Finding the right hotel can make or break your trip better. Read on to find out how to find an affordable place to stay with great hotel for a good price.
Before you pick out your hotel you’re going to reserve a spot at, check out review sites online like TripAdvisor. This lets you know what others’ experiences have been like. What people say about their experiences at the hotels you’re thinking of booking can aid you in coming to the right decision.
Check online reviews prior to booking your stay. This gives you valuable information about the recent experiences have been like. What others say will help you in coming to the right decision.
Consider the benefits of any organization memberships you have. Hotel discounts are often one of the benefits offered. Some of these discounts can be pretty substantial, but many people don’t take advantage of them. That can add up to huge savings over multiple nights. This can rack up a free night over the entire course of a whole week.
You can use it to store your tablet and other expensive items in the hotel safe.
There are quite a few things you need to think over when you’re about to stay at a hotel. Price is one consideration, but you may also want a hotel that is close to a certain destination. Amenities such as complimentary WiFi, free local calls, complimentary breakfast, a gym and pool and a convenient restaurant are also important considerations. Try to get a room that fits your needs, then start shopping by price.
Check with the organizations that you’re a member with. Some may offer discounts on hotels to their members. People frequently forget these discounts are available, which can be 10% or more. It can add up to equal a free hotel night!
Use hotel search tools online. Some websites are designed to help you find the best 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. Finally, they can assist you in deciding when to vacation and what to do once you arrive at your destination.
Plan your trip as far in advance for the best rates. Many hotels offer discounts if you book a month or two ahead of time. You may save 50 percent off at some very exclusive hotels.
Never book a hotel room before seeking out online deals. Many times, the reservation specialist won’t tell you of discounts when you call to book your room. That’s why it’s always your duty to search the web for better deals whenever you are booking a hotel room. Check websites like Hotwire.com, Kayak.com and Priceline.com for great discounts.
Don’t make assumptions about pet policies of thinking all hotels will accept pets.
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. Call the hotel if you are early and find out if your room is ready.
Book your appointment as early as possible. The best massage therapists are well-known at resorts, so get in while you can.
Most hotels are not pet-friendly. Be sure to call in advance and find out about their policies, regardless of website info. Make sure they specify what pet-friendly means since there may be certain restrictions on pet sizes and breeds that are allowed on the property.
If you want to keep your regular running routine, make sure you pack exercise clothes and a GPS watch.
If you are an AAA member, check into your membership hotel discount. You would be surprised where hidden discounts may be lurking. You can save up to an additional five percent at certain hotels throughout the country. The savings can really add up nightly.
Spa Deals
If you travel a lot, you should consider joining hotel loyalty programs. These programs provide benefits to guests who book the same hotel regularly. You can earn things like free upgrades, complimentary late check-out times and free stays if you accrue enough loyalty points.
If you stay at the same chain of hotels often, find out about the programs they offer to frequent guests. These hotel programs give you points every time you stay there. They add up to free nights, free nights, spa deals, spa deals and a whole lot more.
If you tend to return to the same family of hotels for your vacation, consider joining their membership reward programs. Similar to how you earn points from frequent flyer programs, hotels offer you similar rewards for your stay. These points can be traded in for restaurant discounts, tickets to shows, free nights at the hotel, and much more.
If you are an environmentally conscious traveler, a green vacation is something to look into. There are several green hotels that feature green amenities. Some newer hotels were built with green and are certified green. Some older inns just select one or more of several eco-friendly practices to be environmentally aware. Talk to your travel agent in order to find the best green hotels.
Do you care about your environment? If so, a “green” hotel may be for you. Fortunately, there are many green hotels available nowadays. Many new hotels are certified as green hotels. Also, older hotels often make several changes to become eco-friendly. Talk to your travel agent if you prefer to stay at this type of hotel.
Be sure you know the cost associated with hotel transfer fees by asking about them in advance. If you’re getting what appears to be a nice deal on the room, then an expensive transfer can ruin the whole savings. You will save the most money when you ask about such a thing in advance.
If you do a great deal of traveling, consider joining hotel chain loyalty programs. You will build up points with that hotel for added benefits. It works a lot like frequent flier miles do for airlines.
Get a AAA membership for hotel when you travel. Parents with young children will appreciate the free car seat provided in some locations.
Call ahead to your hotels to make certain the swimming pools are ready for your kids. Showing up at your hotel and finding out the pool isn’t in working order can ruin an otherwise great trip.
Distance Calls
If you are searching a hotel for bed bugs, you should check the bathroom first. Bedbugs are least likely to live here. This makes it an ideal spot to put your luggage as you check out the rest of your room for bedbugs. Put kids and pets in there, too.
