Choosing the best hotel can enhance your vacation needs. You can go broke staying at a pricy hotel and you won’t have money for fun things. Keep reading into the following paragraphs to learn how to find affordable hotels that match your wallet and the rest of your personal needs.
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. While you’re likely to pay a little more, it’s worth having the convenience of staying in your room (and in your pajamas) while you wait to satisfy those nocturnal cravings.
The organizations that you are a member of might be of help. Many of them offer hotel discounts to members. Many people don’t remember these discounts, which can save them 10% or more. This can add up to big savings, even more so if you will be staying for many nights. Over the course of a week it’s nearly a free night!
Put your electronics into the room’s safe. Valuables can be placed there with confidence, allowing you to enjoy your day without worries.
Check your hotel room prior to unpacking. Is the room free of mildew and mold and clean? Are the showers, sinks, toilets, etc. properly functioning? Are all the towels you’ll need present in the room? If you see any issues, be sure to tell the front desk. This way, they can fix the problems or switch rooms for you.
When thinking about the type of hotel you would like to stay at, there are plenty of options to consider. The cost is important but hardly the only factor to keep in mind. Amenities such as complimentary WiFi, free local calls, complimentary breakfast, a gym and pool and a convenient restaurant are also important considerations. Seek out hotels that offer amenities that appeal to you.
Plan your trip in advance for the best rates. If you book one or two months in advance, you can often receive a discount. You can save up to 50 percent, even on elite hotel chains.
Check your room when you arrive. Is the room clean and devoid of issues like mildew and mold? Are all bathroom fixtures in proper working order? Make sure you have the linens, bath supplies and towels that you will need. If you quickly note any problems, let the person at the front desk know so they can help you sort it out or give you a better room.
Do not make the assumption that your pets are welcome at all hotels. Even if a web listing says a hotel is pet friendly, call the hotel 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.
Know your check-in time in advance. If you don’t check, the room may not be ready when you arrive. If you will be arriving before check-in, call the hotel in advance and see if you can check-in early.
Book massages as early as possible. Frequently, the most skilled massage specialists at the best hotels are reserved by name, so when you plan ahead, you can get the best.
In order to get the best hotel deals, always plan your trips weeks ahead of schedule, or even a few months. Some hotels have a discount if you book your room a month or more ahead of time. You may even be able to cut the price down by half!
Green Hotels
If your pet is coming to a hotel with you, there are a few things you need to do in preparation. First, you’ll need to find out if a hotel is even pet-friendly. Bring along lots of plastic bags for clean ups. Finally, ask the hotel staff if you can have a room on the far end away from guests so that you don’t interfere with their visit.
Going green is a growing trend so it is no surprise that hotels are going green as well. Luckily, you can choose from quite a few green hotels these days. Certain hotels provide green rooms, and in fact, some are even certified as green hotels. Older hotels can’t always do this, but instead choose to adhere to certain green practices. A travel agent or similar source can help you find hotels that are considered ‘green’.
If you want to book a good couples massage, you should not wait until the last minute. Resorts that have masseurs often have very fully booked massage schedules, so it is important to plan ahead.
When you book has a huge impact on your final bill. Hotels price their rooms based on how many rooms are available. Whenever you can, maker your room reservation no more than a day ahead of time. You can often get the best price if you do it this way. Hotels don’t earn money on empty rooms, so they are often willing to reduce the price.
If you have a AAA membership, it may qualify you for a hotel discount. 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. The more nights you stay, the more you will save.
Make sure you know hotel transfer costs prior to booking a hotel room in order to avoid a large unexpected cost. It is not uncommon to find that greatly discounted bookings may have a hidden cost for the transfer. You can increase the amount you save by simply finding this information out in advance.
If you are a daily runner, make sure you pack exercise clothes and a GPS watch. Head out early in the morning after donning your running gear. It’ll let you explore the city in a new way.
Avoid using the hotel phone to make long distance phone calls. Instead, use the Internet. You can access Skype with the Internet connection at your hotel. You can stay in touch with work or family without the high cost of a call from the phone in your room.
If you stay in a particular hotel chain, ask about their membership program. Similar to frequent flyer programs, hotels have programs that add points on to your account each time you stay with them. These points can add up to hotel restaurant discounts, spa deals, free nights and much more.
Start by inspecting the hotel bathroom if you need to make sure there are no bed bugs. Bedbugs usually won’t stay here. So, that means it’s the best place to stash your luggage and other belongings as you inspect the remainder of your suite. It is a good place for pets or children to wait for a couple minutes as well.
Joining certain clubs that let you accrue points can help you reap major benefits from your regular hotel stays. When you do, you get points every time you stay at a hotel.
Before making a hotel reservation, learn the hotel’s policy on smoking. If cigarette smoke bothers you, look for a hotel that doesn’t have smoking rooms. Even in a non-smoking room, the smoke from other rooms is in the air and might infiltrate your clothing. Smokers often don’t care that their room is non-smoking, too. Choose a non-smoking hotel to a smoke smell on your clothes.
Being a member of AAA makes travel very easy. Not only do AAA members get hotel discounts at many chains that are well worth the AAA membership, but you can find it a lot easier to find a rental car where you go. You might even get a free car seat if you have kids.
If you smoke, be sure you’re aware of what the hotel thinks of smoking where you’re staying. A lot of places have specific rooms just for people who smoke. If that happens to be the case, then you need to ask for that type of room. Don’t smoke in a nonsmoking room, or you may be charged by the hotel for doing so.
Making a long distance call from a hotel room should be avoided. Utilize the Internet, instead. You will probably find that your hotel has Wi-Fi and Skype. This can be a much cheaper option than calling from a hotel room and getting hit with lots of fees.
As was mentioned before, you can free up more funds for your vacation if you avoid paying too much for your hotel. Use what you’ve gone over here to allow you to get a hotel room that is comfortable and affordable. Go over this again when you need to travel in the future.
Call ahead of arrival to see if the pool is open to keep the family happy. There is nothing worse than getting to a hotel with kids to find the pool is closed.