You know where you want to take a vacation. You have your flight numbers already. The next thing you should do is book your accommodations. What is the best way to find a good, affordable hotel? This article will teach you how. These tips will ensure you make a great choice.
Online travel sites like Expedia or Orbitz can help you get the best price for rooms at the hotel you would like to stay at. When making hotel reservations, be sure to include information regarding hotel loyalty programs in which you may hold membership. You might also have other discounts from a membership in the AARP or AAA.
Before booking your hotel room, look to online review sites for in depth reviews from recent travelers. This gives you first-hand accounts of people’s experiences in each hotel. Patron reviews can give you valuable information that will help you make a good choice.
Room service is great for late meals. While it may cost a little extra, it is worth it if you can stay in your comfortable room as you satisfy your cravings.
Double-check your organizational memberships. Some of them may provide discounts on hotel stays. People don’t always remember to check out these discounts, which can often be 10% and higher. This can result in significant savings, especially for longer stays. That can give you close to a completely free night when it adds up.
Double-check your organizational memberships. Some groups provide members with discounts on certain hotels. Many people forget to do this and miss out on saving a sizable amount of money. This is a good discount that only gets better the longer you stay in a hotel. A stay of 5 days or more could add up to one free hotel night stay!
There are a number of things to consider when deciding which hotel to stay at. While price is obviously a factor, you may want to think about room size and amenities as well. You may want free WiFi access, a convenient location, free long distance or a nice pool or gym. Try to find a hotel that offers as many of your desired amenities as possible.
When thinking about the type of hotel you would like to stay at, there are plenty of options to consider. Price is always a big factor, but you also need a hotel that’s geographically proximate to your target destinations. You may or may not care about such amenities such as a gym, large pool, WiFi or a free breakfast buffet. Look for a hotel that provides you with the amenities that are a priority to you.
When get to your hotel, inspect the room before unpacking. Make sure the room is entirely clean and free from any mildew or mold. Are the toilet, shower and sink functioning properly? Is the room adequately stocked with towels and linens? If you see any issues, be sure to tell the front desk. This way, they can fix the problems or switch rooms for you.
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. It’s not uncommon for a hotel to offer a discount if a room is booked a couple of months ahead of time. You might even be able to save up to 50 percent off at some very exclusive hotels.
To get a good price when you want a hotel room, get your trips planned quite a few weeks or so in advance. A lot of hotel locations offer discounts for reservations a month or more in advance. This can save you as much as 40 percent off of the cost of your hotel.
Bring your running clothes with you on your trip. When you wake up in the morning, throw on your gear and head out for a morning jog. Running in a city allows you to see things other travelers miss.
Most hotels are not pet-friendly. Be sure to call in advance and find out about their policies, regardless of website info. Also, speak to them about what they’re meaning by pet-friendly because they may not allow specific breeds or certain sizes of pets.
Sign up for frequent guest programs at hotels. Like the programs for frequent flyer, these programs the hotel offer give you points whenever you stay with them. They will get you discounts on the hotel restaurants, spa deals, and just a number of great stuff.
If you are an AAA member, check into your membership hotel discount. Many people are surprised to see hotel discounts included with their auto club membership. You may be able to save upwards of five percent at hotels nationwide. The savings can really add up if you’re staying multiple nights.
Consider joining a membership program if you travel often. These programs allow you to collect points that can be applied toward further travels.
Take your GPS watch with you on vacation and some running clothes. Just because you’re on vacation doesn’t mean you should skip on your daily running regimen. Go for a jog every morning. Running down city streets or country roads can give you a fresh view of the place you are visiting.
Call ahead of arrival to see if the pool is open to keep the family happy. There are few things as frustrating as showing up to a hotel, with your kids chomping at the bit to get in the pool, only to have it closed for repairs.
If you travel frequently, it is wise to enroll in hotel loyalty programs. They offer benefits to people that stay at the same chain quite often. There are many rewards given when you accumulate loyalty points such as free stays, free upgrades and later than usual check out times.
Start by inspecting the hotel bathroom if you need to make sure there are no bed bugs. Bedbugs are rarely seen in this room. That makes it the perfect place to store your luggage while you inspect the rest of the premises for bedbugs. Have kids and/or pets wait for you in the bathroom while you look around.
How much you’re going to pay for your hotel room will depend on when your room is booked. Rooms are priced based on availability. Whenever you can, don’t book your hotel room until the last 24 hours. This can get you a seriously discounted rate. Hotels don’t earn money on empty rooms, so they are often willing to reduce the price.
Be sure you understand your hotel’s smoking policy if you smoke. There are sometimes rooms designated for people who smoke. 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.
To get optimal value from a hotel stay, especially if you find yourself traveling a lot for your business, sign up for membership programs such as those offered by Marriott or Choice Hotels. This allows you to get more points with each stay that you can convert into free rooms and other benefits on your next family vacation.
Be aware of the pet policy of the hotel. If you dislike or have allergies to pets, steer clear of 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. Some hotels may charge you extra for pets, and some may not charge at all, or the fees are lower. Depending on what hotel you choose, the fee charged might or might not cover any extra cleaning required.
One way to get discounts on hotel rooms is to join AAA. AAA members can receive great hotel discounts as well as locate a rental car much more easily. Many car rental agencies add perks, such as a child car seat at no charge, for AAA members.
You should be aware that early hotel check ins are not always possible. Plan accordingly or you will find yourself waiting a long time to access your room. The hotel must clean each room prior to the next visitor taking it. You can see if your room is ready should you arrive early. However, do not count on it.
Avoid making long distance calls from the hotel room phone. Instead, use the Internet. Some hotels offer free Wi-Fi, so you can use Skype. You will be able to stay in touch with family and friends while you are away without the additional expense of costly phone calls.
If you book a room during a heavy occupancy period, don’t be surprised if you have a mandatory stay of a few days or more. Your hotel may charge you a fee to do so. Booked hotel rooms are taken off the market, so if you leave early, the hotel loses money. This means that they must compensate for that loss with a fee for early departure.
When it comes to the perfect vacation, your choice of hotel plays a huge role. If your hotel is awful, then this could lead to spoiling your trip. Stop this from happening. Use the tips in the article to help you find the right hotel with the amenities that you want.
Avoid using the hotel bedspread. The top bedspread usually isn’t cleaned as often as the sheets or blankets underneath. Therefore, you don’t really know what is on it. So take it off the bed, fold it up and stash it in a corner of the room.
