It is not easy to plan a vacation. Besides choosing a destination, you must also locate a place to stay as well as making your travel arrangements. Your hotel choice is crucial because the wrong room can ruin the entire vacation. Use the information in this article to book your room the best way.
Check online hotel reviews prior to booking your stay. Reviews allow you to read about recent experiences at a hotel. Reading other people’s reviews of the hotels you’re considering can really help you decide which one to choose.
Put your electronics into the room’s safe. Putting your valuable jewelry and electronic items in the hotel safe allows you to feel secure as you enjoy your vacation.
To get the very best prices for the hotels that you’d like to visit, use travel sites online like Orbitz and Expedia. Make sure you notify the reservation clerk about any loyalty program you belong to with the hotel. Also, as an added bonus, you may get discounts from other companies such as AAA or AARP.
Consider the benefits of any organization memberships you have. Many clubs, groups and organizations are able to get members discounted hotel rates. Some discounts can be over ten percent! If you are planning to stay a few nights, this can really add up. It can add up to equal a free night!
Consider ordering room service if you want a special meal without needing to go out. It might cost a little extra, but it’s definitely worth the bill. Nothing is more enjoyable than having food delivered to your room while you’re in your PJ’s.
Don’t book a hotel room without looking for online deals. The reservation clerk won’t offer these details to you over the phone. This leaves the job of finding discounts entirely up to you. Websites like Orbitz, Travelocity and Hotels.com usually have some great discounts.
Figuring out which hotel you want to book isn’t an easy process. The cost is important but hardly the only factor to keep in mind. Other amenities, such as a swimming pool, an onsite restaurant and free continental breakfast are important to travelers. So decide on the amenities that mean the most to you and start looking.
Be aware of when you can check into your room. Many people forget the time, then they show up early and the room isn’t ready yet. Call the hotel if you are early and find out if your room is ready.
Use online hotel search tools. These sites allow you to find great deals quickly. 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. Also, hotel search websites can assist you in determining where to vacation and what to do there.
Don’t assume your hotel is pet-friendly. Be sure to ask even if the website says it’s ok to bring a pet. Be sure you know what pet-friendly means because there could be specific restrictions on sizes or certain breeds of dogs.
Prior to booking your hotel room, search the Internet for deals. Lots of times, when you book a room, they don’t tell you about online discounts. That’s why doing a bit of research pays off, so you are aware of discounts and specials. Websites like TripAdvisor, Expedia, and Jetsetter always have promising bargains for certain hotels that you won’t find anywhere else for a better price.
If you want to book a good couples massage, you should not wait until the last minute. Usually, the best massage therapists are booked well in advance at top resorts. If you plan early, you will have the best experience possible.
Don’t unpack upon arrival without checking your hotel room first. Make sure the room is entirely clean and free from any mildew or mold. Are the facilities operating correctly? Do you have an adequate number of 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.
Loyalty Programs
Plan your trip in advance for the best rates. You can get some great discounts if your trip is booked several months into the future. That saves you 50 percent or more frequently!
If you travel a lot, you should consider joining hotel loyalty programs. They offer benefits to people that stay at the same chain quite often. These loyalty programs allow you to earn free upgrades, late check outs and even free stays.
Never assume that all hotels are pet-friendly. So call ahead and make sure you understand if there are extra fees or a limited number of rooms available. Get the term “pet-friendly” defined, as well. The hotel may not allow large dogs or certain types of pets.
To get optimal value from a hotel stay, especially if you find yourself traveling a lot for your business, sign up for membership programs such as those offered by Marriott or Choice Hotels. This way, when you stay at a hotel, you can get points and then turn those points into free stuff that you can do with your family.
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. This means that if you book early, you’ll have a better experience.
To make reserving a hotel easy, use AAA. A membership with AAA not only provides you with hotel discounts but a guaranteed piece of mind when trying to rent a vehicle. Also, if you require a car seat, the rental company may provide you with one if you are a member of AAA.
If you belong to the AAA, see what kinds of discounts the hotel offers. Your membership may entitle you to hotel discounts. You can save upwards of 5% on your hotel stays. It really is a savings that adds up over time.
