Don’t Let A Bad Hotel Ruin Your Vacation, Use These Tips To Find The Best

It takes work when it comes to planning a vacation. You must decide where to go, you also need to make hotel reservations. Making the wrong decision can spoil your vacation. This article will help you to find a good hotel.

Prior to making reservations, research hotels on sites like TripAdvisor. This will give you valuable information about the recent experiences of people at each hotel. This can help you choose which hotel to stay at.

TIP! Before making reservations at a hotel, check the online review sites. These types of sites let you read about real customers’ experiences with each hotel.

You can stash your expensive items in the safe and go about your day without worry.

Room service can make your stay more enjoyable. You will probably pay more for this meal, but for the convenience of having it delivered to your room, it is worth it.

TIP! Consider ordering room service if you want a special meal without needing to go out. Room service can be expensive, but the luxury of being able to lounge about in your room in your jammies can make it worthwhile.

Check with the organizations that you are a member of. Some of them may provide discounts on hotels to their members. People don’t always remember to check out these discounts, and they can be 10 percent or more. It can add up to equal a free hotel night!

When thinking about the type of hotel you would like to stay at, there are plenty of options to consider. Price is one thing you should consider, but when you get a hotel you may want it near a certain place. You may or may not care about such amenities such as a gym, large pool, WiFi or a free breakfast buffet. Seek to locate a hotel that provides lots of attractive amenities.

TIP! When thinking about selecting a hotel, there are quite a few salient points to consider. Of course price is a big deal, but a hotel close to where you are head is a big consideration.

There are things to think about when booking a hotel. Amenities like a swimming pool, a gym, complimentary breakfast, and other amenities may be things that you prefer. Try locating a hotel that checks off as much of your desired amenities as is realistic.

Be sure you inspect the room you are given at check in before you start unpacking. Is the room free of mildew and mold and clean? Does the plumbing work right? Are there enough linens and towels? 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.

TIP! Inspect your room before unpacking your bags. Your room should definitely be neat and should not have any odd smells, suspicious stains or mildew.

Check your room prior to unpacking. Is it without mildew and otherwise clean? Are there enough linens and towels that you’re going to need? If you quickly note any problems, immediately notify the hotel staff so they can fix it or move you to another room.

Part of trip planning is knowing what time check-in is at your hotel. Some people forget to find out what time they are allowed in their room; they show up at the hotel only to find their room is not yet ready. Call the hotel if you are early and find out if your room is ready.

TIP! Make certain you know when your check-in time is. You don’t want to arrive early only to find out your room isn’t ready yet.

Don’t think that all hotels will accept pets.

Planning for a trip months or even just weeks in advance can often get you a better rate for your hotel room. Many hotels offer the best discounts if you book a few months in advance. You may even be able to cut the price down by half!

TIP! You can get better deals on hotel rooms if you book several weeks or months ahead. The earlier you book, the better rate you should get.

If you belong to the AAA, ask about a hotel discount. You might be surprised where hidden discounts on hotels. You may save five percent or even more on certain hotels. It’s a way to save money that really adds up over the nights.

If you’re going to be wanting a massage at your hotel, book it well in advance. Frequently, the best massage people will be booked by name. This means that if you book early, you’ll have a better experience.

TIP! If you’re interested in the massage services of a hotel you intend to stay at, reserve your appointment ahead of time. Frequently, the best massage people will be booked by name.

If you want to keep your regular running routine, make sure to bring your running gear with you.

Are you a AAA member? If so, hotels may provide you a discount. Are you aware that the auto club you belong to may offer you excellent hotel discounts? You can save up to an additional five percent at certain hotels throughout the country. This is a savings that can really add up over several nights.

TIP! If you have a AAA membership, it may qualify you for a hotel discount. You could also get a surprise that you have an auto club membership that gives you hotel discounts.

If you tend to return to the same family of hotels for your vacation, ask about their membership program. These hotel programs give you points every time you stay there. These points can be traded in for restaurant discounts, tickets to shows, spa deals and much, much more.

If you often frequent the same hotel chains, look into their frequent stay membership programs. Many hotels offer membership programs that allow you to earn points for each of your stays. You might earn free stays and discounts, show tickets, or other things.

TIP! If you are always staying at the same chain, find out about the programs they offer to frequent guests. Similar to frequent flyer programs, some hotels have programs that give point for each stay.

If you want to work on saving the environment, then you may be interested in taking a “green” vacation. There are plenty of “green” hotels that feature green amenities. Some newer hotels have been built green and are built in a way that they get certified as green. Some older inns just select one or more eco-friendly strategies to show environmental awareness. Talk to a travel agent if you want to find the best green hotels for your needs.

Vacation “green” if you are worried about the environment. There are plenty of “green” hotels that take the environment into consideration. Some new buildings are certified as green. Eco-friendly strategies are also now commonly adopted by many older hotels. Finding hotels that are environmentally friendly can be as easy as asking your favorite travel agent.

TIP! Vacation “green” if you are worried about the environment. Luckily, there are a lot of green hotels out there in this day and age.

Be sure you know the cost associated with hotel transfer fees by asking about them in advance. If you are getting a very low price on the room, the transfer could ruin the deal. Asking before you maximize your savings.

For those frequent travelers, it may be better to build loyalty and perks by joining the membership club of your favorite hotel. This allows you to earn point you can redeem for vacation freebies for you and your family.

TIP! Maximize your hotel stays with membership programs like the ones that Marriott or Choice Hotels offer. This allows you to earn points each time you book a room.

Get an AAA membership for hotel when you travel. Parents of small children will probably like the car seat that’s provided for free in some locations.

