Hotel Secrets The Big Chains Don’t Want You To Know

You don’t want to avoid being taken advantage of when booking a hotel you’ve selected. Whether it is paying too much or a room isn’t as expected, a bad experience can ruin a vacation. The article below can help you avoid these issues.

Before you pick out your hotel you’re going to reserve a spot at, check out review sites online like TripAdvisor. These websites have reviews and comments from people who have recent experience with their stay. These reviews can help you decide which hotel you should select.

TIP! Prior to reserving a room at a hotel, look on the Internet for reviews. One great site is TripAdvisor.

You should put any expensive electronics and jewelry in the hotel safe.

Use travel websites, like Expedia and Priceline to find great hotel deals. If you have a hotel loyalty program your a part of, be sure you enter this information while looking through rates. Also, you may be eligible for discounts through other organizations to which you may belong, such as AARP or AAA.

TIP! Online travel websites can offer you a great deal on hotels with lots of choices, all on the same website. If you are a member of a loyalty program, use that info when checking rates.

Check the organizations that you are a member of. Some may offer big discounts on hotels to their members. People often forget about these discounts, which may be for 10 percent or more off of your stay. It can add up to almost a free night!

Look for a closet safe in your hotel room, and use it for any expensive electronics you may have brought with you. You can place your costly items that are small into their safe, and then you won’t have to worry about these things as you go out.

TIP! Put your electronics into the room’s safe. Anything of value can be securely locked in the safe, then you won’t have to worry about your valuables while out enjoying yourself for the day.

There are many different things to think about when choosing a hotel.Amenities such as complimentary WiFi, free local calls, 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.

Double-check your organizational memberships. Many organizations provide hotel discounts for members. These discounts can be as much as 10 percent or even more. This can result in significant savings, especially for longer stays. Over the course of a week it’s nearly a free night!

TIP! Check with the organizations that you are a member with. Hotel discounts are often one of the benefits offered.

Check online for the best deals before you book a hotel deals. This is why you to search for discounts yourself. Check out websites like SniqueAway, RueLaLaTravel, and SniqueAway.

Inspect your room before unpacking your bags. It should be free of any mildew or mold. Do a quick check to ensure that the shower, sink and toilet are all in proper working order. Do you have all the towels and linens you need? 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! Check out your room ahead of unpacking. Your room should definitely be neat and should not have any odd smells, suspicious stains or mildew.

Know the check-in time. Some people neglect asking what the check-in time is and get to the hotel when their room to be available because they forget to check this critical detail.Call and ask if you to arrive before check-in.

Ask the hotel about their check-in time.. If you don’t check, the room may not be ready when you arrive. If you anticipate arriving early, check with the hotel to find out if your room will be ready.

TIP! When can you check in? 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. If you find you will be arriving early, call the hotel in advance and find out if you will be allowed in.

There are three different things you should do before taking your pet on a trip. Be sure that this hotel really does allow pets. Be sure to have plenty of plastic bags with you so you can pick up your pet’s waste.

To benefit from the best prices at hotels, start planning your trips several weeks or even months in advance. If you can book early, you may get a huge discount. This can save you as much as 40 percent off of the cost of your hotel.

TIP! 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.

Book your appointment as early as possible. The best practitioners go fast, and you don’t want to miss out.

Do not assume that each hotel welcomes pets. Even if a web listing says a hotel is pet friendly, call the hotel to verify. Make sure that you ask ahead what pet-friendly means to the hotel because this is a loose term that may still mean there are certain restrictions.

TIP! You don’t want to assume that the hotel you will be staying in is considered pet friendly. Even if the website says they are pet-friendly, always call in advance to verify.

If you tend to stay at the same hotel a lot, see if they have frequent stay programs you can become a member of. These hotel programs usually work by letting you points for each stay.These points can quickly add up to many perks such as a free night, tickets to shows, free nights at the hotel, much more.

Book your appointment as far ahead of time as possible to guarantee you get the perfect couples massage for you and your significant other. Usually, the best massage therapists are booked well in advance at top resorts. If you plan early, you will have the best experience possible.

TIP! Always book early for that special couples massage for you and your loved one. Most of the best masseurs will be reserved by name ahead of time.

