Have you had the experience of booking a hotel and finding it to be deplorable when you arrive? If you have, you understand how this situation can ruin your vacation. However, you shouldn’t have to book a pricey hotel to avoid this. For advice to find a good hotel for a price that’s right, this article can help.
Before booking your hotel room, look to online review sites for in depth reviews from recent travelers. You will be able to see the most recent reviews. What others say will help you make a wise decision.
You can enjoy a romantic dinner in your room by calling room service. While it may cost more, it is more convenient to remain in your room while satisfying your hunger.
Room service can be a great way to have a private, comfortable meal. 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.
There are many different things to consider as you search for a hotel to stay in. Of course price is a big deal, but a hotel close to where you are head is a big consideration. Amenities that help you choose a hotel are free breakfast, free Wi-Fi, exercise room, pool, and a restaurant on the premises. Try to get yourself a hotel with what you need in it when possible.
Make use of the room safe to ensure the safety of your electronics when you are not in your room. Valuables can be placed there with confidence, allowing you to enjoy your day without worries.
Always look for online deals before booking a hotel room. Many times, the reservation specialist won’t tell you of discounts when you call to book your room. This is why it’s up to you to search for these discounts. Look at Jetsetter, Enrovia and Hotels.com.
When get to your hotel, inspect the room before unpacking. Is the room clean? Do you see any mold or mildew? Do the toilet, sink and shower work properly? Do you have an adequate number of towels? If you notice a problem, be sure to inform the front desk right away to have these problems resolved.
Ask the hotel about their check-in time.. If you show up too early for check-in, then your room may not be ready for you yet. Call the hotel if you are early and find out if your room is ready.
In order to get the best hotel deals, always plan your trips weeks ahead of schedule, or even a few months. Some hotels have great discounts when you book a couple of months in advance. You might even be able to save up to 50 percent off at some very exclusive hotels.
Planning for a trip months or even just weeks in advance can often get you a better rate for your hotel room. If you can book a couple of months early, a lot of locations will give you a steeper discount. You can save up to 50 percent, even on elite hotel chains.
If you are traveling with a pet, it is best to find a pet friendly hotel ahead of time. Call and ask before you reserve. Also, find out if there are any size or breed restrictions.
Don’t assume your hotel is pet-friendly. Be sure to ask even if the website says it’s ok to bring a pet. Verify exactly what is meant by “pet-friendly” since certain breeds and pets over a certain size may not be allowed.
Frequent travelers can benefit from loyalty programs offered by many hotels. They offer a variety of benefits to their members. You can earn things like free upgrades, complimentary late check-out times and free stays if you accrue enough loyalty points.
For members of AAA, hotels offer discounts that are exclusive to members. You may be surprised that your auto club membership includes hotel discounts, but it does. You can save more than five percent on hotels all over the country. The savings can really add up if you’re staying multiple nights.
Join a frequent customer program if you stay at the same hotel chain a lot. Many hotels offer membership programs that allow you to earn points for each of your stays. You can exchange these points for discounts and freebies at the hotel and its restaurant. You may also be able to use them on local amenities.
If you want to keep up the running regimen you have while traveling you should get your GPS watch packed with some running clothes. Enjoy a morning jog each day while on vacation. No matter if you’re on city streets or down some roads, you can easily learn new things about a city doing this.
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. Some of the newer hotels are built in a way that they get certified green. Other older hotels will just provide green options for you. Talk with a travel agent to find green hotels.
Loyalty Program
Inquire about the price of a transfer before you place a booking. 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. Inquire before you book, so you aren’t hit with an unexpected price increase.
It is wise to join a hotel loyalty program if you travel frequently. They offer perks to folks who frequent their hotel. You can score things like complimentary upgrades, later check-out options and even free nights once you accumulate enough loyalty program points.
Be careful not to make long distance phone calls on the hotel phone. Try using the Internet, instead. Many hotels now offer Skype connections via Wi-Fi. This saves you a ton of money.
