America features thousands of hotels, from luxury resorts bragging about their five stars to homely motels on the side of the road that look ancient. If you have great accommodations, your vacation will be enhanced. Bad accommodations will ruin it. Keep on reading if you want a little help finding the best hotels.
Online travel websites can offer you a great deal on hotels with lots of choices, all on the same website. Input your loyalty info when you are looking for rates online. Don’t neglect to check for other discounts in which you may qualify, including AAA and AARP.
Compare prices at websites like Orbitz and Expedia to ensure that you receive the best available rate. Join the loyalty program for any hotel chain that you love and believe you’ll stay with often. Also, you may be eligible for discounts through other organizations to which you may belong, such as AARP or AAA.
Room service can be a great way to have a private, comfortable meal. Sure, it might cost a bit more, but it is completely worth it to be able to kick back and relax, while your food comes to you.
Consider taking advantage of room service when the urge strikes for a late-night snack with your special someone. Room service generally costs more than ordering out; however, it is nice to be able to order a meal in the middle of the night if you so choose.
If you have a safe in your closet, then you should use it to keep your valuables safe while you are outside of the room. You can stash your expensive electronics and jewelry in the safe and go about your day without worry.
When leaving your hotel room, keep any electronics you have secure by putting them in the room’s safe. You should put any expensive items in the hotel safe.
Upon arriving at your hotel, check your room before you unpack. Make sure the room is entirely clean and free from any mildew or mold. Do the sink, shower and toilet work properly? Do you have all the towels and linens you need? If you see any issues, be sure to tell the front desk. This way, they can fix the problems or switch rooms for you.
Check in on the organizations you belong to. Some may offer discounts on hotels. You may save ten percent or more. If your stay will be for multiple nights, these discounts can save you lots of money. It may equate to one whole free night.
Be aware in advance of the check-in time. Some people forget to find out what time they are allowed in their room; they show up at the hotel only to find their room is not yet ready. If you will be arriving early, call and ask if this is okay.
There are several things you should consider when booking a hotel. The cost is important but hardly the only factor to keep in mind. A pool, a gym, a restaurant, free breakfast, free local calls and free Wi-Fi are other amenities that may be important to you. Look for a hotel that gives you a lot of the things you are looking for.
To ensure that you and your special someone get the right couples massage during your stay, book your appointment as early ahead of time as you can. The best massage therapists are usually booked up for months ahead of time, and you don’t want to miss out.
To get the best prices on hotel rooms, start your trip planning weeks, or even longer in advance. If you can book early, you may get a huge discount. Some of the most popular hotel chains can end up giving you up to 50 percent in savings.
Do you travel on a periodic basis? If so, consider joining your hotel’s loyalty program. Loyalty programs provide frequent guests benefits for booking with them on a regular basis. You will be able to earn stuff like a free upgrade, an allowance to check out late, and even free stays when you get enough points.
Don’t think every hotel is pet-friendly. Ask the hotel if pets are allowed, no matter what their site says. 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.
The timing for your booking of a hotel room has much to do with what you pay. Availability sets pricing. Try to book a specific room at least 24 hours ahead of time, but it’s even better if you book weeks ahead of schedule. Doing so will ensure you get the best possible price on a hotel room. Empty rooms don’t make money, so hotels slash prices to fill the building.
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. Most of the time, the most reputable masseuses will be booked, so plan early in order to have the most enjoyable experience.
Being a member of AAA makes travel very easy. The AAA membership fee is well worth the discounts offered by many chains, and renting a car will also be easier. If you have young kids, find out if they have a free car seat service.
If you travel frequently, sign up for loyalty programs at your favorite hotels. These are exceptional benefits reserved for customers who frequently use a particular chain of hotels. You can get a free upgrade, restaurant gift certificates or even a free stay!
Don’t call long distance in your hotel room. Try using the Internet, instead. Some hotels now provide Skype via Wi-Fi. This is much cheaper than paying for a bunch of long distance calls from your hotel room.
If you must make a hotel transfer, find out about the fees. A transfer can sometimes come with a substantial hidden cost. You will save more by asking about such a thing in advance.
Call ahead of arrival to see if the pool is open to keep the family happy. It can prove rather frustrating when you check in to your room with the kids screaming “pool” only to find out it’s closed.
Become a AAA member if you want to make arranging hotel accommodations a bit simpler. Hotel and rental car discounts are available to AAA members. Parents with young children will appreciate the complimentary car set offered in some locations.
