To ensure that your next vacation goes off without a hitch, there are quite a few things you have to keep in mind. You have to decide where to go and how to get there. You also need to make reservations for your accommodations, this this may be difficult if you are unfamiliar with the area. This article is going to give you great advice that will be helpful.
Think about using room service if you want to enjoy late-night dining without needing to leave your hotel room. It may cost more, but it’s convenient when you don’t feel like leaving.
There are plenty of websites that offer reviews for local hotels, for example TripAdvisor. Use these websites to review a hotel before you make the actual reservation. Online review websites will allow you to see previous guests’ experiences at the hotels you are considering. Their opinions can help you decide whether or not a certain hotel is the right one for you.
When picking a hotel, there is a lot to think about. The cost is important but hardly the only factor to keep in mind. 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.
Find great hotel room prices by checking out travel websites like Orbitz and Expedia. If you are a member of a loyalty program, use that info when checking rates. Also, you may be eligible for discounts through other organizations to which you may belong, such as AARP or AAA.
Checking online is the best way to find a good price and get the information that you need about hotels. Many times, the reservation specialist won’t tell you of discounts when you call to book your room. So you should always search on your own for discounts prior to booking. Websites like Travelocity and Expedia can be a great way to do research on hotels.
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. Room service can be expensive, but the luxury of being able to lounge about in your room in your jammies can make it worthwhile.
Be sure to look at your room before unpacking your suitcase. It should be free of any mildew or mold. Does everything work? Count how many linens and towels you were given and make sure there are enough for everyone traveling with you. If there are any obvious problems, report them to the front desk immediately so that they can be taken care of or you can be moved to a different room.
Take a look into organizations you are part of. Some organizations will receive discounts for different reasons from different hotels. These discounts can be as much as 10 percent or even more. They can save you plenty of money, especially for prolonged stays. A stay of 5 days or more could add up to one free hotel night stay!
Part of trip planning is knowing what time check-in is at your hotel. If you are early, your room may not be ready. If you anticipate arriving before check-in time, make a call to the hotel and inquire if you can arrive early.
Before you book a hotel, look for deals online. Often, the reservations clerk will not advise you that a better deal is available online. It is your duty to perform due diligence. Use websites such as Jetsetter, SniqueAway or RueLaLaTravel.
You should always start planning any serious trip months or weeks ahead of time. This will help you book early and get the best prices. Some hotels have great discounts when you book a couple of months in advance. With elite brands, this can translate into savings of up to 50 percent.
If you stay at the same hotels all the time, check to see if they have a frequent-stay program. These are similar to frequent flyer programs, offering points each time you stay at a particular chain. Over time, these points can really add up, allowing you to enjoy numerous upgrades, spa visits, restaurant discounts, and even free nights at the hotel.
Do not assume that each hotel welcomes pets. Put a call into the front desk just to be sure, no matter what it says on their website. Also, find out if there are any size or breed restrictions.
To make sure you don’t have an unexpected expense, ask about how much hotel transfers will cost. It is not uncommon to find that greatly discounted bookings may have a hidden cost for the transfer. If you know this upfront, you can save more money.
If you are an AAA member, check into your membership hotel discount. AAA members actually receive hotel discounts at specific hotel chains! You can save five percent or more on certain hotels. The more nights you stay, the more you will save.
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. Your kids and you will be very frustrated if the pool at your hotel is closed because of repairs when you arrive.
Pack your GPS and running clothes while on vacation. This makes it easy for you to wake in the morning and get in a run. Running down city streets or country roads can give you a fresh view of the place you are visiting.
Inspect your room for bed bugs, starting with the bathroom. Bedbugs usually won’t stay here. You can leave your bags there while you investigate the remainder of the room for bedbugs. It’s also safer to the pets and kids you may have.
If you travel often, it’s a great idea to enroll in a hotel’s loyalty program. There are some great benefits offered to clients who often book the same chain. You might earn a free upgrade, late checkout time, or other great perks.