Join a frequent customer program if you stay at the same hotel chain a lot. These hotel programs give you points for each stay. These points can be traded in for restaurant discounts, tickets to shows, free nights at the hotel, and much more.
In most cases, an early check-in just isn’t possible. Unless you’re okay with waiting for your room to be ready, plan your timing wisely. The hotel must clean each room prior to the next visitor taking it. If you happen to show up early just ask if your room was prepared early, but they’re most likely going to say no.
If you want to work on saving the environment, a green vacation is something to look into. Fortunately, many green hotels exist nowadays. Some new hotels are built to green standards and are certified green. Eco-friendly strategies are also now commonly adopted by many older hotels. Talk with a travel agent to find green hotels.
Unless it is an emergency, always stay for the total number of nights that you have booked. Your hotel may charge you a fee to do so. When a hotel room is something you book, they are taking it away from other people and will lose some money if you leave early. So make sure that you know the hotel’s policy on checking out a day or two early – it might cost you.
To make sure you don’t have an unexpected expense, ask about how much hotel transfers will cost. In many situations in which the room’s price is a great deal, the undisclosed price of your transfer can frequently eat up the savings. Asking these things before anything happens will allow you to save more.
If you are particular about cleanliness, you probably shouldn’t use the hotel bedspread. The blankets and sheets under the bedspread are typically washed between guests, however the top cover is not. This can make it full of bacteria, germs, and other unknown elements. Just get that blanket off of the bed.
Your children will be happy when you call the hotel to make sure their pool is open and working. There is nothing worse than getting to a hotel with kids to find the pool is closed.
Know what the hotel’s policy is for overbooking. Occasionally a hotel will be overbooked, and the room you reserved will not be available. When this happens, the hotel directs you to another property, “walking” you. If you can’t avoid this, then make sure you are getting a room that is still worth the value that you have already paid.
Start looking in the bathroom when checking for bed bugs in a hotel. This room is usually free from bugs. This makes the perfect location to place your belongings while you inspect your hotel room for bedbugs. If you have pets or children with you, ask them to wait in the bathroom too.
Stay away from the bottled water! Sure, you might be a little thirsty after checking into your new room. It is tempting to simply grab that refreshing bottle of water conveniently available in the mini-fridge. Hotels take advantage of guests by charging ridiculous amounts for bottled water. Some hotels offer free bottles of water in their gyms. Better yet, bring some bottles with you.
If possible, don’t check out earlier than intended. If you do, then you could be charged an extra departure fee for early checkout. Booking a hotel room means the hotel is going to take that specific room off of their market. If you wind up leaving early, then they’ll be losing money for every day that you don’t stay. That’s why they will charge you a fee for early departure.
Do not take anything from the hotel. Housekeeping will notice items are missing and you could get a bill. If you really are in love with their linens, see if that hotel is willing to sell them to you.
Don’t use the hotel bedspread if you can avoid it. Hotel sheets are laundered daily; however, bedspreads are not. This can mean that the comforter has tons of germs and bacteria. Pull it off for peace of mind.
Think about bundling your flight and hotel together. Online sites allow for bundles which lead to great discounts. To maximize this service, be sure to compare the rates of different airlines and hotels.
Do not drink the bottled water in your room. Once you check-in and start to unwind, you will probably feel very thirsty. You can be tempted to casually open that bottled water beckoning on the mini-fridge. 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 your own bottled water.
If you need to book a hotel room while already traveling, check gas stations or rest areas for free pamphlets containing maps of the area and information about local services. This way, you won’t be driving around forever looking for a place to stay.
Now that you are done with this article, you know how to book a great hotel room. Over time, finding great hotel bargains will become faster and easier because you’ll know where exactly to look and what you’re looking for. Just put in a little time and your travel plans can be a dream.
Tipping when appropriate will make your hotel stay more pleasant. Room service charges usually include a tip in the bill, but maid service does not include tips for the maids. Providing tips ensures that you receive good service during your hotel stay.
