There are a lot of details that go into planning a trip away. You need to choose a destination and figure out travel arrangements. Also, you need to plan on where you will stay. But, choosing a hotel can be hard, especially when you are unfamiliar with the area. This article will provide assistance.
Before you pick out your hotel you’re going to reserve a spot at, check out review sites online like TripAdvisor. These will give you some information from people that have stayed at that certain hotel. Other customers can give you some valuable insight and help you choose the right place to stay.
Before you make reservations at a particular hotel, check its reviews on websites like TripAdvisor. Reviews allow you to read about recent experiences at a hotel. Reading other people’s reviews of the hotels you’re considering can really help you decide which one to choose.
Room service is great for late meals. You will probably pay more for this meal, but for the convenience of having it delivered to your room, it is worth it.
To get a meal later at night order yourself some room service. Although you’ll probably pay more, it is worth being able to comfortably dine in the room while in pajamas.
See if your organizational memberships offer any benefits. Some of these organizations will offer you discounts on hotel prices. Some discounts can be over ten percent! You end up with an even bigger savings if your hotel stay is going to be for multiple nights. It may equate to one whole free night.
When thinking about the type of hotel you would like to stay at, there are plenty of options to consider. Price is important but a shabby, dirty hotel room is no bargain at any price. 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. So decide on the amenities that mean the most to you and start looking.
Be sure to look at your room before unpacking your suitcase. Is it clean and free of mold and mildew? Does your shower, sink, and toilet work in the right way? Do you have all the towels and linens you need? If there are any obvious problems, report them to the front desk immediately so that they can be taken care of or you can be moved to a different room.
Use online hotel search tools. You can use such websites to discover great deals with ease and speed. Not only will they show the best deals, but they’ll also include extra information about the rooms, floor plans, and even reviews from other customers. These travel sites also list activities available in your area.
Ask the hotel about their check-in time.. If you don’t check, the room may not be ready when you arrive. If you can’t help your arrival time being early, you can ask for an early check-in but it might cost a bit extra.
Check the Internet for the best deals before you book a hotel room during your next trip. The reservation clerk won’t offer these details to you over the phone. So, it’s up personally to you to go searching for such discounts. RueLaLaTravel, SniqueAway and Jetsetter are all good Internet sites to check with.
Don’t make assumptions about pet policies of hotels. So call ahead and make sure you understand if there are extra fees or a limited number of rooms available. Also, find out if there are any size or breed restrictions.
Frequent travelers can benefit from loyalty programs offered by many hotels. They give people benefits if they go to that chain often. You can often earn free upgrades, free stays, and complimentary late check out with enough points accrued.
If the hotel you stay at offers a couples massage, it is very important that you make an appointment well ahead of time. Resorts that have masseurs often have very fully booked massage schedules, so it is important to plan ahead.
The time you book the room will change how much you’ll pay. The prices are based partly on availability. If at all possible, do not book your room more than one day in advance. A late booking when the hotel is slow often results in a bargain. Hotels would rather discount the price because an empty room does not earn them any money.
If you belong to AAA, see what kinds of discounts the hotel offers. It might be surprising to learn that some auto club memberships include hotel discounts. It will let you save 5% or so on hotels that are around the nation. It really is a savings that adds up over time.
Join a loyalty program to get deals on your stays. This allows you to earn points each time you book a room. You can use these points to purchase perks in the future.
If you stay in a particular hotel chain, ask about their membership program. These are similar to frequent flyer programs, offering points each time you stay at a particular chain. You can exchange these points for discounts and freebies at the hotel and its restaurant. You may also be able to use them on local amenities.
Being a member of AAA makes travel very easy. Hotel and rental car discounts are available to AAA members. Parents of younger children are likely to enjoy the free car seat provided in many locations.
You should always find out how much hotel transfers will cost before you book a room. If you are getting a very low price on the room, it is especially important that you ask about any hidden fees that might be tacked onto your bill. You will save more by asking about such a thing in advance.
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. It will be a huge disappointment if you arrive at the hotel with the kids ready to swim and they are not able to do 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 earn points each time you book a room. You can use these points to purchase perks in the future.
Check if a hotel you’re looking to stay at is non-smoking or smoking. If you are not a smoker, you probably want to avoid staying in a smoking room. You could still get a non-smoking room, but smoke can flow through the air and settle on your clothes. Smokers also sometimes smoke in rooms that you are not supposed to smoke in. Instead of choosing a non-smoking room, you can actually find an entire non-smoking hotel if you really want to avoid nasty, secondhand smoke.
You don’t want to make too many long distance calls while you’re staying in a hotel room. Use the Internet, instead. Skype connections are available in many hotels these days using Wi-Fi. This is much cheaper than paying for a bunch of long distance calls from your hotel room.
If you have a young child, ask for a crib when you call to make your reservation. Not all hotel chains do offer these and those that will often have a very limited supply. Also, you may get charged extra for these types of things. Ask about this before you finalize your reservations, to make sure your needs are fully met.
Your children will be happy when you call the hotel to make sure their pool is open and working. There is nothing worse than having to tell your excited kids they cannot swim.
For hygienic purposes, you may want to avoid using the bedspread that the hotel provides. Although hotels will wash the sheets that lie underneath the bedspread, the bedspread itself is not typically washed. That can mean it is full of germs, bacteria or who knows what else. Remove the comforter from the bed.
When you look for bed bugs, start in the bathroom. This is the last room they are likely to be. You can leave your bags there while you investigate the remainder of the room for bedbugs. Put kids and pets in there, too.
Be aware of your rights in the event that a hotel attempts to “walk” you. If your hotel overbooks, your room may not be available when you get there. When this happens, the hotel directs you to another property, “walking” you. If you cannot avoid this situation, you need to be booked at a comparable hotel or upgraded room for your troubles.
Is your room non-smoking or not? If you are a non-smoker, then you should probably stay away from hotels that allow smoking. The smoke can settle into your clothing and luggage. Smokers also sometimes smoke in rooms that you are not supposed to smoke in. If you don’t want to stink like a cigarette when you are leaving a non smoking hotel may be a good choice.
Do not take any of the hotel’s linens with you when you leave. You may really like those towels, pillowcases and washcloths, but their absence will not go unnoticed. You will be billed for them. If you like the linens so much, you should ask about purchasing them.
Learn about the smoking policies if you smoke. Many hotels still offer smoking rooms. Ask to see if any of these are available. Smoking in a non-smoking room can be a big no-no and you may even be charged an extra cleaning fee.
Book your flight and hotel at the same time to save money. Travel booking sites often provide significant discounts for combining your room and flight and perhaps even a rental car. To get a lot from this kind of service, check a number of different rates on the various airlines and hotels.
Checking in early may not be available. Plan accordingly or you will find yourself waiting a long time to access your room. Hotels need to get a room cleaned up before you get to check into it. Check with the front desk if you arrive early, but do not be angry if they can’t get you in early.
As you can see, you can choose a comfortable and affordable hotel with ease. Now that you are aware of what you need to look for, you are all set. Be confident in making your travel plans, so you will end up having a great stay. Tell all your friends about it upon your return!
Beware of an establishment that attempts to “walk you.” Hotels sometimes over-book, and this can leave you without a room. The hotel will then send or “walk” you to another hotel. It’s best to avoid this, but if you can’t, be sure you are going to a better hotel and getting a better room.
