It can be overwhelming to book a good hotel room because of all the choices you must make. Figure out your budget and the amenities you need from a hotel room.Remember the following advice and your stay will be wonderful.
Use travel websites, like Expedia and Priceline to find great hotel deals. Are you a member of a certain hotel’s membership program? If so, make sure you put this information into the travel site. You may also be eligible for other discounts through any memberships you have with organizations such as AAA and AARP.
Check online hotel reviews before making any reservations. These will give you some information from people that have stayed at each hotel. What people say with regards to a hotel being considered can aid you in coming to the right decision.
Room service can be a great way to have a private, comfortable meal. This service comes at a premium, but you can stay comfortable in your room while enjoying you eats.
Use websites to find the most competitive prices for hotel chains online. If you are a member of a hotel loyalty program, make note of that. You might also have other discounts from a membership in the AARP or AARP.
Many things must be considered when choosing the right hotel. Price is one, but a prime location is another. Amenities that you might personally want or need include a swimming pool or gym, on-site restaurant, continental breakfast and free Wi-Fi or local calls. Try to get yourself a hotel with what you need in it when possible.
Consider ordering room service during your special someone. While it may cost a little extra, it is more convenient to remain in your room while satisfying your hunger.
Before you book a hotel, look for deals online. The hotel representative is unlikely to inform you there are better deals online. It’s your job to find them yourself. Use popular websites such as Jetsetter, SniqueAway, or RueLalaTravel.
Know the check-in time. Some people end up waiting for their room is still not ready. Call the front desk to find out if you think you’ll be early.
Check out your room ahead of unpacking. Make sure the room is entirely clean and free from any mildew or mold. Check the shower, toilet and sink to ensure they work properly. Are there enough linens and towels? If you spot any problems, make the front desk aware immediately so they can take care of it or move you to a room that meets your needs.
Plan your trip in advance as possible.Many hotels offer the best discounts if you book more than a few months in advance. You may save up to 50 percent off at some very exclusive hotels.
When can you check in? If you are early, your room may not be ready. Call the hotel desk and find out if your room has been prepared if you know that you’ll be arriving early.
There are three things you must do in advance if you’re going to be traveling with a pet. Be sure that the hotel will be friendly to pets.Be sure to have plenty of plastic bags with you so you can pick up your pet’s waste.
If you need to travel with your pet, you need to make three advance preparations. Find out if the hotel you have selected is pet-friendly. Be sure to have plenty of plastic bags on hand to make pet cleanup easy. When you go to make the hotel reservation, see if there is room on the end that would prevent the other guests from hearing a noisy pet.
If you enjoy a morning run, make sure you pack exercise clothes and a GPS watch.
If you want a couples massage, book early. Many of the top masseuses out there are booked far ahead of time.
It may be wise to join a hotel loyalty program if you travel frequently. They provide benefits to anyone who stay with them often. You might earn a free upgrade, an allowance to check out late, and even free stays when you get enough points.
If you like running and frequently stay in hotel rooms, be sure and pack up a GPS watch, along with your favorite running clothes. Enjoy a morning jog each day while on vacation. Even if you are running down roads or down city streets, you’ll get a new perspective on the city you’re visiting before you’re done.
If you are worried about the environment, you should look into “green” hotels. The number of green hotels you can select from. Some of the newer hotels are built with green standards in mind. Some older inns just select one or more eco-friendly so they can show they care. Ask your travel agent about green hotels.
Try out a green vacation. There are plenty of “green” hotels that take the environment into consideration. Many new hotels are certified as green hotels. Other older hotels will just provide green options for you. You can ask a travel agent to pinpoint eco-friendly hotels, thus making sure your vacation doesn’t hurt the environment.
The price for the hotel room has much to do with what you pay. Rooms are based on their availability. This will net you receive the best hotel rates.
Get a AAA membership to facilitate the process of booking a hotel when you travel. Members of AAA will get additional hotel discounts up to five percent, but you’ll also get discounts on rental cars as well. Also, if you require a car seat, the rental company may provide you with one if you are a member of AAA.
Try not to make long distance calling in hotel rooms. Many hotels now offer Skype connections on their Wi-Fi.This can be a ton of money.
