You don’t want to feel taken advantage of at a hotel. For whatever reason, a poor choice in hotel rooms can turn into a poor experience for the entire vacation. Rather than experiencing these problems, use the following advice to enjoy the next time you stay in a hotel.
Before making reservations at a hotel, check the online review sites. This lets you know what others’ experiences have been like. Patron reviews can give you valuable information that will help you make a good choice.
Prior to making reservations, research hotels on sites like TripAdvisor. These types of sites let you read about real customers’ experiences with each hotel. What former guests have to say with regards to a hotel being considered can ensure you make an informed decision.
Be sure to keep your valuables and electronics secure by locking them in your hotel room’s safe. Anything of value can be securely locked in the safe, then you won’t have to worry about your valuables while out enjoying yourself for the day.
Use travel websites, like Expedia and Priceline to find great hotel deals. As you check your rates, don’t forget to include that you’re a loyalty program member. If you have a membership in any other organization, put that down as well.
Take advantage of search tools online. You will typically find websites that provide deals on certain hotel chains. On this type of site, you can find out the average and discounted rates of most hotels. You can also use them to explore the area around the hotel for recreation.
Check the Internet for the best deals before you book a hotel room during your next trip. In a lot of cases, the person booking your room isn’t going to tell you about online discounts. This is why you should look for discounts yourself. Websites like Orbitz, Travelocity and Hotels.com usually have some great discounts.
Search for the best deals in hotels online before making reservations. It’s not uncommon for a hotel employee to not mention to you that it is possible to receive a great discount online. So you should always search on your own for discounts prior to booking. There are many travel websites that offer discounts.
Although many hotels have certain rooms that allow pets, never assume your hotel will without researching ahead of time. Call ahead to their service desk and make sure, even if their website listing says they are. Verify exactly what is meant by “pet-friendly” since certain breeds and pets over a certain size may not be allowed.
Don’t unpack upon arrival without checking your hotel room first. Is it clean? Check the toilet, the shower, and the sink to make sure they are clean and function properly. Do you have an adequate number of towels? If you have any questions or notice any problems with the room, immediately call the front desk and report them so that they may be handled. You may also asked to be transferred to a new room if the problem is serious, such as mold or mildew.
If your pet is coming to a hotel with you, there are a few things you need to do in preparation. Check to see if the hotel actually permits pets. Remember to bring bags so that you can pick up your pet’s waste when you travel. See if you can stay in a room toward the end of a hall so your pet does not disturb guests.
Plan your trip as far in advance as possible. If you can book a couple of months early, a lot of locations will give you a steeper discount. Even high end hotels can offer you a substantial savings this way.
If you wish to include amenities such as massage while staying at a hotel, be sure to make your reservations in advance. 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. First, inquire as to whether the hotel really is a pet-friendly place. In addition, take along some plastic bags to pick up your pet’s mess. If you can arrange a corner room, there will be less likelihood of your pet disturbing other guests.
If you are a daily runner, make sure you pack exercise clothes and a GPS watch. When you wake up in the morning, throw on your gear and head out for a morning jog. It will give you a perspective that you’ll never get while riding in a car.
If you belong to the AAA, see what kinds of discounts the hotel offers. You may not know that your membership to the auto club includes discounts on hotels. It can save you 5% or more on hotels all around the nation. This can add up on a long trip.
For people who are frequent travelers, consider signing up for some loyalty programs with your favorite hotels. They have benefits for those who frequently stay at a hotel. These programs can assure you niceties such as the best prices, room upgrades, and special perks such as free meals or late checkouts.
Remember that hotel chains often provide loyalty programs offering excellent discounts. Many hotels offer membership programs that allow you to earn points for each of your stays. These points can quickly add up to many perks such as a free night, discounts at the hotel restaurants, spa deals and much, much more.
Remember that hotel chains often provide loyalty programs offering excellent discounts. These programs give you points every time you stay there. These points can quickly add up to many perks such as a free night, discounts at the hotel restaurants, spa deals and much, much more.
Being a member of AAA can save you money on hotels. Not only will AAA members receive discounts for a lot of hotel chains that make it worth getting into, you may also find rental cars more easily than those without the membership. In addition, free car seats are usually provided, which parents are certain to enjoy.
If you are an environmentally conscious traveler, you should look into “green” hotels. Luckily, many hotels are around these days for you to choose from. Some of the newer hotels are certified green. Hotels that have been around for a while may employ a variety of eco-friendly practices. Ask your travel agent to help you identify environmentally friendly hotels.
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. You can leave your bags there while you investigate the remainder of the room for bedbugs. Kids and pets can stay there as well.
