Most people have to stay in a hotel from time to time. A lot of people have a bad hotel experience because they didn’t research for information ahead of time. Luckily, you have come to the right place. Use these tips to ensure a comfortable stay at a great hotel.
Online travel sites like Expedia or Orbitz can help you get the best price for rooms at the hotel you would like to stay at. Make sure you notify the reservation clerk about any loyalty program you belong to with the hotel. You may also qualify for discounts from other organizations you belong to such as AAA or AARP.
It’s important to make sure that your valuables are safe during a hotel stay, so make use of the room’s safe. Your small electronic devices can be left in the safe when you are out, so you will not have to worry about them.
The organizations that you are a member of might be of help. Many of them offer hotel discounts to members. People often forget about these discounts, which can be 10% or more. This can result in significant savings, especially for longer stays. It can add up to equal a free night!
Take a look into organizations you are part of. Do they offer hotel discounts? It is easy to forget about the discounts. This is a good discount that only gets better the longer you stay in a hotel. For a week of vacation time that adds up to an extra day!
Check your room when you arrive. Make sure the room is entirely clean and free from any mildew or mold. Check the toilet, the shower, and the sink to make sure they are clean and function properly. Are linens and towels in ample supply? Call the front desk if you find any issues; they can either fix the problem or give you a different room.
There are several things you should consider when booking a hotel. Price is one, but a prime location is another. Amenities that help you choose a hotel are free breakfast, free Wi-Fi, exercise room, pool, and a restaurant on the premises. Shop around for a hotel that has the features that are most important to you.
Part of trip planning is knowing what time check-in is at your hotel. Some people end up waiting for their room to be available because they forget to check this critical detail. If you will be arriving before check-in, call the hotel in advance and see if you can check-in early.
Take advantage of search tools online. These websites can help you quickly find great deals. They will also let you know what people pay on average when they go to that hotel. This lets you figure out if the deal you’re getting is a good one. These travel sites also list activities available in your area.
Taking a pet on a trip requires some extra responsibility. First, find out if the hotel allows pets. For easy cleanup, make sure that you have brought along an adequate number of plastic bags. Ask for a corner room since this can reduce the number of guests disturbed by a noisy pet.
Always look for online deals before booking a hotel room. Sometimes, the person at the hotel desk might forget to mention a discount for booking online. It’s your job to find them yourself. Websites like Orbitz, Travelocity and Hotels.com usually have some great discounts.
If you don’t want to get a big expense on the hotel bill you get, speak to the place about hotel transfers prior to booking things. Particularly if you are getting a discount, the fee associated with the transfer may be high. Asking about this ahead of time helps you maximize your savings.
Know your check-in time in advance. Some people neglect asking what the check-in time is and get to the hotel when their room is still not ready. If you’re going to come to the hotel before you should be checking in, call them first to see if there’s anything they can do for you.
Never use the hotel phone for long distance calls. Make use of the Internet, instead. Skype connections are available in many hotels these days using Wi-Fi. This is much cheaper than paying for a bunch of long distance calls from your hotel room.
Don’t assume a hotel is pet-friendly. Call the hotel in advance to ensure the hotel is pet friendly. Make sure that you ask ahead what pet-friendly means to the hotel because this is a loose term that may still mean there are certain restrictions.
Inspect your room for bed bugs, starting with the bathroom. This is the place least likely to have bedbugs. When you determine there are not any in there, set your bags down and inspect the remainder of the premises. Kids and pets can stay there as well.
If you want to take your pet along on a trip, take care of three tasks before you leave. Make sure the hotel is actually pet-friendly. Also, take a good supply of plastic bags, such as grocery bags, to clean up after your pet. When making your reservation, ask for a room at the end of the hall to spare other guests your pet noise.
If you smoke, it is important to know what the hotel’s smoking policy is before you book your room. Certain hotels provide rooms that are specifically for people who smoke. So if you are a smoker, be sure to ask for one of those rooms. Some hotels will levy a large fine if they can determine that you smoked in a room where smoking was not allowed, so make sure you understand and follow the hotel’s smoking policy.