Try not to make long distance calls from your hotel room. Make use of the Internet, instead. Some hotels offer free Wi-Fi, so you can use Skype. You can stay connected with friends, family and business colleagues this way, rather than making expensive long distance calls.
There is nothing worse than having to tell your excited kids that really want to swim only to see that it has been closed.
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. 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.
Start looking in the hotel bathroom when checking for bed bugs in a hotel. This is usually one of the few places you won’t find them. It is usually a convenient place for young children to sit for a couple minutes as well.
If you are inspecting a room for bed bugs, then the bathroom is the best place to start. This is where you won’t find them. That makes the bathroom the safest place to keep the luggage while you look through the remainder of the accommodations. If you have pets or children with you, ask them to wait in the bathroom too.
Ask if your possible hotel reservation is either smoking allowed in the hotel.If you do not smoke, you might want to stay at a non-smoking hotel. Smokers don’t always respect the fact that you are renting is a non-smoking room.
It’s not often possible to check in to a hotel room early. Plan accordingly or you will find yourself waiting a long time to access your room. The rooms can’t be readied and cleaned until the prior guests are gone, so this means that check-in time is usually around 2 p.m. or 3 p.m. You can request an early check-in ahead of time, but it may cost more.
Be sure you know what the hotel smoking policy if you smoke. Many have rooms designated nonsmoking rooms. Ask for those rooms if any of these are a smoker.If you don’t, you can be charged hefty fees.
Do not check out early. If you check out early, you could be liable for early checkout fees. Once you have confirmed your reservation, understand that the room is reserved for you, and the hotel loses money if you leave early. So, in leaving early you risk being charged a fee for early departure.
Some hotels don’t offer cribs or rollaways; while others have a limited number of them. Talk about these issues as you make your reservations.
You can get some money saved if you book a flight and hotel at the same time. Check travel websites to see if you qualify for these savings. Always compare the prices from multiple hotels to make sure you’re getting the best deal.
Avoid using the bedspread. The top bedspread usually isn’t cleaned as often as the linens are. It may be a lot of invisible germs and other things you want to avoid. Just make sure you remove the bed to have peace of mind.
If you want the best rate for a hotel room, never book during the height of tourist season. Rooms are usually very expensive at that point in time. If you book your rooms outside of tourist season, then you’ll get a better price because hotels are struggling to fill their empty rooms. You’re going to have a much higher chance of scoring a deal.
You can often save money saved if you book a flight and hotel at the same time. Travel websites offer big savings when you book more than one service at the same time.
You may be able to receive an upgrade without being charged for one. The best way you can do this is to show up at the hotel exactly at your scheduled check in time. Quite often, your room has not been cleaned yet, so you may be able to get an upgraded room at no extra charge.
Hotel Rates
Tipping is a welcome practice at most hotels. Many hotel guests do not realize that they are supposed to tip the maid, but not room service. Tipping will ensure that the staff respects and likes you during your stay.
You can get lower hotel rates when you don’t book during peak tourist seasons. This is the time that hotel rates are highest. You should get a discount is much greater.
Don’t pay the price the hotels advertise. Referred to as the “rack rate,” travelers in the know do not pay that rate. It is just assumed that a hotel will let you haggle over a better price. Just call the hotel desk or service number and inquire about getting a deal. Take the initiative to get a better price. A number of travel websites provide deep discounts.
If you are already traveling but have to book rooms, check out ads at rest stops, rest stops or gas stations to grab free pamphlets and guides which allow you to get good discounts and find names of hotels. This will give you an opportunity to book in advance and get a room instead of driving around looking for a good bargain.
Use a special occasion as an opportunity to book a hotel room. On birthdays and anniversaries, hotels will often delivery complimentary items. You might be presented with champagne or some other enjoyable gift. Avoid lying because it is bad karma!
As you can tell, you can ensure booking a good hotel room by following the correct tips. Keep these tips in mind when looking for a hotel room. You will be staying at comfortable hotel at a great price.
To get great prices, use websites like Travelocity or Expedia. These sites help hotels sell a lot of rooms, and they offer discounts that can’t be found elsewhere. You need to be aware that sometimes you will have to bid on a room or only see minimal information before you book your room.