When checking your hotel accommodations for bed bugs, begin in the bathroom. This is usually one of the few places you won’t see any. Therefore, you can put your luggage here while you look over the remainder of the room. Have kids and/or pets wait for you in the bathroom while you look around.
You don’t want to make too many long distance calls while you’re staying in a hotel room. Using the Internet is a better option. The hotel may even offer Skype calls via Wi-Fi. You will be able to stay in touch with family and friends while you are away without the additional expense of costly phone calls.
Look into the smoking policies in the hotel you are considering. If you are a nonsmoker, you may want to avoid hotels that offer smoking rooms. Even if you book a non-smoking room, smoke can enter your room through air vents. Smokers also sometimes smoke in rooms that you are not supposed to smoke in. By choosing a hotel that does not allow smoking, you can completely avoid the smell of cigarettes.
Always know the hotel smoking policy wherever you stay if you personally 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. A few hotels will charge you in the event that they discover you’ve been smoking in their rooms where it’s prohibited, so abide by the smoking rules.
If you smoke, be sure you’re aware of what the hotel thinks of smoking where you’re staying. A lot of places will have smoker’s rooms. Ask for those rooms if you are a smoker. If you don’t, you can be hit with some major penalties for lighting up in a non-smoker’s room.
Allow Pets
It’s not often possible to check in to a hotel room early. Plan your trip right or you might end up waiting in a hotel lobby. Hotels have to make sure their rooms are ready for you. If you are early, don’t expect miracles.
You should be aware of the hotel’s policy concerning pets. If you fear pets or have allergies it may be best to make reservations at hotels that have a strict no pets policy. Hotels that allow pets typically have rooms that have a pet odor in them. Some hotels only allow pets in certain rooms and charge more for the room because they do extra cleaning to ensure it is up to standards after each guest. It might not be adequate to the cost of cleaning demands.
If you’ll need a rollaway or crib, make sure to mention it when booking the room. Not every hotel is going to come with cribs or rollaways. There also may be an added charge for these things. Discuss your needs at the time of booking.
Do not check out early. Your hotel may charge you a fee to do so. The room is not marketed by the hotel and you will have to make up that lost revenue. You may end paying for a day you don’t use the room. They have to at least get something for the loss, thus an early departure charge.
Some people choose not to use the bedspreads provided by the hotel staff for hygienic reasons. The top bedspread usually isn’t cleaned as often as the sheets or blankets underneath. That can mean it is full of germs, bacteria or who knows what else. Pull it off for peace of mind.
No matter how clean your hotel seems, never use the hotel bedspread for sleeping. Sheets are generally washed after guests leave the room, but the bedspread typically isn’t. For this reason, there’s no telling what might be on that bedspread. Just remove this covering from the bed to have peace of mind.
If a hotel tries to “walk” you, know what your rights are. When you check-in, you may discover the room you secured isn’t actually available. That means the hotel will send you to another establishment, or “walk” you. You should try to avoid this; however, if this is necessary, ensure you are provided with the same quality room or better at the same price you would have paid.
If you find your reserved room is not available, you do have rights. You might find that a room you booked isn’t available when you arrive because they overbooked. They might try and send you to a different hotel. Avoid this if you can, but if you must go someplace else, make sure the room you get is comparable to the one you booked, and you are paid to travel there.
Resist the urge to abscond with the hotel linens. They might be lovely, but you will be charged for them. It is sometimes possible to buy linens or pillows from the hotel if you want them so badly.
It is possible to save money on travel by getting a package deal on your flight and hotel. Many times, travel websites offer discounts for booking the hotel, flight and rental car at the same time. Then, compare rates for several airlines and hotels for the best price.
Tipping can make any hotel stay more pleasant. Many people do not realize that room service includes the tip in the bill; whereas, maid service does not include a tip in the bill. When you tip you, will get more respect and people will like you more, too.
Many people pick the first hotel they come across. This is a risky approach that can backfire on you. Staying in a dirty hotel room doesn’t lead to a great user experience, so follow the suggestions outlined above to avoid this fate.
Some hotel rooms offer a better view than others. If the great view doesn’t cost more, see if you can get a room with a view. Although a great view is not the most important thing when booking a hotel room, it can maximize your enjoyment. It doesn’t hurt to ask the hotel for rooms that have better views.