Don’t call long distance calls from your hotel room. Many hotels now offer Skype connections on their Wi-Fi.You will be able to stay connected with family and friends while you are away without the additional expense of making expensive long distance calls from your hotel phone.
If you smoke, be aware of the hotel policy with regard to smoking. Many have designated nonsmoking rooms. If your selected hotel does, ask for one. Some hotels charge large penalties if they find that smoking occured in a room not designated for it, so make sure you follow the hotel’s smoking rules.
Start by inspecting the bathroom if you need to make sure there are no bed bugs. This is probably not where you are least likely to find bedbugs. It is a safe place for children and kids.
Check out the hotel’s pet policy. If you’re allergic to pets or fear them, then you may want to avoid hotels that allow pets. They may have a hidden smell that the hotel tries to mask with a strong fragrance, which is also an irritant. You may get charged extra for having a pet, but a lot of places don’t charge all that much. 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.
Check if your prospective hotel is non-smoking or smoking. If you’re someone who doesn’t like cigarette smoke, you might want to stay away from hotels that offer smoking rooms. Smokers don’t always respect the fact that the room they are not supposed to smoke in.
If a crib or a rollaway bed is necessary for your stay, let your booking agent know. Some hotels don’t have them, and others have a limited amount. Also, you may get charged extra for these types of things. Talk about these when reserving your room so you aren’t hit with unexpected expenses.
You should be aware that you generally aren’t going to be able to do an early hotel check ins are not always possible. Plan your time accordingly unless you want to wait in a hotel lobby. Hotels need the time to clean your room so it is ready for you get to check into it. If you do arrive before the normal check-in, ask at the desk about early check-in, but there is a chance you won’t be able to.
Do not check out prior to your agreed upon departure date if you can avoid it. This could result in a charge for early departure. When you book a hotel room, the hotel takes that room off the market; thus, if you depart early they will lose money. They will charge a departure fee so they get back what they lose.
Never actually check out before the departure unless it’s an emergency. Some hotels charge a fee for early departure fees. If you reserve a room for a set number of days but check out a day or two early, the hotel will lose money because they remove the room off the reservation list.
Do not give in to the temptation to run off with hotel towels or sheets. Housekeeping will notice items are missing and you could get a bill. Ask if you can buy the linens from the hotel if you like them a lot.
Be aware of your rights in the event that a hotel “walks” you. This means that you have to go somewhere else. Avoid getting “walked” whenever you can, but if must go to another hotel, make sure you get a comparable or better room and the travel to there paid for.
Bundle your flight and your accommodations for greater savings. A lot of travel online sites feature serious savings for anyone who bundles things together. For best results, do a rate comparison of various carriers and hotels.
Do not open the bottled water in your room. You are very likely to be tired and thirsty when you check in. You may decide to reach for that bottle of water beckoning on the mini fridge. Hotels are well aware of this and charge more for that already exorbitantly priced bottled water. You might be able to get bottled water in the gym. A better option to simply bring a few of your own bottled water.
Don’t pay the price the hotels advertise. A savvy traveler knows not to pay this “rack rate.” The hotel expects you to haggle. Call the hotel and get the best deal possible. Be assertive. You can also find deep discounts on various travel websites.
Hotel Rates
Travelocity and Expedia can help you save money. Hotels offer these sites special discounts because of the high volume of rooms that are booked this way. You may be required to bid on some, while others provide a price and star rating without showing the name unless you buy, so make sure you are aware of that.
You can save money by not booking a hotel rates when you don’t book during tourist seasons. This is the highest time that hotel rates are at their highest. This will give you a rate that’s a lot better.
Inquire about deals. The clerk may not be able to lower the price, but often they can throw in a freebie or two to keep you happy. If you choose not to ask, you’re not going to know.
If you find yourself having to book a hotel while on the road, check out rest areas or gas stations to find tourist books which will have maps, tourist centers and gas stations to find tourist books with maps of hotel locations, prices and incredible discounts. This will give you an opportunity to book a deal without visiting a hundred different hotels.
The quality of chain hotels may prove to be inconsistent. If you’ve gone to a great hotel at one time in a certain chain, that doesn’t mean the next place you will go will have service that’s better. That’s why you must individually check every hotel you stay at, even if you’ve stayed there before.
Clearly, if you stay at a hotel you want to get value for your dollar. After all, you could use that money elsewhere. Use the ideas and advice of this article to find a hotel you can afford and sleep comfortably in. Don’t hesitate to reread this article during your next hotel visit.
A lot of hotel websites as well as brochures will use Photoshop to make their hotel look better. For instance, that lovely pool may only be the size of a kiddie pool, or a shabby neighborhood may have been brushed out. Take some time and investigate the hotel that you want to book prior to making your reservation.
