Hotel Secrets Straight From The Travel Experts

Does your head spin at the thought of choosing the best hotel to stay in for your vacation? With so many choices, how do you know you have found the perfect one? Do not alarm yourself. The tips that follow will help you with all things related to hotels.

To help you make a good choice, you should check out hotel review websites like TripAdvisor online. These provide you with first-hand information about people’s recent experiences at each hotel. What people say about a hotel can help you figure out where you should be staying.

TIP! Check online reviews before booking a room. Websites like TripAdvisor will give you some first-hand accounts of hotel experience from actual customers.

To enjoy a late-night meal with that special someone without having to leave the comfort of your hotel room, think about ordering some room service. Even though this will cost a bit more, the convenience and comfort are worth it.

Consider ordering room service during your stay. 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.

TIP! Room service is great for late meals. The cost will be a bit higher, but not having to dress up and go out will be worth it.

If you wish to keep things safe in a hotel, use the hotel’s safe that’s in the closet of your room. Putting your valuable jewelry and electronic items in the hotel safe allows you to feel secure as you enjoy your vacation.

Look for a closet safe in your hotel room, and use it for any expensive electronics you may have brought with you. You can put just about anything in there, as long as it isn’t too big, and you won’t have to worry about it.

TIP! If you wish to keep things safe in a hotel, use the hotel’s safe that’s in the closet of your room. Place all electronics there along with important documents, such as your passport or plane tickets.

When thinking about the type of hotel you would like to stay at, there are plenty of options to consider. While price is obviously a factor, you may want to think about room size and amenities as well. Amenities like free WiFi, fitness facilities, a pool and free meals may also be important considerations. Seek to locate a hotel that provides lots of attractive amenities.

Double-check your organizational memberships. Some of these organizations will offer you discounts on hotel prices. People often forget about these discounts, which can be 10% or more. That can add up to huge savings over multiple nights. Over the course of a week it’s nearly a free night!

TIP! Check the organizations that you’re a member of. Many of them offer hotel discounts to members.

Before you book a hotel, look for deals online. The reservation clerk won’t offer these details to you over the phone. That’s why doing a bit of research pays off, so you are aware of discounts and specials. Look at websites such as RueLaLaTravel, Jetsetter, and SniqueAway.

Search online tools for hotels. These kinds of websites allow you to locate great deals fast. They display the average rates of hotels so that you can see if the deal you are getting is good. Also, hotel search websites can assist you in determining where to vacation and what to do there.

TIP! Make use of the various hotel search websites on the Internet. Some websites are designed to help you find the best deals.

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. Does your shower, sink, and toilet work in the right way? 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.

Prior to making a hotel reservation, check for deals online. It’s not uncommon for a hotel employee to not mention to you that it is possible to receive a great discount online. This is why it’s up to you to search for these discounts. Look at Jetsetter, Enrovia and Hotels.com.

TIP! Always look for deals online when reserving a hotel room. Many times, the reservation specialist won’t tell you of discounts when you call to book your room.

Be aware of when you can check into your room. Some people end up waiting for their room to be available because they forget to check this critical detail. Ask for an early check-in time if absolutely necessary.

Prior to emptying out your suitcase, carefully look over your room. Is the room clean and devoid of issues like mildew and mold? Are the showers, sinks, toilets, etc. properly functioning? Are all the towels you’ll need present in the room? If you have any questions or notice any problems with the room, immediately call the front desk and report them so that they may be handled. You may also asked to be transferred to a new room if the problem is serious, such as mold or mildew.

TIP! When get to your hotel, inspect the room before unpacking. Is it clean? Do the sink, shower, and toilet all work properly? Have the staff provided all the necessary soap, shampoo, towels, etc.

If you are traveling with a pet, it is best to find a pet friendly hotel ahead of time. Call the hotel to verify, even if it says so on the website. Get the term “pet-friendly” defined, as well. The hotel may not allow large dogs or certain types of pets.

To get the lowest price on accommodations, plan your trip in advance. Quite a few locations will give discounts if you choose to book a room a month or more in advance. This can save you as much as 40 percent off of the cost of your hotel.

TIP! To get the best prices on hotel rooms, start your trip planning weeks, or even longer in advance. Some hotels have great discounts when you book a couple of months in advance.

Auto Club

Never make the assumption that all hotels allows pets in your room. Call the hotel in advance to ensure the hotel is pet friendly. Ask what pet-friendly means at the establishment. There may be some restrictions.

TIP! Never make the assumption that all hotels allows pets in your room. Be sure to ask even if the website says it’s ok to bring a pet.

For members of AAA, hotels offer discounts that are exclusive to members. You could also get a surprise that you have an auto club membership that gives you hotel discounts. Membership in AARP, a union, an auto club or even being a police officer can get you a discount. Those discounts add up to great savings, especially if you will be having an extended stay.

There are three things you must do before bringing your pet along on your vacation. Find out if the hotel you have selected is pet-friendly. Take some bags to clean after your pet. And, ask if your room can away from guests.

