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

A hotel turns your vacation experience. Read on to learn about finding a great accommodations.

Prior to reserving a room at a hotel, look on the Internet for reviews. One great site is TripAdvisor. Here you can get first-hand reports of the experience people had staying at different hotels. These reviews can help you decide which hotel you should select.

TIP! To help you make a good choice, you should check out hotel review websites like TripAdvisor online. These will give you some information from people that have stayed at that certain hotel.

Check online reviews before making any reservations. These will give you with first-hand information about people’s recent experiences at that certain hotel. What people say with regards to a hotel being considered can aid you in coming to the right decision.

You can find a lot of great deals on hotels if you go online and check out some of the travel sites out there. If you are a member of a particular hotel’s loyalty program, remember to include that information when you are checking on rates. You might also be entitled to additional discounts through your other organizations, such as AAA or AARP.

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 part of a loyalty program, make note of that.

You should put any expensive electronics and jewelry in the safe and go about your day without worry.

Consider ordering room service if you want a special meal without needing to go out. Room service can be expensive, but the luxury of being able to lounge about in your room in your jammies can make it worthwhile.

TIP! Consider ordering room service if you want a special meal without needing to go out. Room service generally costs more than ordering out; however, it is nice to be able to order a meal in the middle of the night if you so choose.

There are things you should consider when choosing a hotel. Amenities that you might personally want or need include a swimming pool or gym, fitness facilities, a pool and free meals may also be important considerations. Try locating a hotel that checks off as many of your desired amenities as is realistic.

See if your organizational memberships offer any benefits. Sometimes you can get discounted hotel prices through these organizations. People often forget that they are eligible for these discounts, which may be for 10 percent or more off of your stay. When you’re staying for more than one night, this can add up to a decent savings. This can also net you a free hotel night.

TIP! See if your organizational memberships offer any benefits. Some organizations offer discounts on hotels to their members.

Take advantage of tools online. These websites can help you get great deals.

When picking a hotel, there is a lot to think about. Price is always a big factor, but you also need a hotel that’s geographically proximate to your target destinations. Things like free breakfast can make a big difference for some families. Choose a hotel that meets all of your needs.

TIP! When thinking about the type of hotel you would like to stay at, there are plenty of options to consider. Price is one consideration, but you may also want a hotel that is close to a certain destination.

Plan your trip in advance as you can to ensure best rates. Many locations offer the best discounts if you book a few months in advance. You may save up to 50 percent off at some very exclusive hotels.

Prior to booking your hotel room, search the Internet for deals. Often, the reservations clerk will not advise you that a better deal is available online. That’s why it’s always your duty to search the web for better deals whenever you are booking a hotel room. There are many travel websites that offer discounts.

TIP! Before you book a hotel, look for deals online. Often, the person booking your room won’t tell you about discounts available online.

Don’t think that all hotels will accept pets.

Know the hotel’s check-in time. If you don’t know you may end up waiting a long time. Therefore, if you anticipate arriving early, call the hotel in advance and see if it is possible to check in early.

TIP! Make sure that you know the check-in time for the hotel that you book. If you don’t check, the room may not be ready when you arrive.

There are three things you should do before bringing your pet along on your vacation.Be sure that this hotel really does allow pets. Be sure to bring some bags on hand to make pet cleanup easy.

Although many hotels have certain rooms that allow pets, never assume your hotel will without researching ahead of time. Even if a web listing says a hotel is pet friendly, call the hotel to verify. Always ask about what exactly a pet-friendly policy entails, as there could still be limits on breeds and sizes.

TIP! Do not assume that each hotel welcomes pets. Even if a web listing says a hotel is pet friendly, call the hotel to verify.

If you belong to AAA, ask about a hotel discount. You might be surprised to learn that your membership to the auto club also includes discounts may be lurking. You could save 5% or even more on hotels around the country. This is a savings that can add up over several nights.

