sell it to you.