Always ask about the hotel’s smoking policy if you smoke. Most hotels have designated smoking rooms. Therefore, if you are a smoker, always ask for a room that allows smoking. 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.
Try out a green vacation. There are plenty of “green” hotels that take the environment into consideration. Newer hotels are sometimes built according to green standards. Eco-friendly strategies are also now commonly adopted by many older hotels. Talk to your travel agent in order to find the best green hotels for your needs.
In most cases, checking into a hotel room ahead of schedule isn’t possible. Therefore, don’t show up hours in advance, or you may be sitting around waiting for a while. The room has to be cleaned ahead of your check in. If you are early, don’t expect miracles.
How much you’re going to pay for your hotel room will depend on when your room is booked. Availability dictates the prices of hotel rooms. If possible, try to book your room 24 hours or less in advance. This will get you a great price on your room. Hotels don’t earn money on empty rooms, so they are often willing to reduce the price.
Early Departure
If you are a frequent business traveler, establishments like Marriott and Choice Hotels offer attractive membership programs. 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.
Never actually check out before the departure date unless it’s an emergency. Hotels often charge early departure fees. Booking that room means it wasn’t available when others were reserving. Therefore, some will charge the early departure fee.
Don’t call long distance in your hotel room. Use the Internet, instead. Skype connections are available in many hotels these days using Wi-Fi. This can be a much cheaper option than calling from a hotel room and getting hit with lots of fees.
Avoid drinking bottled water from a hotel! After you check-in you may feel tired and thirsty. As a result, that bottle of water on the little fridge may look very good to you. Hotels have a huge profit margin on bottled water and know that you will be craving it when you arrive. Often, hotels offer complementary water in their workout facilities. Simply, bring your own bottled water.
If you are bringing your kids along for the trip, then it’s a good idea to call a hotel in advance and make sure they have working pools. There is nothing worse than getting to a hotel with kids to find the pool is closed.
Don’t think that you should steal the hotel’s property. It seems like a common thing people try to get away with, but the hotel will know when you do this and may charge you later for the missing items. However, you can ask the hotel if you can buy the linen from them directly for a much better price.
Inquire if the hotel is a non-smoking hotel. If you are a non-smoker, then you should probably stay away from hotels that allow smoking. While it is possible to book a nonsmoking room, you can still be affected by the smoke from other areas. Sometimes, smokers rent non-smoking rooms and smoke in them. If you don’t want to smell like cigarettes after leaving your hotel room, you might want to look for a non-smoking hotel.
Think about bundling your flight and hotel together. Use a travel site that has package deals, which include hotel, flight, and rental car. If you want to maximize your possibilities, comparison shop the rates of multiple hotels and airlines.
Try to avoid checking out of the hotel ahead of your scheduled checkout time. Some hotels charge a fee for early departure. Booking that room means it wasn’t available when others were reserving. So make sure that you know the hotel’s policy on checking out a day or two early – it might cost you.
If you want a hotel room upgrade, try to get one without paying anything extra. One savvy way to possibly get an upgrade is to show up at the check-in time you booked exactly on the minute. A lot of the times your room may not be ready yet so they’ll give you a deal on a different room that’s better for free.
You probably should avoid using the hotel’s bedspread for hygienic reasons. Hotel sheets are laundered daily; however, bedspreads are not. That can mean it is full of germs, bacteria or who knows what else. Take the bedspread off of the bed.
With these tips, it is easy to pick a great, but still affordable, hotel. You are ready to book your next room after having found out what to be aware of when searching. Go ahead with your travel plans because you will surely have a good experience. Enjoy the tips and you’ll have plenty of good stories when you return.
Don’t take linens from your room! Keeping linens, a robe or some similar item will likely not go unnoticed. You will be issued a bill for the items taken. If you really love those linens or pillows, find out if you can purchase them from the hotel.