You will need to book a hotel room sooner or later. Whether your trip is for business or pleasure, you must know what you are doing when it comes to selecting a hotel. The following tips for booking a room and enjoying your stay.
If you want a meal at night, it is much more comfortable to enjoy room service. This service comes at a premium, but you can stay comfortable in your room while enjoying you eats.
Check for online reviews before booking a room. These reviews can give you to see previous guests’ experiences at the hotel you are planning on staying at. What people say with regards to a hotel being considered can aid you in coming to the right decision.
Be sure to keep your valuables and electronics secure by locking them in your hotel room’s safe. You can put your iPad, GPS watch, and other small, costly items into the safe, and then head out for the day with peace of mind about their security.
You can find a lot of great deals on hotels if you go online and check out some of the travel sites. If you are in a hotel loyalty program, be sure you enter this information while looking through rates. You may also be able to get good discounts from other organizations you belong to such as AAA or AARP membership.
Many things must be considered when choosing the right hotel. Of course, you must think of cost; however, proximity to attractions is also very important. What about free breakfast, local calls, wifi or swimming pool? Seek out hotels that offer amenities that appeal to you.
Consider taking advantage of room service when the urge strikes for a special someone. This service comes at a premium, but the convenience it provides is worth it.
Know the check-in times. If you don’t know you may end up waiting a long time. If you will be arriving early, call and ask if this is okay.
You can stash your expensive items in the safe and go about your day without worry.
Plan your trip in advance for the best rates. Many locations offer discounts if you are willing to book more than a month or two ahead of time. You might even be able to save up to 50 percent off at some very exclusive hotels.
There are several things to think about when choosing a hotel. Amenities like free WiFi, fitness facilities, continental breakfast and free Wi-Fi or local calls. Try to find a hotel that offers as much of your wish list as possible.
Don’t assume your hotel is pet-friendly. Even if a web listing says a hotel is pet friendly, call the hotel 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.
Don’t think that all hotels will accept pets.
If you tend to return to the same family of hotels for your vacation, consider joining their membership reward programs. These programs give you points every time you stay there. These points can quickly add up to many perks such as a free night, discounts at the hotel restaurants, spa deals and much, much more.
Book massages as far ahead of time as possible to guarantee you get the perfect couples massage for you and your significant other.The best massage therapists are well-known at resorts, so make your reservation early and book by name where possible.
Before you decide to book, always find out if there are any hotel transfer fees so you won’t be surprised on your bill. Especially if you’re in a situation where the room’s price is a really good deal, the price of your transfer can make a big difference. Asking these things before anything happens will allow you to save more.
It is wise to look into loyalty programs that your favorite hotels offer. They offer benefits to people that stay at a hotel. You will be able to earn stuff like a free upgrade, free stays, or other great perks.
To get optimal value from a hotel stay, especially if you find yourself traveling a lot for your business, sign up for membership programs such as those offered by Marriott or Choice Hotels. 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 often stay at the same hotel chain, see if they have frequent stay programs you can become a member of. These hotel programs give you rack up points. These points can be traded in for restaurant discounts, discounts at the hotel restaurants, spa deals and much, and much more.
When you travel, go through AAA to find hotel accommodations easier.` AAA members not only get discounts at many hotel chains, it will also make it much easier to rent a car. Some places provide free car seats too.
Get a AAA membership for hotel perks when you travel. Parents with young children are likely to enjoy the free car seat provided in some locations.
Ask if there is smoking allowed in the hotel. If you’re not a smoker, a smoking room may be unappealing. Even non-smoking rooms can have smoke billow in from next door. In addition, previous travelers could have smoked in the room, even if it is a non-smoking room. If you don’t want to stink like a cigarette when you are leaving a non smoking hotel may be a good choice.
Start looking in the hotel bathroom when checking for bed bugs. This is the place where you are least likely to be. It is a convenient place for pets or children to sit for a moment too.
If you smoke, be aware of the hotel policy with regard to smoking. A lot of places have specific rooms just for people who smoke. If this applies to the hotel of your choice, request that type of room specifically. A few hotels will charge you in the event that they discover you’ve been smoking in their rooms where it’s prohibited, so abide by the smoking rules.
Ask if there is smoking or non. If you’re someone who doesn’t like cigarette smoke, you may not want to stay in a smoking room. Smokers don’t always respect the fact that you are not supposed to smoke in.
Reviews whether or not the hotel allows pets. If you’re scared of pets or are allergic, you might want to stay away from 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. The fee may cover totally or partially the cost of the extra cleaning involved.
You should always be aware whether or not the hotel’s policy concerning pets.These hotels might also suffer from odors sinking into the carpet and linens have absorbed them. Some hotels charge extra fees for pets, and the charge is not much in some places. The fee may cover totally or partially the extra cleaning involved.
