Your hotel can really make or break your vacation experience. You have to know how to find the right hotel so that your trip is not ruined. So here are some advice to assist you get the best room at a fair price.
You want to look at a number of different things when booking a hotel stay. Price is one, but a prime location is another. Other amenities that people look for are a gym, pool, free local phone calls, free Wi-Fi, and free breakfast. Look for a hotel that provides you with the amenities that are a priority to you.
Check with the organizations that you’re a member with. Some organizations offer discounts for different reasons from different hotels. People frequently forget these discounts are available, which can be 10% or more. It can add up to almost a free night!
Before you book a hotel, look for deals online. Many times, the reservation specialist won’t tell you of discounts when you call to book your room. That’s why doing a bit of research pays off, so you are aware of discounts and specials. Check websites like Hotwire.com, Kayak.com and Priceline.com for great discounts.
Use hotel search tools. These sites allow you to locate great deals quickly.
Be clear about check-in time at the hotel you have booked. You don’t want to arrive early only to find out your room isn’t ready yet. If you will be arriving before check-in, call the hotel in advance and see if you can check-in early.
Always look for online deals prior to booking a hotel room. This is why it’s up to you should always do your research well online to find these discounts. Check out websites such as Jetsetter, RueLaLaTravel, or RueLaLaTravel.
You can get better deals on hotel rooms if you book several weeks or months ahead. A lot of places will give you a discount if you’re going to book about a month or so in advance. This will allow you to save up to 50 percent even when staying at an elite hotel.
Know your check-in time is. Some people end up waiting for their room is still not ready. Call the front desk to find out if you think you’ll be early.
Don’t make the mistake of thinking all hotels will accept pets. So call ahead and make sure you understand if there are extra fees or a limited number of rooms available. Find out what their rules on pets are also, as they may not let large pets or certain breeds stay with them.
Plan your trip in advance as possible.Many locations offer the best discounts if you book more than a month or two ahead of time. You may find yourself saving as much as half off of the price down by half!
There are three things you must do before bringing your pet along on your vacation. Confirm that pets are allowed in the room you are staying. Be sure to have plenty of plastic bags on hand to make pet cleanup easy. 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 make the mistake of thinking all hotels will welcome your pet.
If you’re going to be wanting a massage at your hotel, book it well in advance. Many of the top masseuses out there are booked far ahead of time.
If you’re a member of the AAA, it may qualify you for a hotel discount. You would be surprised to learn that your membership to the auto club also includes discounts may be lurking. You can save 5 percent or even more on hotels throughout the country. This is a savings that can really adds up when you are staying for many nights.
Check your AAA membership for a hotel discount. You would be surprised where hidden discounts may be lurking. You can save 5 percent or more on your hotel stay just by showing your membership card. It’s a savings that really adds up over the nights.
If you run regularly, be sure to bring your running clothes and shoes.
If you like running and frequently stay in hotel rooms, be sure and pack up a GPS watch, along with your favorite running clothes. In this way, you can simply suit up and enjoy your workout as usual while on the road. Even jogging on pavement and alongside city avenues can provide you new perspective of any city that you visit.
Free Nights
If you travel often, consider signing up for a loyalty program with your favorite hotel chain. They offer perks to folks who frequent their hotel. You might receive an upgrade at no cost or be allowed to check out later than others with your points.
If you tend to stay at the same hotel a lot, check to see if they offer membership to frequent stay programs. These hotel programs give you rack up points. They add up to free nights, free nights, show tickets, spa deals and a whole lot more.
For those frequent travelers, it may be better to build loyalty and perks by joining the membership club of your favorite hotel. That way, each time you stay, you accrue points that you can turn into vacation freebies when it’s time to take the family on an adventure.
Be sure you know the cost associated with hotel transfer fees by asking about them in advance. If the rooms are cheap, it is especially important that you ask about any hidden fees that might be tacked onto your bill. Asking about this ahead of time helps you maximize your overall savings.
Always avoid making long distance calls from your hotel room. Use the Internet, instead. Skype connections are available in many hotels these days using Wi-Fi. You can stay in touch with work or family without the high cost of a call from the phone in your room.
Get an AAA membership for hotel when you travel. Parents of younger children will appreciate the free car set offered in many locations.
Determine whether or not the hotel you are considering allows smoking or not. If you aren’t a smoker, then you want to avoid smoking rooms and maybe even smoking hotels in general, but most hotel chains do have smoking and non-smoking rooms. Even if you reserve a non-smoking room, the smell of smoke can circulate through the hotel’s air vents and cause your clothes to pick up the odor. There are times when smokers end up staying in non-smoking rooms, and smoking in them. Too avoid exposure to the smell of cigarette smoke, it may be best to stay at a non-smoking hotel.
Don’t call long distance calls on your hotel phone. Many hotels will give you complimentary Skype connections via Wi-Fi. This can be a much cheaper option than calling from a hotel room and getting hit with lots of long distance calls from your hotel room.
Review the pet policy at the hotel. If you fear pets or have allergies it may be best to make reservations at hotels which do not have a pet-friendly policy. The hotels may have the smell of pet odors on the linens and floor. One hotel may charge guests an arm and a leg to bring their pet, while others don’t. If the hotel you are staying at does not incorporate much of an extra fee, the cleaning service might not be up to par.
It is extremely frustrating for you check in to your room with the kids screaming “pool” only to discover that there are none.
If a crib or a rollaway bed is necessary for your stay, let your booking agent know. They may not have any available. In addition, there is sometimes an extra charge for these items. Talk about these things when you make your reservations.
Start by inspecting the bathroom when checking for bed bugs. This is the place where bedbugs are least likely to find them. It is a safe place for pets and kids.
To be safe, avoid the top bedspread that is provided by the hotel. They generally will wash the blankets and sheets that are under the bedspread, but the main bedspread may not be washed. This means they may be a hotbed of germs. Take the bedspread off of the bed.
Be sure you know what the hotel smoking policy is if you smoke. Many have rooms for smokers. Ask to see if any of these are a smoker. If you smoke in a room designated as non-smoking, they may charge you a fine.
Be aware of your options in case a hotel “walks” you. You might find that a room you booked isn’t available when you arrive because they overbooked. This means that you’re going to have to go somewhere else. Avoid having this happen if you can, but if you’re going to a different hotel, be sure that the deal is better than the place you were trying to get.
As you can now see, preparation is key to finding a great deal on a great hotel. You’ve got to learn what to be looking for and when you should be booking. So keep the tips from above in mind and you will be sure to find a hotel that is perfect for your needs.
Whatever you do, don’t open the bottled water. You may feel a bit parched shortly after checking in. The bottled water inside the mini fridge may tempt you. There is a huge mark-up in price because the hotel knows this fact. The gym in the hotel may have water for free. It is best to simply bring your own bottled water.