Green Hotels

Many hotels have loyalty programs available to customers who travel often. These programs provide perks to those who stay at a particular chain regularly. You can score things like complimentary upgrades, later check-out options and even free nights once you accumulate enough loyalty program points.

TIP! If you travel often, consider signing up for a loyalty program with your favorite hotel chain. They offer a variety of benefits to their members.

If you care quite a bit about your environment, a green vacation is something to look into. There are several green hotels out there. Some new buildings are built in a way that they get certified as green. Some hotels that aren’t that new will pick out some ways to be more eco-friendly strategies to show environmental awareness. Talk to your travel agent to find the best green hotels for your needs.

The price for any give hotel room is going to affected by how early you book the room. Hotels give rooms a price based on what’s available. If you can, make your reservation no earlier than 24 hours before you arrive. This will get you the very best rate on your hotel room. The hotel will earn no money at all if the room is empty, which gives you a much better bargaining position.

TIP! Timing matters when booking a hotel room. Availability sets pricing.

The cost of your hotel room largely depends on the price you pay. Rooms are typically priced in accordance with availability. This will usually ensure that you receive the very best available price.

In order to enhance your hotel visits, especially when traveling for work, you should consider joining membership programs that hotels provide. Examples include membership programs provided by Marriott or Choice Hotels. These points can translate into some major perks when you’re vacationing.

TIP! To get the most out of your hotel stays, particularly if you travel a great deal for business, join a membership program such as that offered by Choice Hotels or Marriott. 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 to avoid hotel transfers when booking a room.If you’re getting what appears to be a nice deal on the room, it is especially important that you ask about any hidden fees that might be tacked onto your bill. You will save more by simply finding this information out in advance.

Try not to make any long-distance calls from your hotel room. Make use of the Internet, instead. A lot of hotels offer wi-fi, making it possible for you to use Skype. This can be a much cheaper option than calling from a hotel room and getting hit with lots of fees.

TIP! Do not make long distance calls from your hotel room. Use the Internet, instead.

Join a membership program to get deals on your stays. These points can be applied toward further travels.

Is your room non-smoking or not? If you are a non-smoker, you will enjoy a non-smoking room more. Even in a non-smoking room, the smoke from other rooms is in the air and might infiltrate your clothing. In addition, previous travelers could have smoked in the room, even if it is a non-smoking room. If you don’t want to smell like cigarettes, consider staying at a hotel that’s non-smoking.

TIP! Ascertain whether or not the hotel you plan to stay at allows smoking. If you are a non-smoker, you might want to stay at a non-smoking hotel.

It is extremely frustrating when you check in to your children to arrive at a hotel expecting a pool and/or other activities only to discover that there are none.

In most cases, checking into a hotel room ahead of schedule isn’t possible. Plan for this, or you may risk waiting in the hotel lobby for an hour or more. The room has to be cleaned ahead of your check in. If you are early, don’t expect miracles.

TIP! Keep in mind that hotel check-ins are usually very strict; therefore, you probably won’t be able to check-in early. Make sure you plan around your check-in time, or you will be forced to sit in a lobby to wait for your room.

Never check out before the departure unless it is absolutely necessary. The hotel might charge a fee for early departure fee. When you make your reservation, the hotel takes that room off the market; thus, if you depart early they will lose money.

Unless it is an emergency, always stay for the total number of nights that you have booked. Hotels often charge early departure fees. Booked hotel rooms are taken off the market, so if you leave early, the hotel loses money. That is why you are charged a fee.

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

You know your rights in the event where a hotel needs to “walk” you. The hotel will then send or “walk” you off on another hotel. Avoid this if possible, but if you’re going to a different hotel, be sure that the deal is better than the place you were trying to get.

If you are concerned about germs, don’t use the hotel bedspread. While sheets and linens are always washed, the topmost bedspread may not be, depending on the hotel policy. That means it could harbor contaminants you don’t want to be in contact with. Take the bedspread off of the bed.

TIP! Avoid sleeping under the bedspread. While the staff may have washed the sheets prior to your stay, the comforter is not always washed.

Do not take any of the linens with you when you leave.

