There are many things you should remember when planning your vacation. First, you must chose where you will go. Then, you need to plan on how you will be arriving there. You also need to figure out where to stay, and this can be hard if you are traveling to an area for the first time. This article is going to give you great advice that will be helpful.
A number of factors all need consideration in your hotel reservation process. Price is one consideration, but you may also want a hotel that is close to a certain destination. What about free breakfast, local calls, wifi or swimming pool? Try to get yourself a hotel with what you need in it when possible.
Use Orbitz or Expedia to find a great deal. Are you a member of a certain hotel’s membership program? If so, make sure you put this information into the travel site. You may also be eligible for deals that are offered to members of certain organizations, like AAA or AARP.
Check out the search tools offered by online travel sites. These kinds of websites allow you to locate great deals fast. They can provide you with an idea of the average rate charged by each hotel, so you will have a good idea as to whether or not the deal you are being offered is good. You can also find out about local amenities and things offered by the hotels.
Check the organizations that you’re a member of. Some offer big discounts on hotel rooms. Some of these discounts can be pretty substantial, but many people don’t take advantage of them. They can save you plenty of money, especially for prolonged stays. For a week of vacation time that adds up to an extra day!
In order to get the best prices for hotel stays, you will want to plan your trip several weeks or months beforehand. If you chose to book a month or even two ahead of your arrival date, you can get great discounts. You may even be able to cut the price down by half!
Don’t unpack upon arrival without checking your hotel room first. Your room should definitely be neat and should not have any odd smells, suspicious stains or mildew. Does the plumbing work right? Do you have all the towels and linens you need? Any problems that you notice should be reported to front desk staff right away. That way, they can be rectified or you can change rooms.
Never make the assumption that all hotels allows pets in your room. Even if the website says they are pet-friendly, always call in advance to verify. Verify exactly what is meant by “pet-friendly” since certain breeds and pets over a certain size may not be allowed.
Know when you are able to check in and get your room. You don’t want to arrive early only to find out your room isn’t ready yet. If you might be arriving before the check-in time, ask the hotel whether it’s okay to come.
If you want to take your pet along on a trip, take care of three tasks before you leave. Be sure that the hotel really does allow pets. Pack a supply of plastic grocery bags with you – you will need to clean up any pet waste. 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.
Don’t think that all hotels will be pet friendly. Call them ahead of time to see if they are even if the website they’re on says yes. Ask about their pet policy. Many hotels have restrictions on the breed and size of pet allowed on the premises.
Book any massage appointments you make early. The best practitioners go fast, so make your reservation early and book by name where possible.
Be sure to follow your fitness regimen while staying in a hotel by packing your workout clothes and any other equipment you may need. So, make sure you have your running gear and shoes and you will be set to jog anywhere. Even if you have to run down roads or the streets in the city, you can learn a lot more about the city when you get finished.
If you belong to AAA, see what kinds of discounts the hotel offers. Your membership in this auto club has just such a discount available to you. Membership in AARP, a union, an auto club or even being a police officer can get you a discount. The savings can really add up nightly.
Maximize your hotel stays with membership programs like the ones that Marriott or Choice Hotels offer. By joining a membership program, you earn points during every visit. These points can add up to free items over time.
If you are an avid jogger, a GPS watch is a great investment so you can always find your way back to your hotel. Also, don’t forget your exercise clothes! When you wake up in the morning, throw on your gear and head out for a morning jog. You’ll get plenty of good exercise and a better understanding of the city around you.
Being a AAA member has many advantages when it comes to booking a hotel room. Members of AAA will get additional hotel discounts up to five percent, but you’ll also get discounts on rental cars as well. Some places provide free car seats too.
It may be wise to look into loyalty programs that your favorite hotels offer. This type of program provides discounts and benefits for frequent visitors. Rewards can include free hotel stays, upgrades and late check-out times if you save up enough points.
If you are traveling with children, be sure the hotels you book have clean swimming pools that are up and running. Your kids and you will be very frustrated if the pool at your hotel is closed because of repairs when you arrive.
