It takes some work to plan out your vacation. Not only do you have to choose your vacation spot and arrange for transportation, you also have to book your hotel accommodations. Your hotel choice is crucial because the wrong room can ruin the entire vacation. Continue reading to help you learn how to make the best decisions when it comes to booking your hotel.
Prior to reserving a room at a hotel, look on the Internet for reviews. One great site is TripAdvisor. Here, you can read what people had to say about their hotel stay. These reviews can aid you in your decision about whether to book the hotel.
Prior to reserving a room at a hotel, look on the Internet for reviews. One great site is TripAdvisor. These reviews can give you a customer’s perspective of the hotel you are planning on staying at. Find out what actual customers say about the hotel and it can help you avoid a costly mistake.
Use online travel sites, such as Expedia and Orbitz, to find the best prices at the hotels you want to stay at. If you are a member of a loyalty program, use that info when checking rates. Also, as an added bonus, you may get discounts from other companies such as AAA or AARP.
Check with the organizations that you are a member with. Many of them offer hotel discounts to members. It is easy to forget about the discounts. This can lead to a great amount of money saved, especially for those spending multiple nights at the hotel. A stay of 5 days or more could add up to one free hotel night stay!
To enjoy a late-night meal with that special someone without having to leave the comfort of your hotel room, think about ordering some room service. You will probably pay more for this meal, but for the convenience of having it delivered to your room, it is worth it.
Take advantage of online hotel searching tools. These websites can help you get great deals quickly. They also can show you the average hotel rates, letting you see whether the deal is good or bad. They can also give you information on nearby attractions, too.
If you take a lot of electronic gadgets with you on a trip, lock them up in the safe when away from the room. You can put just about anything in there, as long as it isn’t too big, and you won’t have to worry about it.
When you get to your hotel room, look over the room before unpacking. Is it clean and free of mold and mildew? Check the toilet, the shower, and the sink to make sure they are clean and function properly. Count how many linens and towels you were given and make sure there are enough for everyone traveling with you. This quick check can keep you from discovering a problem later, after you have unpacked and all other good rooms are taken. Tell the front desk immediately.
Prior to making a hotel reservation, do some research online in order to discover the best deals. Usually, when you try to book a room over the phone, the clerk will not let you know that there is a better deal online. It is your responsibility to scour the Internet for these savings. Review the different websites, such as Jetsetter or SniqueAway.
Make certain you know when your check-in time is. 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. Therefore, if you anticipate arriving early, call the hotel in advance and see if it is possible to check in early.
In order to save money on hotel stays, book far in advance. If you book one or two months in advance, you can often receive a discount. This will allow you to save up to 50 percent even when staying at an elite hotel.
Not every hotel allows pets. Even if the website says they are pet-friendly, always call in advance to verify. A hotel may be pet-friendly, but still has restrictions against certain breeds or animals. Find out ahead of time if your pet is acceptable.
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. Many of the top masseuses out there are booked far ahead of time.
Book your appointment as far ahead of time as possible to guarantee you get the perfect couples massage for you and your significant other. That’s because the highest quality masseurs and masseuses are typically booked way in advance due to their good name. Therefore, by planning in advance, you can ensure you have the best possible experience during your massage.
If you are a daily runner, make sure you pack exercise clothes and a GPS watch. In this way, you can simply suit up and enjoy your workout as usual while on the road. Even jogging on pavement and alongside city avenues can provide you new perspective of any city that you visit.
Always see if your AAA membership can get you a discount on the hotel you intend to stay at. 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. When you stay for multiple nights, the savings really add up.
If you book accommodations often, hotel loyalty programs are good to participate in. 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.
For people who are frequent travelers, consider signing up for some loyalty programs with your favorite hotels. They offer perks to folks who frequent their hotel. You can often earn free upgrades, free stays, and complimentary late check out with enough points accrued.
If you often frequent the same hotel chains, look into their frequent stay membership programs. Just like with a frequent flyer mile program, you can get points for staying a hotel. With enough points you can get free rooms in the future. They may also offer discounts for shows, restaurants and other things.
The price you are charged for your hotel room is partly dependent upon when you make the reservations. Hotel rooms are priced based on how many are available. If possible, book your room no more than 24 hours in advance. In this way, you will get good rates. Empty rooms earn no money, so the hotels often slash the prices.
Choose a green vacation if you care for the environment. Luckily, you can choose from quite a few green hotels these days. Some new buildings are certified as green. Other older hotels will just provide green options for you. A travel agent or similar source can help you find hotels that are considered ‘green’.
In hotel rooms, avoid calling long distance if possible. Use the Internet, instead. A lot of hotels offer Skype connections over Wi-Fi. This can be a much cheaper option than calling from a hotel room and getting hit with lots of fees.
Be careful not to make long distance phone calls on the hotel phone. Use the Internet, instead. Most hotels offer Wi-Fi, but you will probably need their password and may have to pay a fee to use this service. Use these connections to keep in touch instead of costly long distance calls.
Moking Hotel
Inquire if the hotel is a non-smoking hotel. If you are a non-smoker, you may not want to stay in a smoking room. You may be able to get a non smoking rooms still, but you can get smoke in the air which will stick to you. In addition, some smokers will rent out non-smoking rooms and smoke in them. If you don’t want to smell like cigarettes after leaving your hotel room, you might want to look for a non-smoking hotel.
See if the hotel is non-smoking or smoking. If you are a non-smoker, you might want to stay at a non-smoking hotel. Even if you book a non-smoking room, smoke can enter your room through air vents. There are times when smokers end up staying in non-smoking rooms, and smoking in them. Choose a non-smoking hotel to avoid the stench.
Be sure you know what the hotel smoking policy is if you smoke cigarettes. Most hotels have designated smoking rooms. If this is what you’re looking for, inquire about these rooms. You may be charged hefty fees if there is evidence that you have smoked in a that is designated as non-smoking.
If you smoke, learn the smoking policy of the hotel where you are staying. Many have designated nonsmoking rooms. Therefore, if you are a smoker, always ask for a room that allows smoking. 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.
In most cases, checking into a hotel room ahead of schedule isn’t possible. Be sure to not to show up early so you don’t have to wait. Hotels need this time to clean and prepare your room. If you do get to the hotel early, ask at the front desk if you can possibly check in early, but there is a chance you won’t be able to.
Do not let bad hotel accommodations spoil your trip. Look into everything and always plan ahead of time. The more information you have on how to book the best accommodations, the more choices you will be given. Every single part of your vacation should be fun, including the hotel. The advice in the article above can be handy for planning your next vacation.
Be aware of your options in case a hotel “walks” you. Sometimes hotels are going to overbook and then your room that you reserved won’t be there. The hotel “walks” you to a new hotel nearby. If you cannot avoid this situation, you need to be booked at a comparable hotel or upgraded room for your troubles.