Staying in a hotel is something no one can avoid. Whether your trip is for business or pleasure, having a pleasant hotel to stay in is important. These tips should prove to help out quite a lot.
You can find a lot of great deals on hotels if you go online and check out some of the travel sites out there. If you have a hotel loyalty program your a part of, be sure you enter this information while looking through rates. You may also be eligible for deals that are offered to members of certain organizations, like AAA or AARP.
Use websites like Orbitz and Expedia for great prices. If you are in a hotel loyalty program, put your information in. You may also be able to get good discounts due to AAA or AARP membership.
It’s important to make sure that your valuables are safe during a hotel stay, so make use of the room’s safe. 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.
Consider your organizational memberships. Many of these places will give you cheaper hotel prices. Some discounts can be over ten percent! If you are planning to stay a few nights, this can really add up. It can add up to almost a free hotel night!
You can use online travel sites to find great hotels. These websites can help you get great deals quickly. They can also provide you with the average rate for a room at a particular hotel, so you can see if your offer is really a good deal. In addition, these tools can help you determine the best time to go on vacation and the things that you can do there.
Make use of the various hotel search websites on the Internet. These websites can help you quickly find great deals. They display the average rates of hotels so that you can see if the deal you are getting is good. On top of that, they can help you determine the cheapest destinations.
Always look for online deals before booking a hotel room. Hotels don’t usually advertise their lowest rates, so you may have to ask. It’s your job to find them yourself. Websites like Orbitz, Travelocity and Hotels.com usually have some great discounts.
Before you book a hotel, look for deals online. Many times, the person you book your room with will not tell you that you can get a discount online. So, it’s up personally to you to go searching for such discounts. Look at Jetsetter, RueLaLaTravel or similar websites for discounts.
Check your hotel room prior to unpacking. Is it tidy and sanitary? Check the toilet, the shower, and the sink to make sure they are clean and function properly. Have the staff provided all the necessary soap, shampoo, towels, etc. that you will be needing? If you have any problem with the room, report it immediatlely to have it fixed as soon as possible.
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. The earlier you book, the better rate you should get. You may find yourself saving as much as half off of the room’s typical rates.
Don’t think every hotel is pet-friendly. Call them ahead of time to see if they are even if the website they’re on says yes. Be sure you know what pet-friendly means because there could be specific restrictions on sizes or certain breeds of dogs.
If you and a loved one are wanting to go to a hotel and get massages, it is important that you book the appointment way in advance. Frequently, the best massage people will be booked by name. This means that if you book early, you’ll have a better experience.
Do you travel on a periodic basis? If so, consider joining your hotel’s loyalty program. They provide benefits to travelers who regularly stay in the same hotel chain. You can get a free upgrade, restaurant gift certificates or even a free stay!
If you are a member of AAA, ask about a hotel discount. Many people are surprised to see hotel discounts included with their auto club membership. You can save 5%, 10% or more at quality hotels throughout the country. These savings can really add up if you travel often.
If you care about the environment, then you may be interested in taking a “green” vacation. Green hotels can feature specialized recycling programs, may only use recyclable products and use environmentally friendly cleaning supplies. Some of the newer hotels are certified green. Other older hotels will just provide green options for you. A good travel agent can help you find hotels that are environmentally friendly.
Always remember to pack running clothes and any thing else you need for exercising while on your trip. Enjoy a morning jog each day while on vacation. It will give you a better perspective of the city you are visiting.
Be sure you know the cost associated with hotel transfers when booking a room. Especially in situations where the price of the room represents a major deal, the hidden cost of the transfer can often make the difference. Asking these things before anything happens will allow you to save more.
Loyalty Programs
Become a member of AAA in order to make your travel arrangements easier. Not only do AAA members get hotel discounts at many chains that are well worth the AAA membership, but you can find it a lot easier to find a rental car where you go. In addition, parents may enjoy the benefit of having free car seats provided.
If you travel a lot, you should consider joining hotel loyalty programs. They give people benefits if they go to that chain often. These loyalty programs allow you to earn free upgrades, late check outs and even free stays.
Be careful not to make long distance phone calls on the hotel phone. Utilize the Internet, instead. Most hotels offer Wi-Fi, but you will probably need their password and may have to pay a fee to use this service. This can be a much cheaper option than calling from a hotel room and getting hit with lots of fees.
Choose a green vacation if you care for the environment. Fortunately, there are many green hotels available nowadays. Some hotels are certified to be green. Older hotels can’t always do this, but instead choose to adhere to certain green practices. Ask your travel agent to help you identify environmentally friendly hotels.
