Going On Vacation? Check Out These Tips Before Booking Your Hotel!

Just about everybody has a story to tell about a bad hotel experience. Nobody wants to repeat a bad experience because hotels are expensive. Use the following tips to make sure that you get a nice hotel room without having to spend a lot of money.

You can find good deals on hotel rooms using online travel sites. Make sure you notify the reservation clerk about any loyalty program you belong to with the hotel. You may also be eligible for other discounts through any memberships you have with organizations such as AAA and AARP.

TIP! When checking for good prices at hotels, refer to online travel sites like Orbitz and Expedia. Join the loyalty program for any hotel chain that you love and believe you’ll stay with often.

Be sure to put all valuables, such as jewelry and electronics, in the hotel safe. Your small electronic devices can be left in the safe when you are out, so you will not have to worry about them.

To get a meal later at night order yourself some room service. This service comes at a premium, but you can stay comfortable in your room while enjoying you eats.

TIP! If you want a meal at night, it is much more comfortable to enjoy room service. While you’re likely to pay a little more, it’s worth having the convenience of staying in your room (and in your pajamas) while you wait to satisfy those nocturnal cravings.

Check with the organizations that you are a member with. Some of these organizations will offer you discounts on hotel prices. Some of these discounts can be pretty substantial, but many people don’t take advantage of them. That can save a lot of money, especially if you are staying for multiple nights. This can rack up a free night over the entire course of a whole week.

Make use of the room safe to ensure the safety of your electronics when you are not in your room. Valuables can be placed there with confidence, allowing you to enjoy your day without worries.

TIP! Look for a closet safe in your hotel room, and use it for any expensive electronics you may have brought with you. Putting your valuable jewelry and electronic items in the hotel safe allows you to feel secure as you enjoy your vacation.

Hotel Search

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. A lot of hotel locations offer discounts for reservations a month or more in advance. That saves you 50 percent or more frequently!

TIP! To get the lowest price on accommodations, plan your trip in advance. Many locations offer discounts if you are willing to book more than a month or two ahead of time.

Use hotel search tools online. These sites allow you to find great deals quickly. Hotel search websites also let you see the regular rates of hotels, so you can compare and see whether a supposed deal is really a good one. They might even offer some decent entertainment venues that you should experience while you’re in the local area.

If you are traveling with a pet, it is best to find a pet friendly hotel ahead of time. Call the hotel to verify, even if it says so on the website. A hotel may be pet-friendly, but still has restrictions against certain breeds or animals. Find out ahead of time if your pet is acceptable.

TIP! Most hotels are not pet-friendly. Call the hotel in advance to ensure the hotel is pet friendly.

Prior to making a hotel reservation, check for deals online. Often, the only way to learn about discounts is to look online. It is your responsibility to find these discounts. Sites, such as Jetsetter, will let you know of any discounts available.

If you need to have a pet stay with you in your hotel room, do a few things ahead of time. Find out if the hotel you have selected is pet-friendly. Make sure you bring along plenty of plastic bags to dispose of any pet waste. Reserving a room near the end of a hallway will keep other guests from being disturbed by your pet.

TIP! Taking a pet on a trip requires some extra responsibility. Take time to ensure that the hotel you’re booking is, in fact, pet-friendly.

Never assume that all hotels are pet-friendly. So call ahead and make sure you understand if there are extra fees or a limited number of rooms available. 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.

To make sure that you get a couple’s massage when you’re staying somewhere, get your appointment booked as early as you are able to. 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.

TIP! If you want to have a massage with your partner on your vacation, make sure that you schedule an appointment with a masseuse as early as possible. Frequently, the most skilled massage specialists at the best hotels are reserved by name, so when you plan ahead, you can get the best.

If you’re thinking of taking your pet to a hotel with you, there are some things you need to do first. Confirm that pets are allowed in the room you are staying. Make sure you have some plastic bags to get rid of pet messes. You should also see if you can get a room near the end part of the hallway to make sure other guests don’t have to put up with pet noise.

If you belong to the AAA, see what kinds of discounts the hotel offers. Your membership may entitle you to hotel discounts. You may save 5% or even more on nationwide hotels. These savings quickly add up, especially if you are staying for multiple nights in a row.

TIP! Use your AAA discount at hotels. You might be surprised to learn that your membership to the auto club also includes discounts on hotels.