Do you use the same hotels on a regular basis? If so, check out their membership programs for frequent guests. Just like with a frequent flyer mile program, you can get points for staying a hotel. 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.
If you want to inspect a hotel room for bed bugs, start with the bathroom. This room is usually free from bugs. That makes it the perfect place to store your luggage while you inspect the rest of the premises for bedbugs. Put kids and pets in there, too.
Do you care about your environment? If so, a “green” hotel may be for you. Fortunately, there are many green hotels available nowadays. Some newer hotels have been built green and are certified green. Some older inns just select one or more of several eco-friendly strategies to show environmental awareness. Request the help of the travel agent in identifying hotels that are environmentally friendly.
If you smoke, you should understand the hotel’s policy about smoking before you book a room. Most hotels have designated smoking rooms. You should try your best to book one of these if they are available. 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 order to avoid an unwanted expense on the hotel bill, inquire about any hotel transfer fees prior to booking them. If the room is the bargain, then an expensive transfer can ruin the whole savings. Inquiring about this in advance will maximize any savings.
Look into a hotel’s pet restrictions. If you fear pets or have allergies it may be best to make reservations at hotels which do not have a pet-friendly policy. Also, pet friendly hotels may have lingering odors that have been absorbed by carpeting or linens. Some hotels are pet-friendly and don’t charge for it, while other hotels will add a hefty fee for keeping a pet. If the hotel allows animals in any room, then you may want to book elsewhere if you have allergies.
Maximize your hotel stays with membership programs like the ones that Marriott or Choice Hotels offer. You will build up points with that hotel for added benefits. It works a lot like frequent flier miles do for airlines.
Early Check
If you are bringing your kids along for the trip, then it’s a good idea to call a hotel in advance and make sure they have working pools. There is nothing worse than arriving at your destination anxiously looking forward to splashing around in the pool, only to find that it is closed.
You should understand that early check-ins to hotels are not usually possible. Be sure to plan your arrival with that in mind, or you may be sitting in the lobby area for some time. The rooms can’t be readied and cleaned until the prior guests are gone, so this means that check-in time is usually around 2 p.m. or 3 p.m. If you should happen to get there early, ask at the desk about early check-in, but your request may not be granted.
When checking your hotel accommodations for bed bugs, begin in the bathroom. This is probably not where you will find bedbugs. This makes it an ideal spot to put your luggage as you check out the rest of your room for bedbugs. It’s also safe for pets and kids this way.
If it all possible, never check out before your scheduled departure date. Your hotel may charge you a fee to do so. Booked hotel rooms are taken off the market, so if you leave early, the hotel loses money. That’s why they will charge you a fee for early departure.
You should be aware of the hotel’s policy concerning pets. If you’re allergic to pets or fear them, then you may want to avoid hotels that allow pets. Also, pet friendly hotels may have lingering odors that have been absorbed by carpeting or linens. Some hotels are pet-friendly and don’t charge for it, while other hotels will add a hefty fee for keeping a pet. The fee may cover totally or partially the cost of the extra cleaning involved.
Don’t open the bottled water! You may feel a bit parched shortly after checking in. As a result, that bottle of water on the little fridge may look very good to you. Hotels are really aware of this, and the water will cost you quite a bit more than it really should. Sometimes it is possible to get bottled water at no cost in the hotel gym. An even better option is to pack your own bottled water for when you arrive.
It is usually not possible to check into your hotel early. Plan to arrive at the proper check-in time so you don’t find yourself wandering around the hotel’s lobby for hours. Hotels use these in between hours to make sure rooms are cleaned and ready for the next occupant. If you are early, don’t expect miracles.
Finding the right hotel for your trip is not that hard. With this knowledge in mind, get started. Be sure you make some travel plans to ensure your stay is great. You are bound to have wonderful stories to tell when you get back!
Whenever possible, do not check out prior to the scheduled date of your departure. Many hotels will charge a fee for early departure. If you check out too early, the hotel will lose money because they remove the room off the reservation list. Therefore, they have to make up for the loss by charging an early departure fee.
