There are many things to consider when planning a vacation. Of course, you have to choose where you want to go and how you’re going to get there. You also need to get your accommodations in order, but this can be hard when you don’t know too much about the hotels in an area. These tips will help you find a great hotel.
Do some research on travel websites before you book any hotel. These provide you with first-hand information about people’s recent experiences at each hotel. Their opinions can help you decide whether or not a certain hotel is the right one for you.
To help you make a good choice, you should check out hotel review websites like TripAdvisor online. This gives you first-hand accounts of people’s experiences in each hotel. This can help you choose which hotel to stay at.
To get the best hotel rooms, use a website online that will help with this. Use these websites to your advantage! They also can show you the average hotel rates, letting you see whether the deal is good or bad. They might even offer some decent entertainment venues that you should experience while you’re in the local area.
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. If you are a member of a hotel loyalty program, make sure to indicate this when searching for rates. Don’t neglect to check for other discounts in which you may qualify, including AAA and AARP.
Know the hotel’s check-in time. Many hotel guests will forget their check-in time; therefore, they will arrive at the hotel just to discover that they cannot check in yet. If you will be arriving early, call and ask if this is okay.
If you want a meal at night, it is much more comfortable to enjoy room service. Room service generally costs more than ordering out; however, it is nice to be able to order a meal in the middle of the night if you so choose.
Not every hotel allows pets. Be sure to ask even if the website says it’s ok to bring a pet. Also, speak to them about what they’re meaning by pet-friendly because they may not allow specific breeds or certain sizes of pets.
Take advantage of online hotel searching tools. Any of those types of sites will help you get a great discount. In addition, these websites will provide a comparison of different hotel prices, which will allow you to find the best possible deals. They might even offer some decent entertainment venues that you should experience while you’re in the local area.
Always remember to pack running clothes and any thing else you need for exercising while on your trip. If you want to jog early in the morning, don your gear and then go for it. Running not only provides you with great exercise, but it also helps you better learn the city in which you are residing.
Never book a hotel room before seeking out online deals. You might not learn from the person on the phone that you can actually get great discounts over the Internet, instead. This is why you should always do your research well online to find these hidden discounts. Look at Jetsetter, RueLaLaTravel or similar websites for discounts.
Do you care about your environment? If so, a “green” hotel may be for you. Fortunately, many green hotels exist nowadays. Green certification is something some of the newly built hotels are quite proud of promoting. Some hotels that aren’t that new will pick out some ways to be more eco-friendly so they can show they care. Finding hotels that are environmentally friendly can be as easy as asking your favorite travel agent.
Know the hotel’s check-in time. If you don’t know when you can check in, you may find your room is not ready when you arrive at your hotel. Call the front desk to find out if it is alright for you to arrive before check-in.
The price of a hotel room is often a mix of many factors. Rooms prices are based on their availability. Book your room more the day before you need it if you can. This will usually ensure that you receive the best available price. Hotels are often happy to slash prices on impending vacancies since they will get nothing if they can’t book the room.
For the best hotel rates, plan your trip weeks or months ahead of time. Many hotels offer the best discounts if you book a few months in advance. That saves you 50 percent or more frequently!
To make sure you don’t have an unexpected expense, ask about how much hotel transfers will cost. Hidden transfer costs can really make a room not worth it. Asking these things before anything happens will allow you to save more.
Are you a AAA member? If so, hotels may provide you a discount. You may not have known that, but it’s true. It’s possible you could save 5 percent or higher on hotels across the United States. This really adds up when you are staying for many nights.
Steer clear of long distance calls while in a hotel. Using the Internet is a better option. A lot of hotels offer wi-fi, making it possible for you to use Skype. Use these types of services to keep in contact with loved ones back home instead of having exorbitant charges added to your bill from the costly phone calls.
