Many people go on vacations and enjoy the visit, except for their lousy hotel room. Part of having a good vacation depends on the hotel you choose. You want to choose a place that fits your budget and that offers you great service. This article provides some helpful advice for you.
To help you make a good choice, you should check out hotel review websites like TripAdvisor online. These websites have reviews and comments from people who have recent experience with their stay. The information provided by patrons of the hotel will help you make a good choice of where to stay.
Keep your electronics secure by using the hotel safe located in your hotel room. Put all of your valuables and small electronics into the safe, such as your jewelry and iPad. They’ll be safe in there and you can leave the hotel room without worry.
When you get to your hotel room, look over the room before unpacking. Is the room clean? Do you see any mold or mildew? Are the toilet, shower and sink functioning properly? Is the room adequately stocked with towels and linens? Any problems that you notice should be reported to front desk staff right away. That way, they can be rectified or you can change rooms.
Many things must be considered when choosing the right hotel. You must consider price of course, and you might want to be close to a specific location within the city you’re staying. Amenities that you might personally want or need include a swimming pool or gym, on-site restaurant, continental breakfast and free Wi-Fi or local calls. Look for the hotel that gives as many of the extra you desire as possible.
For the best hotel rates, plan your trip weeks or months ahead of time. A lot of places will give you a discount if you’re going to book about a month or so in advance. You may save 50 percent or more.
Upon arriving at your hotel, check your room before you unpack. Is it tidy and sanitary? Do a quick check to ensure that the shower, sink and toilet are all in proper working order. Is the room adequately stocked with towels and linens? If you have any questions or notice any problems with the room, immediately call the front desk and report them so that they may be handled. You may also asked to be transferred to a new room if the problem is serious, such as mold or mildew.
Most hotels are not pet-friendly. Put a call into the front desk just to be sure, no matter what it says on their website. Be sure you know what pet-friendly means because there could be specific restrictions on sizes or certain breeds of dogs.
In order to save money on hotel stays, book far in advance. Most hotels have serious discounts for early booking customers. This way, you can save as much as 50 percent even with the most elite brands.
If you need to have a pet stay with you in your hotel room, do a few things ahead of time. You want to ensure you’ve chosen a pet-friendly hotel. Also, take a good supply of plastic bags, such as grocery bags, to clean up after your pet. When you call to make reservations, try getting a room away from other guests so any noise your pet makes won’t bother people.
Never assume that all hotels are pet-friendly. Call and ask before you reserve. 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.
It is wise to join a hotel loyalty program if you travel frequently. They offer rewards to guests who book the same hotel chain frequently. You can often earn free upgrades, free stays, and complimentary late check out with enough points accrued.
If you belong to the AAA, see what kinds of discounts the hotel offers. Your membership in this auto club has just such a discount available to you. You could save 5% or even 10% on some rooms. Over multiple nights, that five percent will really add up.
To get the most out of your hotel stays, particularly if you travel a great deal for business, join a membership program such as that offered by Choice Hotels or Marriott. Every stay in a particular hotel chain where you are a member will add points to your total, which can later be used on free rooms or amenities that usually cost you.
Be sure to follow your fitness regimen while staying in a hotel by packing your workout clothes and any other equipment you may need. Go for a jog every morning. It’ll let you explore the city in a new way.
When traveling with children, check with the hotel ahead of time to ascertain that the pool is usable. Imagine arriving at your destination looking forward to a dip in the pool, only to discover that you can’t use it.
If you travel frequently, sign up for loyalty programs at your favorite hotels. They have benefits for those who frequently stay at a hotel. You can get a free upgrade, restaurant gift certificates or even a free stay!
Make sure to ask up front if the hotel allows smoking or does not. If you are not a smoker, you might want to avoid hotels with smoking rooms. While you can book a non-smoking room, smoke can infiltrate your room and settle into your clothing. There are times when smokers light up in a non-smoking room. If you want to avoid smelling like cigarettes when you leave, you may wish to consider a non-smoking hotel.
Environmentally Friendly
If you smoke, it is important to know what the hotel’s smoking policy is before you book your room. Many hotels have rooms designated for smokers. You should try your best to book one of these if they are available. If you smoke in a room designated as non-smoking, a big penalty can come along with it.
If you are worried about the environment, consider taking a “green” vacation. Many hotels offer environmentally friendly standards today. There are newer hotels that were built to be environmentally friendly. Many older hotels will still be environmentally aware by utilizing some eco-friendly practices. Ask your travel agent to help you identify environmentally friendly hotels.
You should be aware whether or not the hotel allows pets. If you are allergic to pets, avoid pet friendly hotels. These hotels sometimes have odors because the carpet and linens have absorbed them. One hotel may charge guests an arm and a leg to bring their pet, while others don’t. Depending on what the hotel is like, you might have to pay an extra cleaning fee.
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.
Keep in mind that hotel check-ins are usually very strict; therefore, you probably won’t be able to check-in early. If you are going to arrive early, plan on doing something to fill your time. The hotels need a chance to clean up your room prior to check in. If you do get to the hotel early, ask at the front desk if you can possibly check in early, but there is a chance you won’t be able to.
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. By joining a membership program, you earn points during every visit. These points can add up to free items over time.
Avoid leaving your hotel before your scheduled date of departure. The hotel may charge you a fee for your early departure. A booked hotel room is taken off the market, meaning your early departure would cost them money. This is why they have the departure fee, to get their money back that they would have otherwise lost.
Ask if your possible hotel reservation is either smoking or non. If cigarette smoke bothers you, look for a hotel that doesn’t have smoking rooms. Even if you book a non-smoking room, smoke can enter your room through air vents. In addition, some smokers will rent out non-smoking rooms and smoke in them. If you want to avoid smelling like cigarettes when you leave, you may wish to consider a non-smoking hotel.
For the sake of hygiene, avoid the bedspread provided by the hotel. The bedspread is one item that does not usually get washed between bookings. That can mean it is full of germs, bacteria or who knows what else. Just make sure you remove the bedspread.
You can find quality accommodations on the cheap if you know where to look. The information provided here should help in doing just that. You will not have to spend much money at all. Keep these tips in mind, and have fun planning!
If a hotel tries to “walk” you, know what your rights are. Occasionally, a hotel overbooks and your booked room is unavailable. That means the hotel will send you to another establishment, or “walk” you. Avoid having this happen if you can, but if you’re going to a different hotel, be sure that the deal is better than the place you were trying to get.