If you want to keep up your running regimen on the road, make sure that your packing list includes lots of running clothes and a GPS watch. Simply set an alarm or get a wake up call and take an early morning run. No matter if you’re on city streets or down some roads, you can easily learn new things about a city doing this.

TIP! Be sure to follow your fitness regimen while staying in a hotel by packing your workout clothes and any other equipment you may need. Get up early and dress for a jog in the early morning.

If you tend to return to the same family of hotels for your vacation, look into their membership programs for frequent guests. These programs give you rack up points. These points can be traded in for restaurant discounts, tickets to shows, free nights at the hotel, much more.

Do you travel on a periodic basis? If so, consider joining your hotel’s loyalty program. These are exceptional benefits reserved for customers who frequently use a particular chain of hotels. There are many great rewards even leading up to free stays as you gather up more loyalty points.

TIP! Do you travel on a periodic basis? If so, consider joining your hotel’s loyalty program. These are exceptional benefits reserved for customers who frequently use a particular chain of hotels.

Join the hotel’s membership program to get deals on business trips. These points that can be applied toward further travels.

If you stay in a particular hotel chain, ask about their membership program. Just like frequent flyer mile programs, these hotel programs offer you points for your stay. These points can add up to hotel restaurant discounts, spa deals, free nights and much more.

TIP! If you tend to return to the same family of hotels for your vacation, consider joining their membership reward programs. Just like frequent flyer mile programs, these hotel programs offer you points for your stay.

Ask if there is smoking or non. If you don’t smoke, then you should probably stay away from hotels that allow smoking. Smokers also sometimes smoke in rooms that you are renting is a non-smoking room.

Try out a green vacation. Green hotels can feature specialized recycling programs, may only use recyclable products and use environmentally friendly cleaning supplies. Some of the newer hotels were built with green standards in mind. Some hotels that aren’t that new will pick out some ways to be more eco-friendly so they can show they care. You can ask a travel agent to pinpoint eco-friendly hotels, thus making sure your vacation doesn’t hurt the environment.

TIP! People who care about the environment may be more comfortable staying in a hotel that is eco-friendly. Green hotels can feature specialized recycling programs, may only use recyclable products and use environmentally friendly cleaning supplies.

Be sure you know what the hotel smoking policy if you smoke. Many have designated rooms for smoking guests. Ask to see if you are a smoker. If they find you have smoked in a non-smoking area, you can be hit with some major penalties for lighting up in a non-smoker’s room.

A membership in AAA can make booking a hotel easier when you travel. AAA members get good hotel discounts and can also find good car rental rates much more easily. Those with youngsters will be grateful for the free car seats.

TIP! Get a AAA membership to facilitate the process of booking a hotel when you travel. AAA members receive excellent discounts on hotels, car rentals and other attractions.

You should understand that you generally aren’t going to be able to do an early check-in at a hotel. Plan to get there at the right or you might end up waiting in a hotel lobby. The hotel must clean up your room prior to check in. If you do get to the hotel early, speak with the people at the front to see if you’re able to get into the room, but don’t expect that request to be honored.

Determine whether or not the hotel you are considering allows smoking or not. If you are not a smoker, you might want to avoid hotels with smoking rooms. You may rent a non-smoking room, however, the smoke from the smoking rooms can still be present in the air and make your clothes smell like it. Sometimes a smoker will get a non smoking room and still smoke in it. If you just can’t stand the smell of stale smoke, look for a hotel that doesn’t allow it at all.

TIP! If you’re a smoker, then make sure you get a hotel with a smoking room. If you’re not a smoker, you might want to skip a smoking hotel.

Some hotels have these amenities at all. Talk about these issues as you make your room.

Be aware that you can’t normally check-in early at your hotel. If you are going to arrive early, plan on doing something to fill your time. The hotel must clean each room prior to the next visitor taking it. 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.

TIP! Be aware that you can’t normally check-in early at your hotel. Plan to arrive at the proper check-in time so you don’t find yourself wandering around the hotel’s lobby for hours.

