It can be difficult to book a hotel room because of all the choices you must make. Figure out your budget and the amenities you need from a hotel room.Read these tips on how to enjoy the best possible hotel room a breeze.
Use travel websites to find the most competitive prices for hotel chains online. If you have a hotel loyalty program your a part of, be sure you enter this information while looking through rates. Also, as an added bonus, you may get discounts from other companies such as AAA or AARP.
Check online hotel reviews prior to booking a room.These will give you with first-hand information about people’s recent experiences at that certain hotel. What others say will help you in coming to the right decision.
Room service is one of the best parts about a hotel. How else could you possibly enjoy a midnight snack without leaving your bed? While you’re likely to pay a little more, it’s worth having the convenience of staying in your room (and in your pajamas) while you wait to satisfy those nocturnal cravings.
Check your hotel room when you arrive. Is it without mildew and sanitary? Are there enough linens and towels that you’re going to need? If there are any obvious problems, call the front desk that instant so they can address them or move you to another room.
To keep your electronics safe when you are out of the hotel room, use the safe that you’ll find in your closet. Put all of your valuables and small electronics into the safe, such as your jewelry and iPad. They’ll be safe in there and you can leave the hotel room without worry.
Know the check-in time. 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.
Take a look into organizations you are part of. Hotel discounts are often one of the benefits offered. These discounts can be as much as 10 percent or even more. If you are planning to stay a few nights, this can really add up. It may equate to one whole free night.
If you belong to AAA, look into hotel discounts included. You might be surprised to learn that your membership to the auto club includes discounts on hotels. You can save 5% on nationwide hotels. This is a savings that can really add up in time!
There are things to think about when choosing a hotel. You should look at the price, but you should also look at the location that is most convenient for what you want to do. You may or may not care about such amenities such as a gym, large pool, WiFi or a free breakfast buffet. So decide on the amenities that mean the most to you and start looking.
If you are a daily runner, be sure to bring your running clothes and shoes.
Use online hotel search tools. These sites allow you to find great deals quickly. Not only will they show the best deals, but they’ll also include extra information about the rooms, floor plans, and even reviews from other customers. They also help you decide the dates for your vacation and the activities you’ll want to partake of.
Free Stays
Never book a hotel room before seeking out online deals. Sometimes, the person at the hotel desk might forget to mention a discount for booking online. For this reason, making a proactive search is advisable. Websites like TripAdvisor, Expedia, and Jetsetter always have promising bargains for certain hotels that you won’t find anywhere else for a better price.
It is wise to look into loyalty programs that your favorite hotels offer. They offer rewards to guests who frequent their hotel. You can often earn free upgrades, free stays, and even free stays when you get enough points.
Do not assume that each hotel welcomes pets. You should call ahead to double check, even if it was stated on the website that this is a pet friendly hotel. Ask what pet-friendly means at the establishment. There may be some restrictions.
If you stay in a particular hotel chain, consider joining their membership reward programs. These hotel programs usually work by letting you points every time you stay there. These points can quickly add up to many perks such as a free night, tickets to shows, spa deals and much, much more.
Think about going on a “green” vacation. Fortunately, there are many green hotels available nowadays. Green certification is something some of the newly built hotels are quite proud of promoting. Many older hotels are environmentally aware and have eco-friendly measures in place. Check online or ask a travel agent for help.
Be sure you know the cost associated with hotel transfer fees by asking about them in advance. If the room is the bargain, 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.
When you book has a huge impact on your final bill. Rooms are typically priced according to availability. Don’t book a room more than a day in advance. This will usually ensure that you receive the best available price. Hotels don’t like to have vacancies so they often provide better prices.
Get a AAA membership to facilitate the process of booking a hotel perks when you travel. Parents can also often enjoy a free car seat provided in many locations.
Maximize your hotel stays with membership programs like the ones that Marriott or Choice Hotels offer. Every stay in a particular hotel chain where you are a member will add points to your total, which can later be used on free rooms or amenities that usually cost you.
It is extremely frustrating when you and your room with the kids screaming “pool” only to discover that there are none.
Get a AAA membership to facilitate the process of booking a hotel when you travel. AAA members not only get discounts at many hotel chains, it will also make it much easier to rent a car. Parents with young children will appreciate the complimentary car set offered in some locations.
Start looking in the hotel bathroom when checking for bed bugs in a hotel. You probably won’t find any in the bathroom. It is a safe spot for your pets and kids.
If you are traveling with children, be sure the hotels you book have clean swimming pools that are up and running. It can prove rather frustrating when you check in to your room with the kids screaming “pool” only to find out it’s closed.
Ask if there is smoking or non. If you are not a smoker, you might want to stay at a non-smoking hotel. Smokers don’t always respect the fact that you are renting is a non-smoking room.
Start looking in the bathroom when checking for bed bugs in a hotel. This is where you won’t find them. That means your luggage will be safe there while you check out the other areas of the room. Put kids and pets in there, too.
Some hotels don’t offer cribs or rollaways; while others have a limited number of them. Talk about these issues as you make your reservations.
Smokers should always learn the smoking policy at any hotel before they book a room. Hotels normally have rooms set aside for smokers. You should try your best to book one of these if they are available. If you smoke in a room designated as non-smoking, a big penalty can come along with it.
Avoid sleeping under the hotel bedspread.The bedspread is one item that does not usually get washed like the linens are. This can mean that the bacteria and bacteria. Just remove it from the bedspread.
Whenever possible, do not check out prior to the scheduled date of your departure. The hotel may charge a fee for early departure. If you check out too early, the hotel will lose money because they remove the room off the reservation list. They charge a fee for early departure to help compensate for the lost revenue.
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. If you do choose to move, you need to be booked at a comparable hotel or upgraded room for your troubles.
Don’t use the hotel bedspread if you can avoid it. While the staff may have washed the sheets prior to your stay, the comforter is not always washed. This can make it full of bacteria, germs, and other unknown elements. Just take that blanket off the bed.
Do not open the bottled water! You will likely be thirsty and tired when you check in. You may decide to reach for that bottled water beckoning on the mini-fridge. Hotels are well aware of this and will charge more for bottled water. Sometimes it is possible to get a free water at no cost in the hotel gym. It’s best to simply bring your own bottled water.
If a hotel is trying to “walk” you, then you’ll know what the rights are you have. When you check-in, you may discover the room you secured isn’t actually available. That means the hotel will send you to another establishment, or “walk” you. If you can’t avoid this make sure the room you get there is better or comparable and that they pay for the travel there.
You can secure a great hotel room and find a deal all at the same time. As you plan, keep these tips in mind. You are likely to have a comfortable stay and pay a price you are happy with.
Whatever you do, don’t open the bottled water. After checking in you may be thirsty and tired. The mini fridge is calling your name. Hotels take advantage of guests by charging ridiculous amounts for bottled water. Some hotels offer free bottles of water in their gyms. Or, just bring some of your own from home.