Remember, that early check-ins are a rarity in most hotels. Be sure you plan according to this rule unless you desire to sit in the lobby for quite some time. Hotels use these in between hours to make sure rooms are cleaned and ready for the next occupant. If you can’t avoid being early, ask the front desk to make an exception, but be prepared if they can’t accommodate you.
Some hotels do not offer these amenities at all. Talk about these things when you reserve your reservations.
If you are going to use a crib or even a rollaway bed, make sure you mention this at the time your reservation is made. Some hotels may not have one, so you want to know this upfront. Also, these things can cost extra. Let the hotel know what you need to avoid anything that you will turn in a bad surprise.
Never check out before the departure date unless it is absolutely necessary. The hotel may charge a fee for early departure fee. When you make your reservation, the hotel takes that room off the market; thus, if you depart early they will lose money.
If it all possible, never check out before your scheduled departure date. Some hotels charge early departure fees. Once you have confirmed your reservation, understand that the room is reserved for you, and the hotel loses money if you leave early. So make sure that you know the hotel’s policy on checking out a day or two early – it might cost you.
You have rights in the event where a hotel attempts to take advantage of you.The hotel will attempt to foist you to another hotel. Avoid this if possible, but if you have to switch hotels, make sure you get a comparable or better room and the travel to there paid for.
For hygienic reasons, it might be best to avoid the provided bedspread in your room. The top bedspread usually isn’t cleaned as often as the sheets or blankets underneath. It could have acquired a lot of invisible germs and other things you want to avoid. Remove it from the bed before you use it.
Don’t take anything from your room!
Don’t drink the water! You may be thirsty and tired when you arrive. You might feel the urge to untwist the cap on the bottled water sitting in the mini-fridge. Hotels take advantage of guests by charging ridiculous amounts for bottled water. Often, hotels offer complementary water in their workout facilities. The best idea, however, is to bring your own.
You will be able to get a decent room during the off season. This is the time that hotel rates are highest. You will have a greater chance in getting a fantastic rate.
Booking your flight and hotel at the same time may save some travel expenses. A lot of travel online sites feature serious savings for anyone who bundles things together. In order to make sure you’re getting the best deal, make sure you do a few comparisons.
You can actually get a room upgrade without paying an upgraded price. You have a better chance of this by checking in exactly at your expected arrival time. Often your room has not yet been cleaned, so the front desk may offer an upgraded room for no charge.
You will be able to get a decent room rate if you book during the off season. This is the highest time for rates. Book your rooms at a time when the hotel is off-season and they’re desperate to attract new guests. This will get you a real bargain.
If you’re trying to get into a hotel while you’re out and about, look at tourist centers, prices, prices and discount offers. This will give you can just call ahead to book a room instead of driving around looking for a good bargain.
If you are looking for an upgrade, try scoring one without having to pay a dime. To do this, arrive at the hotel when you are supposed to check in. If your room isn’t clean yet, you may be offered an upgrade.
You should never pay the price posted at any hotel. Call them and ask about deals. Many travel websites will also give you discounts.
If you are already traveling but have to book rooms, check out ads at rest stops, tourist centers and fuel stations for complimentary tourist information that has maps with hotels including discounts. This will give you the opportunity to call for a room, instead of driving around for hours trying to get the best deal.
Check online websites such as Expedia to find good deals.Some sites need you to bid on a room, while others may give you a price and the star rating but not tell you the name until you decide to buy, so watch out for that.
If you book your hotel room for a special occasion, you might get a better deal. Hotels often provide perks if you let them know you are celebrating an anniversary or birthday. Sometimes, you will be presented with free champagne. Although, lying about it may not be the best idea.
It is customary to tip your housekeeper when you leave a hotel. You can justify not tipping other services as the bill usually includes these extras, but you should definitely tip your maid. You probably were being messy anyway, so it’s nice to leave a little something for the maid.
To save money on your hotel stay, ask the employee booking your room if you can get a discount. If the clerk cannot offer you a discount, they may be able to include free breakfast or other perk. If you don’t speak up, you can’t get perks!
You won’t know if you fail to ask.
Don’t be fooled by the photos the hotel uses in marketing materials. For example, the beautiful pool on the website may only be a tiny sized kiddie pool. So, there’s on need to rush. Become familiar with the ins and outs of the motel that you want to book.
Watch out for extra charges and hidden fees whenever you make hotel reservations from third-party website. Many times the quotes you are given do not include all of the fees and charges.
In conclusion, everyone stays at a hotel at some point. Regardless of your reason, you will enjoy your stay more if you book knowledgeably. You’ve just read some really great advice; now, put it to good use and have fun!