If you want to book a good couples massage, you should not wait until the last minute. 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.
Know what the pet policy is before you book. If you’re scared of pets or have allergies, you may not want to stay in a pet friendly hotel. Rooms that allow pets may also have the odor of animals. This can be in the linens and carpet. Many hotels charge a fee for staying with a pet, but it might not be a lot. In fact, the extra charge for pets might not even cover the costs of cleaning; therefore, you should make sure you know all this ahead of time.
If you travel often, consider signing up for a loyalty program with your favorite hotel chain. Loyalty programs provide frequent guests benefits for booking with them on a regular basis. There are many rewards given when you accumulate loyalty points such as free stays, free upgrades and later than usual check out times.
Know that you may not be able to check-in early at some hotels. Make sure you plan around your check-in time, or you will be forced to sit in a lobby to wait for your room. The room must be cleaned and prepared so the next guest can check in. If you’re going to have to show up early, speak with the people at the front to see if you’re able to get into the room, but don’t think that it will happen.
The time you book the room will change how much you’ll pay. Hotels price their rooms based on how many rooms are available. If possible, don’t make your reservation more than a day in advance. This gives you the best prices in reserving hotel rooms. They’ll lower the price to fill the room.
If you have a young child, ask for a crib when you call to make your reservation. Some hotels have these in short supply. There also may be an added charge for these things. You should discuss this with the hotel agent prior to booking so that you do not have an unexpected charge to your bill.
Is your room non-smoking or not? If you don’t smoke, you may wish to avoid those that have smoking rooms. Nonetheless, if there are smokers in the hotel, you may have problems with odors. Smokers don’t always respect the fact that the room they are renting is a non-smoking room. Choose a non-smoking hotel to a smoke smell on your clothes.
If you can, avoid checking out before the day you are scheduled to. The hotel may charge you a fee for your early departure. Booked hotel rooms are taken off the market, so if you leave early, the hotel loses money. They have to at least get something for the loss, thus an early departure charge.
If you are a smoker, know the smoking policy for the hotel in which you are staying. Many hotels still offer smoking rooms. If this is what you’re looking for, inquire about these rooms. If you stay in a room that doesn’t allow smoking and the hotel staff discover evidence of you smoking in this room, then you could be charged a large penalty. Therefore, it is important that you always follow the hotel’s rules when it comes to smoking.
You may wish to use a different blanket than the comforter that is in your hotel room. The bedspread usually isn’t washed like the linens are. It could have acquired a lot of invisible germs and other things you want to avoid. Pull it off for peace of mind.
If you’re going to need special sleeping arrangements at a hotel, such as a roll- away or baby bed, specify this as you make reservations. Your hotel may not have these things or may have only a few, so it is smart to reserve in advance. Some hotels will include an additional fee if you want to rent these items during your stay. Avoid difficulties by making these arrangements in advance.
Know what the hotel’s policy is for overbooking. This refers to hotels overbooking their hotel rooms; therefore, the hotel room that you booked may not be available when you check in. As a result, hotels will attempt to escort you to another hotel. If you can’t avoid this make sure the room you get there is better or comparable and that they pay for the travel there.
If it’s possible, try not to check out before the departure date you had originally scheduled. If you check out early, you could be liable for early checkout fees. If you reserve a room for a set number of days but check out a day or two early, that hotel may charge a fee because they couldn’t book that room. To earn back this money they will lose, they charge you an additional departure fee.
Do not drink the bottled water that is offered in the rooms. You may be thirsty and tired. You might want to open the bottled water they left you. Hotels are really aware of this, and the water will cost you quite a bit more than it really should. Sometimes the gym at the hotel will provide free bottled water. Or better yet, bring your own bottled water.
In summary, hotel stays are often necessary. If you don’t do the research, your hotel stay could become a nightmare though. Follow the advice presented here to get the best value in a hotel room.
Do not give in to the temptation to run off with hotel towels or sheets. You will find yourself receiving a nice bill in the mail later. If you like them that much, check out the gift shop for new ones.