If you tend to stay at the same hotel a lot, see about signing up for their frequent guest program. Many hotels offer membership programs that allow you to earn points for each of your stays. Over time, these points can really add up, allowing you to enjoy numerous upgrades, spa visits, restaurant discounts, and even free nights at the hotel.
To keep the kids in your family happy when you are on the road, call ahead and make sure that the pools in each hotel are in working order. Imagine arriving at your destination looking forward to a dip in the pool, only to discover that you can’t use it.
For those frequent travelers, it may be better to build loyalty and perks by joining the membership club of your favorite hotel. These points can translate into some major perks when you’re vacationing.
Be sure you understand your hotel’s smoking policy if you smoke. A lot of places will have smoker’s rooms. If that is the case, you should ask for one of those rooms. If you smoke in one of the hotel’s non-smoking room, you can be charged hefty fees.
Hotel Discounts
Be sure you understand the pet policy of the hotel. When you are scared of animals or allergic, you won’t want to stay at pet-friendly hotels. Not to mention, you’ll definitely notice unwanted smells in the floor or in the linens if you don’t own a pet yourself. Some hotels charge extra fees for pets, but some do not charge much. The fee may be for any cleaning that needs to be done.
You can get great hotel discounts by becoming a member of AAA. A membership with AAA not only provides you with hotel discounts but a guaranteed piece of mind when trying to rent a vehicle. Many car rental agencies add perks, such as a child car seat at no charge, for AAA members.
You should know that you generally aren’t going to be able to do an early check-in at a hotel. So, you may have to sit for a while in the lobby or find a way to occupy yourself until checking in if you are going to be arriving early. The room has to be cleaned ahead of your check in. Having said that, don’t hesitate to ask the front desk about checking in if you do arrive early; however, you shouldn’t expect to be able to do this. The best thing you can do is arrive on time.
In hotel rooms, avoid calling long distance if possible. Try using the Internet, instead. A lot of hotels have free Wi-Fi that you can use to connect with people. This will help you converse with those back home without racking up a lofty bill.
Know your personal rights when any hotel tries to “walk” you. Hotels sometimes overbook, which means you discover that your reservation is unavailable. When this happens, the hotel directs you to another property, “walking” you. If you can’t avoid this, then make sure you are getting a room that is still worth the value that you have already paid.
Know your hotel’s policy on pets prior to booking with them. People who are allergic to pets obviously want to avoid pet-friendly hotels. Also, pet friendly hotels may have lingering odors that have been absorbed by carpeting or linens. Many hotels charge a fee for staying with a pet, but it might not be a lot. The fee may cover totally or partially the cost of the extra cleaning involved.
Don’t take any of the linens. It seems like a common thing people try to get away with, but the hotel will know when you do this and may charge you later for the missing items. If you truly love them, ask the hotel about buying them.
You should be aware that early hotel check ins are not always possible. Unless you’re okay with waiting for your room to be ready, plan your timing wisely. Hotels need the time to clean your room so it is ready for you to check in. You can see if your room is ready should you arrive early. However, do not count on it.
Book your flight and hotel at the same time to save money. Check travel websites to see if you qualify for these savings. To get the most from this service, compare rates of several different hotels and airlines.
If a hotel tries to “walk” you, know what your rights are. Occasionally a hotel will be overbooked, and the room you reserved will not be available. In this case the hotel has to send you to a different hotel. If you can’t avoid this make sure the room you get there is better or comparable and that they pay for the travel there.
You can save money by not booking a hotel room during tourist season. This is the time that hotel rates are at their highest. If you can, try to reserve rooms during the low season. This is when the hotels are anxious to fill their rooms. You’ll typically find that the rates you get will be good.
Choosing a good hotel is easy, once you know what to do. You are ready to book your next room after having found out what to be aware of when searching. Plan out your trip and find a great room. This will make your vacation stories much more pleasant.
If you wish to get an upgrade in a hotel, try getting one without paying anything. You might be able to do this by arriving on time. Because many of the rooms may not be cleaned yet, you may score a better room.