The time you book the room will change how much you’ll pay. Hotels price rooms in part based on availability. If you can, make your reservation no earlier than 24 hours before you arrive. You may find the best prices this way. Empty rooms earn no money, so the hotels often slash the prices.
Find out if the hotel you want is smoking or non-smoking. If you do not smoke, you might not want to go to a hotel with smoking rooms. Although certain hotels that allow smoking will provide guests with non-smoking rooms, smoke will still be in the air. You may find that a smoker has been in your non-smoking room before you and ignored the rules. To avoid the experience of breathing in smoke during your stay, try to stay in a hotel that doesn’t allow smoking.
If you are a frequent business traveler, establishments like Marriott and Choice Hotels offer attractive membership programs. The more points you get, the more free stays you can use for vacations.
Know whether or not smoking is allowed in your room. Most hotels have designated smoking rooms. Ask for those rooms if you are a smoker. If you stay in a room that doesn’t allow smoking and the hotel staff discover evidence of you smoking in this room, then you could be charged a large penalty. Therefore, it is important that you always follow the hotel’s rules when it comes to smoking.
Being a member of AAA can save you money on hotels. Your AAA membership will pay for itself right away in hotel and car rental discounts and availability. At some locations they even offer free car seats.
Review the pet policy at the hotel. You may wish to stay away from hotels that permit pets if you have allergies or you fear certain animals. These hotels may also have an odor due to the smells sinking in the floor and linens. Certain hotels will charge guests extra for keeping pets in the room; however, many hotels’ extra charge is very little. The fee charged may not be adequate to cover the extra cleaning needed to completely remove the odors.
Don’t call long distance in your hotel room. Try using the Internet, instead. A lot of hotels have free Wi-Fi that you can use to connect with people. This saves you a ton of money.
If needed, always ask about the availability of a crib or roll-away at the time you reserve the room. Not all hotels will supply these things, and some may have limited quantities. There also may be an added charge for these things. Make your needs known at the time you place your reservation so that you do not have any unpleasant surprises.
When traveling with children, check with the hotel ahead of time to ascertain that the pool is usable. It can prove rather frustrating when you check in to your room with the kids screaming “pool” only to find out it’s closed.
Don’t check out early, if possible. Some hotels charge early departure fees. Booking a hotel room means the hotel is going to take that specific room off of their market. If you wind up leaving early, then they’ll be losing money for every day that you don’t stay. So, in leaving early you risk being charged a fee for early departure.
You should know that you generally aren’t going to be able to do an early check-in at a hotel. Make sure you plan around your check-in time, or you will be forced to sit in a lobby to wait for your room. Hotels use these in between hours to make sure rooms are cleaned and ready for the next occupant. If you do arrive early, ask the desk clerk if it’s possible to check in early, but don’t necessarily expect it.
You probably should avoid using the hotel’s bedspread for hygienic reasons. The blankets and sheets under the bedspread are typically washed between guests, however the top cover is not. This can mean that the comforter has tons of germs and bacteria. Remove the comforter from the bed.
Early Departure
Do not open that bottled water! After traveling and checking in, you might be feeling tired and/or thirsty. It is tempting to simply grab that refreshing bottle of water conveniently available in the mini-fridge. Hotels take advantage of guests by charging ridiculous amounts for bottled water. Some hotels offer free bottles of water in their gyms. Or better yet, bring a few of your own bottles.
Try to avoid checking out of the hotel ahead of your scheduled checkout time. An early departure charge may be added to your bill if you leave sooner. Upon reserving a hotel room, you tie up that room in the hotel. This means that your early departure results in the hotel losing money. Therefore, they have to make up for the loss by charging an early departure fee.
Do not take anything from the hotel. No matter how much you love them, housekeeping will note missing linens and the hotel is likely to bill you for them. It’s better to ask the hotel management if you can buy new ones of your own.
The bedspread might not be the cleanest linen in the room. Although hotels will wash the sheets that lie underneath the bedspread, the bedspread itself is not typically washed. This bedspread could be a source of germs. Therefore, as soon as you walk into your room, take the bedspread off the bed.
Remember that booking both your flight and hotel can often save you money. It is not unusual for travel websites to provide large savings when a hotel is booked along with a rental car or a flight. Compare quotes between hotels and airlines.
The advice you have read here will be very helpful in finding a great hotel. You will enjoy a better time if you are familiar with what to avoid and what is a good value. When you go out and get into a hotel, you can take some time to relax instead of not being happy.
You can search various tourist centers for books that include hundreds of coupons for local hotel chains. This is one of the best ways to get a great deal without using the Internet, but you’ll have to use a hotel that’s in the book. This way you’ll be able to call a place and get your room instead of driving around looking for deals.