Do you need to book a hotel room soon? Here are a few useful tips for finding a decent hotel anywhere you go. If this is the case, you have come to the right place. This post has lots of good intel for the next time you want to book a hotel room.
Be sure to put all valuables, such as jewelry and electronics, in the hotel safe. Your iPad, watch, and other smaller, expensive items can be placed into the safe, then you can rest assured at their safety as you head out for a fun-filled day.
To help you make a good choice, you should check out hotel review websites like TripAdvisor online. This gives you first-hand accounts of people’s experiences in each hotel. What people say about a hotel can help you figure out where you should be staying.
There are several things you should consider when booking a hotel. Price is always a big factor, but you also need a hotel that’s geographically proximate to your target destinations. Amenities that help you choose a hotel are free breakfast, free Wi-Fi, exercise room, pool, and a restaurant on the premises. Seek out hotels that offer amenities that appeal to you.
Use online hotel search tools. These websites can help you quickly find the best value. They display the average rates of hotels so that you can see if the deal you are getting is good. These travel sites also list activities available in your area.
Always check for online deals prior to booking your hotel room. Often, the reservations clerk will not advise you that a better deal is available online. You have to look for the discounts. Websites like TripAdvisor, Expedia, and Jetsetter always have promising bargains for certain hotels that you won’t find anywhere else for a better price.
Search for the best deals in hotels online before making reservations. Often, the person booking your room won’t tell you about discounts available online. This is why you should always do your research well online to find these hidden discounts. Sites, such as Jetsetter, will let you know of any discounts available.
Know when check-in time is. If you are early, your room may not be ready. If you might arrive prior to check-in time, try calling the hotel and seeing if the room is available.
In order to save money on hotel stays, book far in advance. If you can book early, you may get a huge discount. You can expect savings up to fifty percent if you book months in advance.
If you plan on taking a family pet with you to a hotel reservation, do three things in advance. Find out if the hotel allows pets. You should bring some plastic bags and cleaning supplies to keep the room clean behind your pet. And, ask if your room can away from guests.
Don’t make the assumption that all hotels will welcome your pet. Therefore, make sure you call the hotel staff to confirm that they will allow pets. Even if they have a website that states pets are allowed, you should still call to confirm this. Also ask exactly what they mean by pet-friendly, as there might be restrictions on certain breeds and sizes of pet that they allow on their premises.
If you’re a member of the AAA, you should see what your hotel membership discount will be. Your membership may entitle you to hotel discounts. You could save 5% or even 10% on some rooms. These savings quickly add up, especially if you are staying for multiple nights in a row.
If you plan on taking a family pet with you to a hotel reservation, do three things in advance. Make sure the hotel is actually pet-friendly. Pack a supply of plastic grocery bags with you – you will need to clean up any pet waste. When making your reservation, ask for a room at the end of the hall to spare other guests your pet noise.
If you often frequent the same hotel chains, look into their frequent stay membership programs. Like the programs for frequent flyer, these programs the hotel offer give you points whenever you stay with them. These points can be traded in for restaurant discounts, tickets to shows, free nights at the hotel, and much more.
If you want to book a good couples massage, you should not wait until the last minute. Many top masseuses book by name, so plan as early as possible.
Going green is a growing trend so it is no surprise that hotels are going green as well. There are several green hotels around. Newer hotels are sometimes built according to green standards. Some hotels that aren’t that new will pick out some ways to be more eco-friendly so they can show they care. Request the help of the travel agent in identifying hotels that are environmentally friendly.
Always remember to pack running clothes and any thing else you need for exercising while on your trip. Go for a run when you wake up in the morning. Running down city streets or country roads can give you a fresh view of the place you are visiting.
Don’t call long distance in your hotel room. Utilize the Internet, instead. Many hotels now offer Skype connections via Wi-Fi. In this way, you can stay in touch with friends, relations and colleagues without racking up a big phone bill.
Do you travel on a periodic basis? If so, consider joining your hotel’s loyalty program. They offer benefits to people that stay at the same chain quite often. You might earn a free upgrade, late checkout time, or other great perks.