Call ahead to your hotels to make certain the swimming pools are ready for your kids. Showing up at your hotel and finding out the pool isn’t in working order can ruin an otherwise great trip.
To keep your running regimen up while you are traveling, pack your GPS watch and plenty of running clothes. So, make sure you have your running gear and shoes and you will be set to jog anywhere. It’ll let you explore the city in a new way.
The bathroom is the first place to go when checking for bed bugs in your hotel room. You probably won’t find any bedbugs in the bathroom. When you determine there are not any in there, set your bags down and inspect the remainder of the premises. It is a good place for pets or children to wait for a couple minutes as well.
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. These points add up to restaurant discounts, free nights, tickets to a show, spa treatments, and more.
Be sure you understand your hotel’s smoking policy if you smoke. A lot of places have specific rooms just for people who smoke. If the hotel has one, ask for this kind of room. If you smoke in one of the hotel’s non-smoking room, you can be charged hefty fees.
If you are inspecting a room for bed bugs, then the bathroom is the best place to start. This is the least likely place for bedbugs to be. That means your luggage will be safe there while you check out the other areas of the room. It is usually a convenient place for young children to sit for a moment too.
You should be aware whether or not the hotel permits guests to have pets in the rooms. If you fear pets or have allergies it may be best to make reservations at hotels that have a strict no pets policy. These hotels sometimes have odors because the carpet and linens have absorbed them. Some hotels charge extra fees for pets, but some do not charge much. It might not cover deep cleaning.
Understand the smoking rules in your hotel, especially if you smoke. A lot of places have specific rooms just for people who smoke. So be sure to request one of these rooms. Some hotels fine guests if they find that they smoked in a designated non-smoking room. This means that you must be sure to obey the hotel’s smoking rules.
If you are concerned about good hygiene, do not use the bedspread given to you by the hotel. The bedspread usually isn’t washed like the linens are. It could have acquired a lot of invisible germs and other things you want to avoid. Simply remove it from your bed.
You should know that it is not usually possible to check into your hotel early. Plan accordingly or you will find yourself waiting a long time to access your room. The hotel must clean each room prior to the next visitor taking it. You can request an early check-in ahead of time, but it may cost more.
Don’t pilfer the hotel towels or 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 like the linens so much, you should ask about purchasing them.
Don’t decide you need new linens as you are sitting in your hotel room. You may really like those towels, pillowcases and washcloths, but their absence will not go unnoticed. You will be billed for them. If you truly love them, ask the hotel about buying them.
You can save quite a bit on your next vacation when you choose to bundle your hotel room and flight. It is not unusual for travel websites to provide large savings when a hotel is booked along with a rental car or a flight. Be sure and compare the rates on different sites, as some will offer better deals than others.
Save money by booking your flight and hotel together. You may be able to save a lot of money by booking both from the same place. Compare quotes between hotels and airlines.
If you want lower hotel room rates, try to avoid booking in the middle of peak tourist seasons. Usually, hotels charge their highest rates during these seasons. You should book a room during the off season as hotels are desperate then for their rooms to be occupied. This will allow you to get a rate that’s a lot better.
If you want an upgrade, use an approach that may snag it for free. You have a better chance of this if you arrive right at the time when you are supposed to check in. If the room you are booked for has not been cleaned yet, you may be offered a better room at no additional charge.
Want a free upgrade? An easy way to get this to happen is to show up on time for when you’re supposed to be checking in. If your room isn’t clean yet, you may be offered an upgrade.
When booking a room while you’re traveling, look for brochures, maps and other things that can help you. In this way, you can call to get the best deal rather than wasting gas searching in person.
Don’t ruin your vacation by choosing the wrong hotel. Be sure to plan ahead properly. The more you know about how to find and book the right accommodations, the better choices you will have. Relaxing in a comfortable hotel can be one of the most enjoyable parts of a trip. The next time you are a planning a big vacation, keep these tips in mind.
All hotel rooms are not created equal when it comes to the view. When the price is the same regardless of the view, ask for a room with a great view. Little things like this can make your hotel stay more pleasant. You can always ask the manager if they have another room available with a better view.