Do not open that bottled water! You may arrive at your destination exhausted and thirsty. That bottle of water in the mini fridge can be might tempting. Hotels are well aware of this and will charge you a hefty fee for that already exorbitantly priced bottled water. Check out the gym instead; they may have free water. The best idea, however, is to bring your own.

TIP! Avoid drinking bottled water from a hotel! After checking into your room you will probably feel exhausted and thirsty. As a result, that bottle of water on the little fridge may look very good to you.

You can often save money if you book a flight and hotel at the same time. A lot of travel websites provide significant savings for people who bundles things together.

Don’t take any of the 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 really are in love with their linens, see if that hotel is willing to sell them to you.

TIP! Don’t decide you need new linens as you are sitting in your hotel room. If hotel staff notice that these items are missing, you may be billed for them.

You can find reasonable upgrades without paying a dime. You can do this by being on time to accept your hotel booking. Often the room you have reserved will still be dirty, so they might give you a room upgrade at no extra charge.

If you are looking for a lower rate before you book a hotel, then don’t book a room during the peak season. Rooms typically cost the most during this time. If you book your rooms outside of tourist season, then you’ll get a better price because hotels are struggling to fill their empty rooms. You can get a better rate during this time.

TIP! If you want the best rate for a hotel room, never book during the height of tourist season. Rates are at their peak then.

Gas Stations

Tipping when appropriate will make your hotel stay more pleasant. In general, your room service charges take tipping into account, but that’s not normally the case with room cleaning. Giving the hotel staff tips makes sure that you’re in great hands and always comfortable.

TIP! Tipping can make any hotel stay more pleasant. You will probably remember to tip the person who brings you room service, but you may forget to tip your maid.

If you need to book a room while driving, check out rest areas or gas stations to find tourist books which will have maps, gas stations and tourist centers for complimentary tourists books which contain hotel prices, prices and discount offers. This way you call ahead to book a room that’s right for you.

Not all hotel rooms provide the same views. If you do not have to pay more for a room with a good view, ask for one. Little things like this can make your hotel stay more pleasant. It’s a simple thing to ask whether there are rooms available where the view is better.

TIP! The view from some hotel rooms is better than from others. If the view quality does not impact the price of the room, request for a room with a great view.

You can help ensure your stay is pleasant if you tip when appropriate. For instance, fees for room service often include the tip with the bill, maid service billing does not include any tips. Tipping guarantees that the staff respects and well liked during your hotel stay.

Use special occasions to book your hotel while travelling. Hotels often provide perks if you let them know you are celebrating an anniversary or birthday. From champagne to fruit baskets, there are many things that you might receive. Avoid lying because it is bad karma!

TIP! Tell your booking agent that you are staying at the hotel for a special occasion. Hotels sometimes offer freebies to guests when they know it is a special day for them.

Some rooms have a nicer view than others. If room prices are not affected by the view, opt for the one with the best view. These are the little things can enhance your trip more enjoyable without costing you any money. It can’t hurt to ask the availability of rooms with excellent views.

When you want to get a great hotel at a great price, the clerk can be asked for a better deal. The clerk may not be able to discount the price, but he or she may be able to add some extras like a breakfast buffet or at least a continental breakfast. If you don’t speak up, you can’t get perks!

TIP! Ask the hotel clerk about the best deals available. They may not lower the price, but they might give you some extra perks for staying.

You should always avoid paying an advertised price that hotels advertise to its guests. Contact the hotel and see what kind of specials they are running. You may also be able to locate great discounts by using travel websites.

Some hotels use Photoshop to make their facility look better on brochures or the Internet. For example, that appealing pool may be child’s size, or they may have airbrushed a shabby neighborhood out of the background. Do your research so that you know what to expect.

TIP! Don’t be fooled by the photos the hotel uses in marketing materials. For example, the pool may not be exactly as it seems, or a shabby structure nearby might be eliminated from the picture.

Let the hotel management know that you are there for a special occasion. Hotels often provide perks if you let them know you are celebrating your anniversary or birthday. You might be able to get free bottle of champagne or something similar.

TIP!

Use this advice in this article to avoid distasteful hotel stays. If you’re able to figure out what needs to be watched for and what to do to get good deals, your experience will go just fine. If you are traveling and stop for rest, you don’t want to be confronted with a lot of hassles.

TIP!