TIP! Taking a pet on a trip requires some extra responsibility. Be sure that the hotel really does allow pets.

If preserving the environment is of interest to you, you can chose a “green” vacation. There are plenty of “green” hotels that take the environment into consideration. Many new hotels are constructed to meet green standards, earning green certification. Older hotels can’t always do this, but instead choose to adhere to certain green practices. Speak with a travel agent to see if they can help you pick out hotels that care about the environment.

If you want to have a massage with your partner on your vacation, make sure that you schedule an appointment with a masseuse as early as possible. Most of the time, the most reputable masseuses will be booked, so plan early in order to have the most enjoyable experience.

TIP! To ensure that you and your special someone get the right couples massage during your stay, book your appointment as early ahead of time as you can. Frequently, the most skilled massage specialists at the best hotels are reserved by name, so when you plan ahead, you can get the best.

What you will be charged for a room, depends on when it’s booked. The price is subject to the laws of supply and demand like any other product. If at all possible, do not book your room more than one day in advance. This can get you a seriously discounted rate. This is because the hotel will want to book rooms that are currently empty.

Do you use the same hotels on a regular basis? If so, check out their membership programs for frequent guests. Like the programs for frequent flyer, these programs the hotel offer give you points whenever you stay with them. You might earn free stays and discounts, show tickets, or other things.

TIP! Remember that hotel chains often provide loyalty programs offering excellent discounts. These are similar to frequent flyer programs, offering points each time you stay at a particular chain.

To make reserving a hotel easy, use AAA. The discounts at many hotel chains and deals on car rentals can more than pay for the AAA membership fees. At some locations they even offer free car seats.

You may wish to consider a “green” vacation if the environment is one of your concerns. Many hotels offer environmentally friendly standards today. Many new hotels are certified as green hotels. Older hotels may choose to take “green” standards seriously, which is a great thing. Your travel agent can help to identify the environmentally friendly hotels.

TIP! Think about going on a “green” vacation. There are several green hotels around.

Making a long distance call from a hotel room should be avoided. Use the Internet, instead. The hotel may even offer Skype calls via Wi-Fi. Use these types of services to keep in contact with loved ones back home instead of having exorbitant charges added to your bill from the costly phone calls.

The price of a hotel room is often a mix of many factors. Hotels price rooms in part based on availability. Try to book a specific room at least 24 hours ahead of time, but it’s even better if you book weeks ahead of schedule. This will get you the best hotel rates. A room that’s empty won’t help the hotel, so generally they will get the price lowered.

TIP! What you will be charged for a room, depends on when it’s booked. Availability dictates the prices of hotel rooms.

Always read a hotel’s pet policy, whether you are a pet owner or not. If you dislike or have allergies to pets, steer clear of hotels that allow pets. They may have a hidden smell that the hotel tries to mask with a strong fragrance, which is also an irritant. Some hotels add an extra charge for pets, other do not. The fee might be too low to cover the extra cleaning costs.

Inquire about the price of a transfer before you place a booking. If the rooms are cheap, the transfer could ruin the deal. You should inquire about this before booking the hotel room.

TIP! Be sure to avoid hotel transfer fees by asking about them in advance. Especially if you’re in a situation where the room’s price is a really good deal, the price of your transfer can make a big difference.

Don’t check out early, if possible. Many hotels will charge a fee for early departure. Booking that room means it wasn’t available when others were reserving. That is why you are charged a fee.

Don’t call long distance in your hotel room. Use your cell phone or the Internet. Some hotels offer free Wi-Fi, so you can use Skype. Use these to keep up with loved ones or colleagues back home from the comfort of your hotel room instead of racking up costly phone calls from the nightstand.

TIP! Steer clear of long distance calls while in a hotel. Instead, you should try the Internet.

You probably should avoid using the hotel’s bedspread for hygienic reasons. Hotel sheets are laundered daily; however, bedspreads are not. As a result, the bedspread will likely contain all kinds of germs and bacteria. Just get that blanket off of the bed.

Start looking in the bathroom when checking for bed bugs in a hotel. Bedbugs are least likely to live here. Therefore, you can put your luggage here while you look over the remainder of the room. It’s also safe for pets and kids this way.

TIP! If you wish to see if a hotel room has bed bugs, check out the bathroom. You probably won’t find any bedbugs in the bathroom.

The information in this article should help you in your search for a hotel room you can afford. Take the time to do the proper research before making a decision. After you have reviewed your information, you will be in good shape in choosing the perfect hotel for your vacation.

Check if a hotel you’re looking to stay at is non-smoking or smoking. If you are a nonsmoker, you may want to avoid hotels that offer smoking rooms. Even if you book a non-smoking room, smoke can enter your room through air vents. There are times when smokers light up in a non-smoking room. If you don’t want to stink like a cigarette when you are leaving a non smoking hotel may be a good choice.

TIP! Think about whether or not you are going to be staying at a smoking or nonsmoking hotel. If you are not a smoker, you might want to choose a hotel that does not have smoking rooms.