Book your appointment as far ahead of time as possible to guarantee you get the perfect couples massage for you and your significant other. Usually, the best massage therapists are booked well in advance at top resorts. If you plan early, you will have the best experience possible.

If there’s a hotel chain you stay at often, check out their membership programs for frequent guests. Just like frequent flyer mile programs, these hotel programs offer you points for your stay. These points can be traded in for restaurant discounts, tickets to shows, free nights at the hotel, and much more.

TIP! If you go to the same hotel often, see if they have frequent stay programs you can become a member of. Similar to frequent flyer programs, some hotels have programs that give point for each stay.

If you are an avid jogger, a GPS watch is a great investment so you can always find your way back to your hotel. Also, don’t forget your exercise clothes! You can still enjoy your early morning jog while on vacation if you have your gear and the right room booked. It will give you a perspective that you’ll never get while riding in a car.

If you care about the environment, then you may be interested in taking a “green” vacation. There are several green hotels around. Some of the newer hotels are certified green. Older hotels may choose to take “green” standards seriously, which is a great thing. Finding hotels that are environmentally friendly can be as easy as asking your favorite travel agent.

TIP! If you are concerned about the environment, you may want to take a “green” vacation. The great thing is there are plenty of green hotels you can select from.

There are membership programs that hotels offer for those that stay frequently at their chains. These programs give you points every time you stay there. They will get you discounts on the hotel restaurants, spa deals, and just a number of great stuff.

A membership in AAA can make booking a hotel easier when you travel. A membership with AAA not only provides you with hotel discounts but a guaranteed piece of mind when trying to rent a vehicle. Parents of younger children are likely to enjoy the free car seat provided in many locations.

TIP! Become a member of AAA in order to make your travel arrangements easier. The AAA membership fee is well worth the discounts offered by many chains, and renting a car will also be easier.

Discuss what a hotel transfer will cost you prior to actually booking anything. In many situations in which the room’s price is a great deal, the undisclosed price of your transfer can frequently eat up the savings. Getting this information ahead of time will maximize your savings.

If you are traveling with children, be sure the hotels you book have clean swimming pools that are up and running. There is nothing worse than having to tell your excited kids they cannot swim.

TIP! Check with the hotel to make sure the pools are ready to go if you are traveling with children. There is nothing worse than arriving at your destination anxiously looking forward to splashing around in the pool, only to find that it is closed.

Being a member of AAA makes travel very easy. AAA members receive excellent discounts on hotels, car rentals and other attractions. In addition, free car seats are usually provided, which parents are certain to enjoy.

If you are going to inspect if your hotel room has bed bugs, then start looking in the bathroom. This room is usually free from bugs. That is what makes it the best place to start. You can store your luggage there and search the rest of your room for those bedbugs. It is usually a convenient place for young children to sit for a moment too.

TIP! If you are inspecting a room for bed bugs, then the bathroom is the best place to start. This is where bedbugs are least likely to be.

When checking your hotel accommodations for bed bugs, begin in the bathroom. Bedbugs usually won’t stay here. This is why you should keep your luggage in there while you go on a search for bedbugs. It’s safe for pets and kids too.

Know whether or not smoking is allowed in your room. Hotels normally have rooms set aside for smokers. If your selected hotel does, ask for one. 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.

TIP! Learn about the smoking policies if you smoke. Some have rooms for smokers.

Be sure you know what the hotel smoking policy is if you smoke cigarettes. Many hotels set aside certain rooms or wings for smoking guests. If you smoke, you should make a specific reservation for this type of room. 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.

Let the hotel know if you will be needing a crib or a rollaway bed. Not every hotel will give you this sort of thing, and the ones that do are in limited quantities. In addition, there is sometimes an extra charge for these items. Discuss your needs at the time of booking.

TIP! If you have to get a rollaway or a crib, you need to let them know when you’re making the reservation. The hotel may not have these items on hand.

Nobody sets out to stay at a horrible hotel. The cheapest rate cannot compensate for a terrible experience. Your vacation will be a failure. Therefore, ensure you utilize the advice provided here in order to select the ideal hotel. When you’ve chosen the best hotel, then look to see what discounts are out there for you.

Do not check out early. The hotel might charge you a fee for early departure. You reserve a room when you book it, so if you leave early they lose money. That’s why they will charge you a fee for early departure.

TIP! Avoid leaving your hotel before your scheduled date of departure. Hotels often charge early departure fees.