Call the hotel before you arrive to make sure the swimming pool is 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.
The amount you pay for the hotel room is determined by when you book it. Rooms are often priced in accordance with availability. If you can, make your room reservations only a day in advance. In this way, you will get good rates. The hotel will earn no money at all if the room is empty, which gives you a much better bargaining position.
If you are worried about bed bugs, start your inspection in the bathroom. Bedbugs usually won’t stay here. That makes it the perfect place to store your luggage while you inspect the rest of the premises for bedbugs. It’s also safer to the pets and kids you may have.
For those frequent travelers, it may be better to build loyalty and perks by joining the membership club of your favorite hotel. By joining a membership program, you earn points during every visit. These points can add up to free items over time.
Look into the smoking policies in the hotel you are considering. If you’re not a smoker, a smoking room may be unappealing. However, even with non-smoking rooms, there’s no telling if the guy next door is smoking. Sometimes, smokers rent and smoke in non-smoking rooms. If you are a non-smoker, be sure to request a non-smoking room in a non-smoking area of the hotel or you can find a hotel that is completely smoke free.
You can get great hotel discounts by becoming a member of AAA. AAA members are given many discounts and booking privileges on hotel rooms and rental vehicles. At some locations they even offer free car seats.
Be sure you understand your hotel’s smoking policy if you smoke. Most hotels have designated smoking rooms. If you smoke, you should make a specific reservation for this type of room. Don’t smoke in a nonsmoking room, or you may be charged by the hotel for doing so.
Avoid using the hotel phone to make long distance phone calls. Using the Internet is a better option. Skype connections that are accessed through Wi-Fi are offered by many hotels. This saves you a ton of money.
Know your hotel’s policy on pets prior to booking with them. If you’re fearful of pets or have an allergic reaction to them, it would be in your best interest to make reservations at hotels that have a strict no pets policy. Hotel floors and linens can glean unpleasant odors from pets. Depending on the hotel, you may be expected to pay extra for keeping a pet, but it isn’t usually a large sum. The fee may be for any cleaning that needs to be done.
Start by inspecting the hotel bathroom if you need to make sure there are no bed bugs. This is probably not where you will find bedbugs. This is why you should keep your luggage in there while you go on a search for bedbugs. It’s also safer to the pets and kids you may have.
If you are going to need a rollaway or crib, ask for this when making your reservation. Not every hotel will have these items available, and the ones that do only have limited quantities. There also may be an added charge for these things. Before making reservations, explain this.
Allow Smoking
Do not check out prior to your agreed upon departure date if you can avoid it. The hotel might charge you an early departure fee. A booked hotel room is taken off the market, meaning your early departure would cost them money. That is why you are charged a fee.
Make sure to ask up front if the hotel allows smoking or does not. If you are a non-smoker, then you should probably stay away from hotels that allow smoking. Although certain hotels that allow smoking will provide guests with non-smoking rooms, smoke will still be in the air. Smokers also sometimes smoke in rooms that you are not supposed to smoke in. Too avoid exposure to the smell of cigarette smoke, it may be best to stay at a non-smoking hotel.
Stay away from the bottled water! You may be thirsty and tired. You can be tempted to casually open that bottled water beckoning on the mini-fridge. Hotels take advantage of guests by charging ridiculous amounts for bottled water. The gym in the hotel may have water for free. Or better yet, bring a few of your own bottles.
In most cases, checking into a hotel room ahead of schedule isn’t possible. You need to plan appropriately to avoid waiting in the lobby all day. Hotels usually need to get the room cleaned and ready before you check in. If you are early, don’t expect miracles.
Don’t take linens from your room! Even though you might like the pillows, washcloths, or towels, the housekeeping staff will probably figure out you left with something and they might charge you. If you really love those linens or pillows, find out if you can purchase them from the hotel.
Avoid using the hotel bedspread. The bedspread is one item that does not usually get washed between bookings. As a result, the bedspread will likely contain all kinds of germs and bacteria. Remove it from the bed before you use it.
If you want the best rate for a hotel room, never book during the height of tourist season. This is when rates are highest. If you can, try to reserve rooms during the low season. This is when the hotels are anxious to fill their rooms. This will give you a better chance of actually getting a discounted rate.
As previously mentioned, everyone stays in a hotel at one time or another. No matter what your reasoning for needing to stay in one, it’s crucial to do your homework first. With the tips from this article, you will be sure to find a great hotel at a good price.
Book a hotel stay for your special occasions. You could get a perk because of the event in question. Perhaps you might receive a bottle of champagne for free or something else. However, you should not be dishonest about it because that is not right.
