You must think of many different details when planning a vacation. After you’ve chosen your trip destination, you have to figure out what mode of transport you’ll use. You next have to figure out where to stay. If you’ve never been to the location before, it can be puzzling to figure out which hotel to choose. In this article, we offer sound advice for booking good accommodations.
Check online hotel reviews prior to booking your stay. These offer feedback from those who have recently stayed at the hotel you are considering booking. What people say about a hotel can help you figure out where you should be staying.
Check online hotel reviews prior to booking your stay. These will give you some information from people that have stayed at that certain hotel. What people say about their experiences at the hotels you’re thinking of booking can aid you in coming to the right decision.
Make use of online tools to find a hotel. These kinds of websites allow you to locate great deals fast. They can tell you what the average rate at a hotel is, ensuring you know the general pricing. On top of that, they can help you determine the cheapest destinations.
Use online travel sites, such as Expedia and Orbitz, to find the best prices at the hotels you want to stay at. Always remember to give your loyalty program information to the clerk when you book your room or search for prices. You may also be eligible for deals that are offered to members of certain organizations, like AAA or AARP.
Upon arriving at your hotel, check your room before you unpack. Is it free of mildew and mold while being clean? Are all bathroom fixtures in proper working order? Are there enough linens and towels? If you notice any deficiencies in your room, immediately call the front desk so you can resolve these issues, or if the problems are too severe, move you to another room.
To get a meal later at night order yourself some room service. While this could cost you a little more, it will be worth it because you can stay in your room and take care of the cravings you’re having.
Find out the exact time for check-in and check-out. Many people show up before check-in time only to find out their room isn’t ready. If you might be arriving before the check-in time, ask the hotel whether it’s okay to come.
Use the closet safe to protect your electronics. Put all of your valuables and small electronics into the safe, such as your jewelry and iPad. They’ll be safe in there and you can leave the hotel room without worry.
Never make the assumption that all hotels allows pets in your room. Call the hotel in advance to ensure the hotel is pet friendly. In addition, get specifics with regard to the pet policy, because only particular breeds or sizes of pets may be permitted at the hotel.
Use online search tools for hotels. Travel websites are very helpful when seeking the best deals. 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. Finally, they can assist you in deciding when to vacation and what to do once you arrive at your destination.
If you’re going to be wanting a massage at your hotel, book it well in advance. In order to get the best masseurs at these top hotels, you must plan early to ensure that you get a good experience.
Always look for online deals before booking a hotel room. Sometimes, the person at the hotel desk might forget to mention a discount for booking online. So, it’s up personally to you to go searching for such discounts. Check out websites such as Jetsetter, RueLaLaTravel, and SniqueAway.
Remember that hotel chains often provide loyalty programs offering excellent discounts. They work a lot like frequent flier miles do with airlines. You earn points in a similar way. You might earn free stays and discounts, show tickets, or other things.
If you wish to include amenities such as massage while staying at a hotel, be sure to make your reservations in advance. The best masseuses are booked well in advance.
If you are an environmentally conscious traveler, you should look into “green” hotels. Green hotels can feature specialized recycling programs, may only use recyclable products and use environmentally friendly cleaning supplies. Some new hotels are built to green standards and are certified green. Other older hotels will just provide green options for you. Check online or ask a travel agent for help.
One of the best bonuses of a AAA membership is great discounts on booking a hotel. It might be surprising to learn that some auto club memberships include hotel discounts. You can save 5 percent or even more on hotels around the country. The savings can really add up if you’re staying multiple nights.
Inquire about the price of a transfer before you place a booking. This is especially important if you run across an unbelievable deal. Inquire before you book, so you aren’t hit with an unexpected price increase.
Pack your GPS and running clothes while on vacation. Go for a jog every morning. Whether you are running on roads or city streets, you will gain more knowledge about the city you are visiting while you run.
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. You don’t want to get there, only to disappoint your children when you find out the pool is closed.
If you stay at the same hotels all the time, check to see if they have a frequent-stay program. These programs give you points every time you stay there. These points can be used to earn free nights, discounts and more.
If you are going to inspect if your hotel room has bed bugs, then start looking in the bathroom. This is the last room they are likely to be. That means you can store your luggage here as you inspect. Put kids and pets in there, too.
If you care quite a bit about your environment, consider taking a “green” vacation. There are several green hotels around. Some of the newer hotels are certified green. Many older hotels will still be environmentally aware by utilizing some eco-friendly practices. A travel agent or similar source can help you find hotels that are considered ‘green’.
Check to see if your prospective hotel is non-smoking or smoking. If you’re not a smoker, a smoking room may be unappealing. While you can book a non-smoking room, smoke can infiltrate your room and settle into your clothing. It is not unheard of for those who smoke to stay in non-smoking rooms and proceed to smoke. Choose a non-smoking hotel to avoid the stench.
Before you decide to book, always find out if there are any hotel transfer fees so you won’t be surprised on your bill. You don’t want to ruin the deal you are getting on your room by paying for an expensive transfer. You can increase the amount you save by simply finding this information out in advance.
Learn about the smoking policies if you smoke. Some hotels offer smoking rooms. If the hotel has one, ask for this kind of room. There are hotels that will charge you quite a bit if they find out that you were lighting up in the room that wasn’t for smoking. This is why you should stick to the rules.
Sign up for AAA if you wish to get better hotel arrangements while you travel. A membership with AAA not only provides you with hotel discounts but a guaranteed piece of mind when trying to rent a vehicle. Parents can also often enjoy a free car seat that comes with some rentals.
Check to see if the hotel allows pets. When you are scared of animals or allergic, you won’t want to stay at pet-friendly hotels. These hotels might also suffer from odors sinking into the floor and bed linens. Some hotels have an extra fee for pets, and the charge is not much in some places. It might not be adequate to the cost of cleaning demands.
Check with the hotel to make sure the pools are ready to go if you are traveling with children. There aren’t many things that are as frustrating as going to your hotel with kids that really want to swim only to see that it has been closed.
If your requirements include a roll-away bed or a crib, you should call ahead to reserve them. Hotels usually have a limited number of these, and you don’t want to ask at the last minute. Also, you may get charged extra for these types of things. Talk about your needs when you reserve a spot so you don’t get surprised with something you won’t like.
As you have seen from reading the above article, choosing an afforable yet comfortable hotel room can be easy. Being aware of the pitfalls will help you avoid them. Simply make some calls and get ready for a great room. This will make your vacation stories much more pleasant.
You know your rights if a hotel attempts to take advantage of you. Sometimes a hotel will overbook and you will find the room you booked is not available. The hotel will then “walk” you, or send you out to another hotel. Avoid this if you can, but if you must go someplace else, make sure the room you get is comparable to the one you booked, and you are paid to travel there.