Find out if the hotel you’re staying at has a functioning pool for the kids. Nothing is worse than having excited kids who find out they cannot go to the pool.

TIP! If you are planning on staying in a hotel room with your children, make sure you call the hotel in advance to ensure they provide a working pool or some other fun activities for your children to do. Nothing is more frustrating than to have kids nagging you about swimming, only to find that the pool is closed.

Try not to make long distance calls from your hotel rooms. Many hotels will give you complimentary Skype connections via Wi-Fi. You can stay in touch with people back home by using this instead of a call from the phone in your room.

Always ask about the hotel’s smoking policy if you smoke. Many hotels still offer smoking rooms. If that is the case, you should ask for one of those rooms. Don’t smoke in a nonsmoking room, or you may be charged by the hotel for doing so.

TIP! If you smoke, learn the smoking policy of the hotel where you are staying. Many hotels have rooms designated for smokers.

Check to see if a hotel is non-smoking or smoking. If you are a nonsmoker, then you should probably stay away from hotels that allow smoking. Smokers also sometimes smoke in rooms that the room they are renting is a non-smoking room.

If you will be needing a rollaway or a crib, alert the hotel to this fact when making your reservation. These items are not available at all hotels. When they are available, they are often in limited supply. Also, you may face extra charges for the use of these items. You should discuss this with the hotel agent prior to booking so that you do not have an unexpected charge to your bill.

TIP! If your requirements include a roll-away bed or a crib, you should call ahead to reserve them. Many hotels do not have the items, and the ones that do may have a limited quantity.

Be sure you understand your hotel’s smoking policy if you smoke cigarettes.A lot of places have specific rooms just for smokers. Ask for those rooms if any of these are available. Some hotels charge a hefty penalty if they find any evidence that you were smoking in a non-smoking room, so make sure you understand and follow the hotel’s smoking policy.

Never actually check out before the departure date unless it’s an emergency. The hotel might charge you a fee for early departure. By booking a room, you are preventing other potential guests from staying in the hotel. Therefore, by leaving early, you are costing the hotel extra revenue. To earn back this money they will lose, they charge you an additional departure fee.

TIP! Do not check out early. This could result in a charge for early departure.

You should be aware whether or not the hotel’s policy concerning pets. These hotels might also suffer from odors sinking into the carpet and bed linens. Some hotels charge a nominal fee for pets, while other hotels will add a hefty fee for keeping a pet. The fee charged may be for any cleaning needed to completely remove the odors.

You may wish to use a different blanket than the comforter that is in your hotel room. Your sheets should be fresh and clean but the bedspread is not washed after each guest. Therefore, you don’t really know what is on it. Just get that blanket off of the bed.

TIP! For hygienic purposes, you may want to avoid using the bedspread that the hotel provides. The blankets and sheets under the bedspread are typically washed between guests, however the top cover is not.

You should know that it is not usually possible. Plan your trip right or you want to wait in the lobby for hours. Hotels use these in between hours to make sure rooms are ready for the next occupant. If you can’t avoid being early, check with the desk to see if you can check in, but be prepared if they can’t accommodate you.

Do not open that bottled water! After traveling and checking in, you might be feeling tired and/or thirsty. That’s what the hotel owners had in mind when they packed the min-fridge with delicious, yet expensive, refreshments. The hotel knows this, and charges high prices because of it. Check the hotel gym and see if they offer it for free. A better idea is to bring a few of your own bottles.

TIP! Don’t open that bottles water! You may be thirsty and tired when you arrive. You might feel the urge to untwist the cap on the bottled water sitting in the mini-fridge.

Hotel Rates

Don’t think that you should steal the hotel’s property. As soft and luxurious as they are, the housekeepers will likely notice that things are missing, and you might get a bill from the hotel for them. If you really love those linens or pillows, find out if you can purchase them from the hotel.

TIP! Do not take anything from the hotel. If hotel staff notice that these items are missing, you may be billed for them.

You can get better hotel rates when you don’t book during peak tourist season. This is the highest time that hotel rates are at their highest. You should get a better rate during this time.

If you book your flight alongside your hotel, then you’ll get a much better bargain deal. Travel booking sites often provide significant discounts for combining your room and flight and perhaps even a rental car. To maximize this service, be sure to compare the rates of different airlines and hotels.

TIP! You can often save money if you book your flight and hotel at the same time. Many travel websites offer significant saving for those who book a hotel and either a flight or rental car from them.

You may be able to score a free upgrade of your hotel room. You have a better chance of this by checking in exactly at the time when you are supposed to check in. Often the room you have reserved will still be dirty, so they might give you a room upgrade at no extra charge.

You can search various tourist centers for books that include hundreds of coupons for local hotel chains. This is one of the best ways to get a great deal without using the Internet, but you’ll have to use a hotel that’s in the book. You can then call and book a room, rather than searching endlessly for places to stay.

TIP! If you find yourself having to book a hotel while on the road, look at tourist centers, rest areas and gas stations for free tourist books that contain maps of hotels, prices and incredible discounts. This will save you time and money.

If you choose the wrong hotel, it can ruin your vacation. Plenty of research is always the key to finding the best deals. Knowing how to get discounts and perks is the best way to get them. You should be able to enjoy every aspect of your vacation, including your hotel. These tips will be a huge help.

Some rooms come with a view, while others do not. So long as you won’t be charged extra, ask about getting a room with a nice view. Such things can make your stay much more enjoyable. It won’t hurt you to ask them if they can get you a room with a better view.

TIP! Some rooms will have better views than others. If prices are the same, ask for a room with a good view.