There are lots of things to consider when planning a vacation. You have to decide where to go and how you will get there. You also have to plan where you’ll be staying while you will stay. This article was written to help you find that hotel room and get it for a great price.
Do some research on travel websites before you book any hotel. This lets you know what others’ experiences have been like. This can help you choose which hotel to stay at.
You can stash your expensive electronics and jewelry in the hotel safe.
If you wish to keep things safe in a hotel, use the hotel’s safe that’s in the closet of your room. 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.
Check the organizations you belong to. Some may provide discounts on hotels. People don’t always remember to check out these discounts, and they can be 10 percent or more. It can add up to almost a free night!
Use online hotel search tools. Use these websites to your advantage! They can also provide you with the average rate for a room at a particular hotel, so you can see if your offer is really a good deal. The websites can also help you decide the best time to take a trip and where you can eat, shop or sight-see.
There are many different things to think about when choosing a hotel to stay in. Amenities such as complimentary WiFi, a gym, free local calls or breakfast, a gym and pool and a convenient restaurant are also important considerations. Try to find a hotel that offers as many of your desired amenities as is realistic.
There are three things to do ahead of time if you want to bring your pet to a hotel with you. Confirm that pets are allowed in the room you are staying. 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.
Check your room prior to unpacking. Is the room mildew-free and free from mildew or mold? Are linens and towels you’ll need present in ample supply? If any issues are immediately prevalent, be sure to inform the front desk right away to have these problems resolved.
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. Frequently, the most skilled massage specialists at the best hotels are reserved by name, so when you plan ahead, you can get the best.
Know the check-in time. Some people end up waiting for their room is still not ready. Call and ask if it is alright for you to arrive before check-in.
If you’re a member of the AAA, you should see what your hotel membership discount will be. You may not know that your membership to the auto club includes discounts on hotels. Membership in AARP, a union, an auto club or even being a police officer can get you a discount. Those discounts add up to great savings, especially if you will be having an extended stay.
There are three different things you should do before bringing your pet along on your vacation. 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.
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! If you want to jog early in the morning, don your gear and then go for it. It will give you a perspective that you’ll never get while riding in a car.
Book your appointment as early as possible. The best massage therapists are usually booked up for months ahead of time, so get in while you can.
If you often stay at a certain type of hotel, ask about the “frequent stay” program. Similar to frequent flyer programs with an airline company, hotel programs will typically give you points for each visit. These points can quickly add up to many perks such as a free night, discounts at the hotel restaurants, spa deals and much, much more.
If you belong to the AAA, check into your membership hotel discount. You would be surprised where hidden discounts on hotels. You can save five percent at hotels nationwide. This is a savings that can really add up in time!
Going green is a growing trend so it is no surprise that hotels are going green as well. Luckily, you can choose from quite a few green hotels these days. Some new hotels are built to green standards and are certified green. Some hotels that aren’t that new will pick out some ways to be more eco-friendly so they can show they care. Ask your travel agent to help you identify environmentally friendly hotels.
It is wise to look into loyalty programs that your favorite hotels offer. They provide benefits to anyone who stay with them often. You can often earn free upgrades, an allowance to check out late, and complimentary late check out with enough points accrued.
Sign up for AAA to ensure easier hotel arrangements when traveling. A membership with AAA not only provides you with hotel discounts but a guaranteed piece of mind when trying to rent a vehicle. Parents with young children will appreciate the complimentary car set offered in some locations.
Join a loyalty program if you travel frequently. These points that can be applied toward further travels.
You don’t want to make too many long distance calls while you’re staying in a hotel room. Use the Internet, instead. Some hotels offer free Wi-Fi, so you can use Skype. But the Internet is infinitely useful while traveling so it is usually worth it.
Don’t make any long distance calls on your hotel room. Many hotels now offer Skype connections on their Wi-Fi.This can be a ton of fees.
If you are traveling with kids, make sure the hotel you book has a working pool. If you arrive at your hotel and the pool is closed, your kids will be very disappointed.
It can prove rather frustrating for 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.
Find out if the hotel you want is smoking or non-smoking. If you are not a smoker, you might want to avoid hotels with smoking rooms. However, even with non-smoking rooms, there’s no telling if the guy next door is smoking. Smokers don’t always respect the fact that the room they are renting is a non-smoking room. If you don’t want to smell like cigarettes, consider staying at a hotel that’s non-smoking.