Never actually check out earlier than your scheduled departure unless it’s an emergency. The hotel might charge a fee for early departure fee. If you check out too early, that hotel may charge a fee because they couldn’t book that room.

If you can, avoid checking out before the day you are scheduled to. You may be charged a fee if you do. Upon reserving a hotel room, you tie up that room in the hotel. This means that your early departure results in the hotel losing money. This is why they have the departure fee, to get their money back that they would have otherwise lost.

TIP! Unless it is an emergency, always stay for the total number of nights that you have booked. The hotel may charge a fee for early departure.

Avoid using the bedspread. The bedspread is one item that does not usually get washed like the linens are. It can carry a lot of bacteria and germs. Remove the comforter from the bed to have peace of mind.

You may wish to use a different blanket than the comforter that is in your hotel room. Your sheets should be fresh and clean but the bedspread is not washed after each guest. For this reason, there’s no telling what might be on that bedspread. So take it off the bed, fold it up and stash it in a corner of the room.

TIP! If you are concerned about germs, you might want to take the bedspread off of the bed. Although the blankets and sheets are cleaned when guests check out, sometimes the bedspread on top will not be.

You have rights in the event where a hotel attempts to take advantage of you.This means that you’re going to have to stay at a different hotel. Avoid getting “walked” whenever you can, but if you have to switch hotels, be sure that the deal is better than the place you were trying to get.

Don’t let a hotel take advantage of you. Sometimes a hotel will overbook and you will find the room you booked is not available. The hotel “walks” you to a new hotel nearby. It’s best to avoid this, but if you can’t, be sure you are going to a better hotel and getting a better room.

TIP! If you find your reserved room is not available, you do have rights. When hotels overbook rooms, the one you reserved may not be available.

You can get better hotel if you don’t book during their slow times of the year. Rates are always highest during this time. You should get a better rate during this time.

Don’t drink the water! You may be thirsty and tired when you arrive. Opening the bottle in the mini-fridge is tempting. There is a huge mark-up in price because the hotel knows this fact. Some hotels offer complementary bottles of water in their gyms. Or better yet, bring a few of your own bottles.

TIP! Avoid the bottled water! After checking in you may be thirsty and tired. You may decide to reach for that bottle of water calling to you from the mini fridge.

If it becomes necessary to book a hotel from the road, look at tourist centers, rest areas and gas stations for free tourist books that contain maps of hotels, maps and great discounts. This will help you call ahead to book a room that’s right for a good bargain.

Do not take anything from the hotel. Housekeeping keeps track of linens. If you do want to take something, ask about a direct purchase when you’re checking out.

TIP! Don’t pilfer the hotel towels or linens. No matter how much you love them, housekeeping will note missing linens and the hotel is likely to bill you for them.

Some hotels rooms offer a better views than others. If the view quality does not impact the price of the room, see if you can get a room with a view. These small features can make your trip more enjoyable without costing you any money. It won’t hurt you to ask them if there are rooms with a better views available.

Some rooms come with a view, while others do not. Request a room with a great view if you can. Although a great view is not the most important thing when booking a hotel room, it can maximize your enjoyment. You have nothing to lose by requesting a room with the best view possible.

TIP! All hotel rooms are not created equal when it comes to the view. Request a room with a great view if you can.

As was mentioned earlier, spending too much on a hotel takes money away from other aspects of your trip. Use the advice you learned here to find the right hotel room so you can sleep peacefully on your vacation. Read this article when you start making travel arrangements.

Check out online sites like Expedia to find good deals. The websites really help the hotel’s business, so the hotel’s offer them exceptional deals. Be aware that some require that you bid on a hotel room, and others may not provide you with the name of the hotel, only the price and the rating of the hotel until you buy.

TIP! Check online websites such as Expedia or Travelocity to help you find great prices. These sites help to sell lots of hotel reservations, so hotels will inform them of any discounts that may not be offered elsewhere.