It takes some work to plan out your vacation. You’ll have to pick out where you’re going, how you’ll get there, and where you’ll stay. The wrong room can set you up for disaster. Read this article and you’ll get information on getting your hotel correctly.
Consider your organizational memberships. There are times when an organization will give you great deals on the price of hotels. These discounts can be as much as 10 percent or even more. For extended stays, this can really add up. Over the course of a week it’s nearly a free night!
To get a meal later at night order yourself some room service. 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.
Make certain you know when your check-in time is. Many hotel guests will forget their check-in time; therefore, they will arrive at the hotel just to discover that they cannot check in yet. Call and ask if you think you’ll be early.
Be sure to keep your valuables and electronics secure by locking them in your hotel room’s safe. You can place your small, expensive items such as your iPad in the safe, so you can enjoy your day knowing they are safe and secure.
In order to get the best prices for hotel stays, you will want to plan your trip several weeks or months beforehand. Many hotels offer the best discounts if you book a few months in advance. With elite brands, this can translate into savings of up to 50 percent.
Make sure you check with any organizations of which you are a member. Some offer big discounts on hotel rooms. People often forget that they are eligible for these discounts, which may be for 10 percent or more off of your stay. These discounts can save you quite a bit of cash, particularly if your stay involves several nights. A stay of 5 days or more could add up to one free hotel night stay!
Don’t make assumptions about pet policies of hotels. Put a call into the front desk just to be sure, no matter what it says on their website. 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.
Check out the search tools offered by online travel sites. These websites can help you get great deals quickly. They also list the average cost of a hotel room, allowing you to ensure you are receiving an acceptable deal. Also, hotel search websites can assist you in determining where to vacation and what to do there.
If you plan on taking a family pet with you to a hotel reservation, do three things in advance. Find out if the hotel you have selected is pet-friendly. Pack a supply of plastic grocery bags with you – you will need to clean up any pet waste. When making your reservation, ask for a room at the end of the hall to spare other guests your pet noise.
Don’t book a hotel room without looking for online deals. Lots of times, when you book a room, they don’t tell you about online discounts. You will have to learn how to find these great discounts yourself. Look at Jetsetter, RueLaLaTravel or similar websites for discounts.
If you like running and frequently stay in hotel rooms, be sure and pack up a GPS watch, along with your favorite running clothes. Simply set an alarm or get a wake up call and take an early morning run. Even if you have to run down roads or the streets in the city, you can learn a lot more about the city when you get finished.
Check your hotel room prior to unpacking. Is the room clean? Do the plumbing fixtures function properly? Make sure you have the linens, bath supplies and towels that you will need. 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.
If you are a person who travels often, it is a good idea to sign up for hotel loyalty programs. There are some great benefits offered to clients who often book the same chain. You can often earn free upgrades, free stays, and complimentary late check out with enough points accrued.
Be clear about check-in time at the hotel you have booked. If you show up too early, you may find yourself sitting around the lobby, waiting for your room to be ready. Call the hotel if you are early and find out if your room is ready.
If you stay at the same chain of hotels often, look into their membership programs for frequent guests. These are similar to frequent flyer programs. They allow you to accrue points during your hotel stay. You might earn free stays and discounts, show tickets, or other things.
If you wish to include amenities such as massage while staying at a hotel, be sure to make your reservations in advance. Often the best masseurs and masseuses at top resorts are booked by name, so if you do your planning early, you can make your experience sublime.
If you are concerned about the environment, you may want to take a “green” vacation. There are several green hotels around. Many new hotels are certified as green hotels. Some of the older hotels do implement green practices to be sure they are eco-friendly. A good travel agent can help you find hotels that are environmentally friendly.
Use your AAA discount at hotels. 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. These savings can really add up if you travel often.
The time you book the room will change how much you’ll pay. Rooms prices are based on their availability. Book your room more the day before you need it if you can. You can often get the best price if you do it this way. If the hotel never rents the room they’ll get zero dollars for it, so most of the time they will give you a steep discount on it.
Many hotels have loyalty programs available to customers who travel often. These programs provide benefits to guests who book the same hotel regularly. You can earn things like free upgrades, complimentary late check-out times and free stays if you accrue enough loyalty points.
Inquire about hotel transfer costs before before booking. Especially in situations where the price of the room represents a major deal, the hidden cost of the transfer can often make the difference. Asking before you arrive can really increase your overall savings.
Membership programs offered by hotel chains help members who travel a lot get the best rooms during their stay. When you do, you get points every time you stay at a hotel.
Join the hotel’s membership program if you frequently stay there on business trips. Each hotel stay can accrue points towards vacation perks.
To keep the kids in your family happy when you are on the road, call ahead and make sure that the pools in each hotel are in working order. It will be a huge disappointment if you arrive at the hotel with the kids ready to swim and they are not able to do so.
Check out the hotel’s pet policy. If you’re scared of pets or have allergies, you may not want to stay in a pet friendly hotel. The smells tend to stick around. You may get charged extra for having a pet, but a lot of places don’t charge all that much. The fee may cover the cleaning, and it may not.
If you are concerned about bed bugs, look in the bathroom first. Bedbugs usually won’t stay here. This is why you should keep your luggage in there while you go on a search for bedbugs. It is also the safest place for children and pets, too.
It may come as a shock to you, but most hotels don’t allow you to check-in early. Plan to get there at the right time if you don’t want to wait. Hotels use these in between hours to make sure rooms are cleaned and ready for the next occupant. If you do happen to arrive early, check with the desk to see if you can check in, but don’t expect that request to be honored.
Ask if there is smoking allowed in the hotel. If you are a non-smoker, you might want to stay at a non-smoking hotel. Even non-smoking rooms can have smoke billow in from next door. Even if a room is designated as nonsmoking, sometimes people smoke in there anyway. Think about staying at a hotel that is totally nonsmoking if you don’t want to stink when you check out.
If it all possible, never check out before your scheduled departure date. The hotel might charge you a fee for early departure. Whenever you reserve a room, it isn’t available to anyone else and the hotel will lose money if you cancel. Make sure you understand that you might be charged for an early departure.
If you smoke, be sure you’re aware of what the hotel thinks of smoking where you’re staying. Hotels normally have rooms set aside for smokers. Ask to see if any of these are available. You may be charged hefty fees if there is evidence that you have smoked in a that is designated as non-smoking.
If you are concerned about good hygiene, do not use the bedspread given to you by the hotel. Although the blankets and sheets are cleaned when guests check out, sometimes the bedspread on top will not be. Therefore, you don’t really know what is on it. Just take that blanket off the bed.
It is usually not possible to check into your hotel early. 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. Having said that, don’t hesitate to ask the front desk about checking in if you do arrive early; however, you shouldn’t expect to be able to do this. The best thing you can do is arrive on time.
Don’t get that bottled water and open it! You may feel a bit parched shortly after checking in. As a result, that bottle of water on the little fridge may look very good to you. Hotels know this very well, and that bottled water is exponentially more expensive than it should be. Often, hotels offer complementary water in their workout facilities. However, to be safe, you should pack some water bottles yourself.
Don’t let your choice of hotel ruin your vacation. Research and plan well in advance. You will have better options when you know how to find the best accommodations. It’s important so that you can enjoy your trip as much as possible. Remember these tips as you plan your vacation.
Do not give in to the temptation to run off with hotel towels or sheets. 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 have to have the stuff, see if the hotel will sell it to you.
