If you are planning to travel, there are a lot of things to do before you head out the door. Between planning, packing and preparing, you have a lot to do. It likely also includes making a hotel reservation. These tips will help you find that hotel room you need to make your trip perfect.
Check online reviews before booking a room. These sites will allow you to see previous guests’ experiences at the hotels you are considering. The information provided by patrons of the hotel will help you make a good choice of where to stay.
Check online reviews before booking a room. You will be able to see the most recent reviews. Other customers can give you some valuable insight and help you choose the right place to stay.
Compare prices at websites like Orbitz and Expedia to ensure that you receive the best available rate. Are you a member of a certain hotel’s membership program? If so, make sure you put this information into the travel site. Some organizations like AAA and AARP offer lodging discounts for a variety of hotel chains.
Use online travel sites, such as Expedia and Orbitz, to find the best prices at the hotels you want to stay at. If you are a member of a hotel loyalty program, make sure to indicate this when searching for rates. You may also qualify for discounts from other organizations you belong to such as AAA or AARP.
You can enjoy a romantic dinner in your room by calling room service. Although you will probably have to spend more money to do this, it’s usually worth the cost because you have the luxury of receiving excellent food without having to leave your hotel room.
Check with the organizations that you are a member with. Some of these organizations will offer you discounts on hotel prices. People often forget about these discounts, which can be 10% or more. This can add up to big savings, even more so if you will be staying for many nights. That can give you close to a completely free night when it adds up.
Check in on the organizations you belong to. Many of them offer hotel discounts to members. People frequently forget these discounts are available, and they can be 10 percent or more. This is especially useful if you plan to book a longer stay. Within a week’s time, you are basically getting a free night’s stay.
Don’t book a hotel room without looking for online deals. You might not learn from the person on the phone that you can actually get great discounts over the Internet, instead. It’s your job to find them yourself. Look at Jetsetter, RueLaLaTravel or similar websites for discounts.
Be sure to look at your room before unpacking your suitcase. Is it clean and free of mold and mildew? Check the toilet, the shower, and the sink to make sure they are clean and function properly. Do you have the blankets, pillows and towels you need? Call the front desk if you find any issues; they can either fix the problem or give you a different room.
Don’t assume a hotel is pet-friendly. Put a call into the front desk just to be sure, no matter what it says on their website. Get the term “pet-friendly” defined, as well. The hotel may not allow large dogs or certain types of pets.
Ask when you’re able to check into the room. Many people show up before check-in time only to find out their room isn’t ready. Therefore, if you anticipate arriving early, call the hotel in advance and see if it is possible to check in early.
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. The best practitioners go fast, so make your reservation early and book by name where possible.
If you want to get a low rate at your hotel, start planning early for your vacation. Many locations offer discounts if you are willing to book more than a month or two ahead of time. You can expect savings up to fifty percent if you book months in advance.
Use your AAA discount at hotels. It may surprise you that AAA gives hotel discounts, but most of them do. You may be able to save upwards of five percent at hotels nationwide. This is a savings that can really add up over several nights.
Most hotels are not pet-friendly. Therefore, make sure you call the hotel staff to confirm that they will allow pets. Even if they have a website that states pets are allowed, you should still call to confirm this. Also ask exactly what they mean by pet-friendly, as there might be restrictions on certain breeds and sizes of pet that they allow on their premises.
If you are an avid jogger, a GPS watch is a great investment so you can always find your way back to your hotel. Also, don’t forget your exercise clothes! This makes it easy for you to wake in the morning and get in a run. Even if you’re running down the city streets of roads, it will give you a new perspective of the city that you’re visiting.
Bring your running clothes with you on your trip. Go for a jog every morning. It will give you a perspective that you’ll never get while riding in a car.
Sign up for frequent guest programs at hotels. They work a lot like frequent flier miles do with airlines. You earn points in a similar way. With enough points you can get free rooms in the future. They may also offer discounts for shows, restaurants and other things.
Discuss what a hotel transfer will cost you prior to actually booking anything. If you are getting a very low price on the room, it is especially important that you ask about any hidden fees that might be tacked onto your bill. If you know this upfront, you can save more money.
Hotel Transfer
Try not to make long distance calls from your hotel room. Try using the Internet, instead. A lot of hotels offer Skype connections over 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.
If you must make a hotel transfer, find out about the fees. Hotel transfer costs can be extremely large, especially in hotels that appear to offer an incredible deal on their room rates. Be sure and inquire about this beforehand so that you get your savings.
If you are worried about bed bugs, start your inspection in the bathroom. This is where you won’t find them. This makes the perfect location to place your belongings while you inspect your hotel room for bedbugs. It’s safe for pets and kids too.
Maximize your hotel stays with membership programs like the ones that Marriott or Choice Hotels offer. This allows you to get more points with each stay that you can convert into free rooms and other benefits on your next family vacation.
Check if a hotel you’re looking to stay at is non-smoking or smoking. If you are a non-smoker, then you should probably stay away from hotels that allow smoking. You could still get a non-smoking room, but smoke can flow through the air and settle on your clothes. Smokers also sometimes smoke in rooms that you are not supposed to smoke in. To be sure you don’t absorb cigarette smoke, think about staying at a nonsmoking hotel.
Get a AAA membership to facilitate the process of booking a hotel when you travel. Hotel and rental car discounts are available to AAA members. Also, if you require a car seat, the rental company may provide you with one if you are a member of AAA.
It may come as a shock to you, but most hotels don’t allow you 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. The hotels need a chance to clean up your room prior to check in. You can request an early check-in ahead of time, but it may cost more.
Inspect your room for bed bugs, starting with the bathroom. Bedbugs are rarely seen in this room. This makes the perfect location to place your belongings while you inspect your hotel room for bedbugs. It is a safe place for pets and kids to stay.
If you are a parent who needs a roll-away or a crib in their hotel room, then you’ll need to call prior to making your reservation and find out if they are available. Some hotels don’t have these things, while others do have a few. Sometimes, they cost extra, too. Discuss these needs when making your reservation to avoid any unpleasant surprises.
Look into the smoking policies in the hotel you are considering. If you are a non-smoker, you will enjoy a non-smoking room more. However, even with non-smoking rooms, there’s no telling if the guy next door is smoking. Sometimes, smokers book rooms that are non-smoking and smoke anyway. If you don’t want to stink like a cigarette when you are leaving a non smoking hotel may be a good choice.
Unless it is an emergency, always stay for the total number of nights that you have booked. This could result in a charge for early departure. If you check out too early, the hotel will lose money because they remove the room off the reservation list. Therefore, they have to make up for the loss by charging an early departure fee.
Finding a hotel to stay at is an important part of planning a successful trip. It does not matter if you are traveling for business or pleasure, staying at the perfect hotel can give you a better travel experience. Keep these tips in mind when booking a hotel room.
Do not open that bottled water! You may be thirsty and tired. The mini fridge is calling your name. The hotel knows your cravings and has priced that bottle of water sky high. Check if the gym offers free water. Plan ahead and bring your own bottled water.