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. If you arrive at your hotel and the pool is closed, your kids will be very disappointed.
If you often stay at the same hotel chain, check to see if they offer membership to frequent stay programs. These are similar to frequent flyer programs. They allow you to accrue points during your hotel stay. As a result, you could have your next stay discounted or receive other benefits, like tickets to a show.
If you are worried about bed bugs, start your inspection in the bathroom. You probably won’t find any in there. When you determine there are not any in there, set your bags down and inspect the remainder of the premises. It’s also safer to the pets and kids you may have.
The cost of your hotel will vary depending on when you make your reservation. Rooms in hotels are often priced based on their availability. If possible, try to book your room 24 hours or less in advance. In this way, you will get good rates. Empty rooms don’t earn a hotel any money, so they are willing to slash the price.
Ascertain whether or not the hotel you plan to stay at allows smoking. 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. It is not unheard of for those who smoke to stay in non-smoking rooms and proceed to smoke. 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.
To keep from having an unwanted major expense on your hotel bill, ask about the cost of hotel transfers before booking them. Many times, rooms seem to be a good deal, but there are hidden fees for this service. Be sure and inquire about this beforehand so that you get your savings.
Learn about the smoking policies if you smoke. 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. Certain hotels will charge you a steep fee if you get caught smoking in a room that is non-smoking. Be sure to follow the rules of the hotel.
Call the hotel before you arrive to make sure the swimming pool is in working order. Nothing is quite as frustrating as arriving at a hotel with children clamoring to jump in the pool only to find that it is closed.
It’s not often possible to check in to a hotel room early. Therefore, don’t show up hours in advance, or you may be sitting around waiting for a while. Usually, hotels have your room cleaned prior to check-in time. Should you arrive early, ask at the desk if it is possible to check in, but do not be surprised if they say no.
Moking Rooms
Do not check out early. The hotel might charge you a fee for early departure. When you reserve a room, the management of the hotel removes that room from the market, so if you leave early, the hotel loses some money. This means that they must compensate for that loss with a fee for early departure.
Ask if there is smoking allowed in the hotel. If you do not smoke, you might not want to go to a hotel with smoking rooms. However, even with non-smoking rooms, there’s no telling if the guy next door is smoking. It is not unheard of for those who smoke to stay in non-smoking rooms and proceed to smoke. To avoid cigarette odors entirely, opt for a non-smoking hotel.
Understand your rights when it comes to hotels “walking” you. If your hotel overbooks, your room may not be available when you get there. The hotel will then “walk” you, or send you out to another hotel. This is inconvenient, and try to avoid it if possible. If you must go elsewhere, make sure transportation is paid and you get a better room than you originally booked.
Be sure you know what the hotel smoking policy is if you smoke cigarettes. A lot of places will have smoker’s rooms. You should try your best to book one of these if they are available. Some hotels fine guests if they find that they smoked in a designated non-smoking room. This means that you must be sure to obey the hotel’s smoking rules.
Don’t think that you should steal the hotel’s property. As much as you may like the towels, washcloths or pillows, housekeeping is likely to notice any missing items, and the hotel may send you a bill for them. If you really have to have the stuff, see if the hotel will sell it to you.
It may come as a shock to you, but most hotels don’t allow you to check-in early. Plan accordingly or you will find yourself waiting a long time to access your room. Usually, hotels have your room cleaned prior to check-in time. Having said that, don’t hesitate to ask the front desk about checking in if you do arrive early; however, you shouldn’t expect to be able to do this. The best thing you can do is arrive on time.
In order to pay the lowest rate possible, don’t travel during the peak season. Hotel rates are very high during tourist season. Go for the off season instead, as hotels will want to make a deal to sell their rooms. You will have a better chance in getting a good rate.
As discussed, you can have a great hotel stay if you do a bit of research ahead of time. The above information will prove to be of assistance when looking for a hotel. Use the tips above and have fun!
You may be able to receive an upgrade without being charged for one. To do this, arrive at the hotel when you are supposed to check in. If your room isn’t clean yet, you may be offered an upgrade.