Ask if there is smoking or non. If you do not smoke, it may be wise to stay away from rooms that are for smoking. Smokers also sometimes smoke in rooms that the room they are not supposed to smoke in.
If you are a smoker, know the smoking policy for the hotel in which you are staying. Most hotels have designated smoking rooms. If your selected hotel does, ask for one. Certain hotels will charge you a steep fee if you get caught smoking in a room that is non-smoking. Be sure to follow the rules of the hotel.
Be sure you know what the hotel smoking policy if you smoke. A lot of hotels have rooms designated for people who smoke. Ask for those rooms if any of these are a smoker.Some hotels charge large penalties if they find that smoking occured in a room not designated for it, so make sure you understand and follow the hotel’s smoking policy.
For the sake of hygiene, avoid the bedspread provided by the hotel. Although hotels will wash the sheets that lie underneath the bedspread, the bedspread itself is not typically washed. This can make it full of bacteria, germs, and other unknown elements. Pull it off for peace of mind.
You should know that early hotel check ins are not always possible. Plan your trip right or you don’t want to wait. Hotels use these in between hours to make sure rooms are cleaned and ready for you. If you’re going to have to show up early, ask at the desk about early check-in, but there is a chance you won’t be able to.
Be aware of your options in case a hotel “walks” you. Hotels routinely overbook, which means that you could find that there is no room available for you when you arrive at the hotel. In this case the hotel has to send you to a different hotel. Avoid this if possible, but if must go to another hotel, make sure you get a comparable or better room and the travel to there paid for.
Some hotels do not offer these amenities at all. Talk about these issues as you make your reservations.
Don’t open the bottled water! After checking in you may be thirsty and tired. You can be tempted to casually open that bottled water beckoning on the mini-fridge. Hotels are aware of this fact, and that bottle will be much more expensive than a bottle anywhere else. Sometimes the hotel gym offers bottled water for free. It is best to simply bring your own bottled water.
Never check out before the departure date unless it’s an emergency. The hotel may charge a fee if you check out early. If you check out too early, that hotel may charge a fee because they couldn’t book that room.
You will be able to get a decent room rate if you book during the off season. This is when you get charged high rates. Go for the off season instead, as hotels will want to make a deal to sell their rooms. You will normally receive a discounted rate.
Avoid sleeping under the hotel bedspread.The bedspread is one item that does not usually isn’t cleaned as often as the sheets or blankets underneath. This can mean that the bacteria and bacteria. Just make sure you remove it from the bedspread.
You can find reasonable upgrades without paying an upgraded price. One savvy way to possibly get an upgrade is to show up at the check-in time you booked exactly on the minute. Most of the time, the room you reserved won’t have been cleaned yet, so the hotel may provide you with a quick upgrade.
Don’t get that bottled water you’ll find in your hotel room. You may be very likely to be tired and thirsty upon arrival. The mini fridge may tempt you.Hotels know this and charge more for bottled water significantly. Check the gym instead; they offer it for free. A better option to simply bring your own bottles.
Book your hotel stay for a special occasion. Hotels often provide perks if you let them know you are celebrating an anniversary or birthday. You may also be able to get free champagne. Do not be deceptive about it because that is wrong.
You can get lower hotel if you book during their slow times of the year. This is the time for rates. This will get you a better chance of actually getting a discounted rate.
Tipping the housekeeper at a hotel is a routine practice. You can usually skip tipping for other things, as your bill is likely to incorporate extra fees, but your maid needs a tip. Unless you were very obsessively clean and made your own bed every day, please don’t forget to do this.
You hotel stay is pleasant by tipping appropriately. Room service includes a tip in the bill, but maid service does not include tips for the maids. Tipping helps establish a good relationship between you and the hotel.
When calling to make reservations, ask the desk clerk about any current promotions. The clerk may not be able to lower the price, but often they can throw in a freebie or two to keep you happy. If you do not ask, you won’t know if it was an option, so do not be scared to ask.
Choosing a good hotel is easy, once you know what to do. Now that you are aware of what you need to look for, you are all set. So turn you attention to your packing and start anticipating a great trip. This will make your vacation stories much more pleasant.
Watch out for extra charges when booking through a third-party website. Many times the initial quote does not include all of the fees and charges. Read the fine print to determine the charges, first.
