Hotel Secrets Straight From The Travel Experts

You don’t want to feel as though the hotel stay to leave you feeling fleeced. Whether it is paying too much or a room isn’t as expected, you will have a bad time if you don’t have good information about this. Avoid this sort of situation by heeding the advice presented here.

When leaving your hotel room, keep any electronics you have secure by putting them in the room’s safe. You can stash your expensive electronics and jewelry in the safe and go about your day without worry.

TIP! If you wish to keep things safe in a hotel, use the hotel’s safe that’s in the closet of your room. Place your iPad, GPS and other small electronics in the safe when you are not in your room.

Use Orbitz or Expedia to find a great prices. If you are a member of the hotel’s loyalty program, be sure you enter this information while looking through rates. You may also be able to get good discounts through AAA or AARP.

Check in on the organizations you belong to. Do they offer hotel discounts? People often forget that they are eligible for these discounts, which may be for 10 percent or more off of your stay. That can add up to huge savings over multiple nights. For a week of vacation time that adds up to an extra day!

TIP! Check in on the organizations you belong to. Some organizations will receive discounts for different reasons from different hotels.

Check with the organizations that you’re a member of. Some organizations offer discounts on hotel stays. People often forget that they are eligible for these discounts, and they can be 10 percent or more. It can add up to almost a free night!

There are things to think about when choosing a hotel. Price is one consideration, but you may also want a hotel that is close to a certain destination. Other amenities that people look for are a gym, pool, free local phone calls, free Wi-Fi, and free breakfast. Choose an establishment that offers the amenities you desire.

TIP! 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.

Free Local Calls

Always check for online deals prior to booking your hotel room. Often, the only way to learn about discounts is to look online. So, it’s up personally to you to go searching for such discounts. Review the different websites, such as Jetsetter or SniqueAway.

TIP! Checking online is the best way to find a good price and get the information that you need about hotels. Sometimes, the person at the hotel desk might forget to mention a discount for booking online.

There are things you should consider when booking a hotel. Amenities such as complimentary WiFi, free local calls, free local calls or breakfast, and other amenities may be things that you prefer. Try to find a hotel that checks off as much of your wish list as is realistic.

Know the check-in times. Many people show up before check-in time only to find out their room isn’t ready. If you will be arriving before check-in, call the hotel in advance and see if you can check-in early.

TIP! Make sure that you know the check-in time for the hotel that you book. Many hotel guests will forget their check-in time; therefore, they will arrive at the hotel just to discover that they cannot check in yet.

Always look for online deals before booking your hotel room. This is why it’s up to you should look for discounts yourself. Check out websites such as Jetsetter, RueLaLaTravel, or RueLaLaTravel.

Be sure to consult AAA to help you make excellent plans for your entire vacation. You would be surprised where hidden discounts may be lurking. You can save up to an additional five percent at certain hotels throughout the country. These savings quickly add up, especially if you are staying for multiple nights in a row.

TIP! If you are an AAA member, check into your membership hotel discount. It may be surprising that auto clubs members receive hotel deals, but they do.

Check out your hotel room prior to unpacking. Is the room mildew-free and mold? Are you given the linens and towels in ample supply? If you quickly note any problems, call the front desk that instant so they can address them or move you to another room.

Take your GPS watch with you on vacation and some running clothes. Just because you’re on vacation doesn’t mean you should skip on your daily running regimen. Simply set an alarm or get a wake up call and take an early morning run. Running not only provides you with great exercise, but it also helps you better learn the city in which you are residing.

TIP! If you are a runner, be sure to bring your running clothes and shoes. Enjoy a morning jog each day while on vacation.

Don’t make assumptions about pet policies of thinking all hotels will accept pets.

To keep from having an unwanted major expense on your hotel bill, ask about the cost of hotel transfers before booking them. Particularly if you are getting a discount, the fee associated with the transfer may be high. Be sure and inquire about this beforehand so that you get your savings.

TIP! Make sure you know hotel transfer costs prior to booking a hotel room in order to avoid a large unexpected cost. This is especially important if you run across an unbelievable deal.

Free Stays

Membership programs offered by hotel chains help members who travel a lot get the best rooms during their stay. This allows you to earn point you can redeem for vacation freebies for you and your family.

TIP! Join a loyalty program to get deals on your stays. This allows you to earn point you can redeem for vacation freebies for you and your family.

It may be wise to join a hotel loyalty program if you travel frequently. They provide benefits to people that stay at a hotel chain frequently. You will be able to earn stuff like a free upgrade, free stays, and even free stays when you get enough points.

If you are traveling with children, be sure the hotels you book have clean swimming pools that are up and running. If you arrive at your hotel and the pool is closed, your kids will be very disappointed.

TIP! If you’re traveling with kids, be sure that you check on the pools to ensure they’re open and in service. It will be a huge disappointment if you arrive at the hotel with the kids ready to swim and they are not able to do so.

If you are concerned about the environment, you should look into “green” hotels. There are a lot of “green” hotels out there. Some of the newer hotels have been built with green and are certified green. Some older inns just select one or more eco-friendly strategies to show environmental awareness. Talk with a travel agent if you want to find hotels that are eco-friendly.

Check in the bathroom first for bed bugs. This is where you won’t find them. You can leave your bags there while you investigate the remainder of the room for bedbugs. If you have pets or children with you, ask them to wait in the bathroom too.

TIP! If you are inspecting a room for bed bugs, then the bathroom is the best place to start. Bedbugs are rarely seen in this room.

Join the hotel’s membership program to get deals on business trips. These programs allow you to collect points can translate into some major perks when you’re vacationing.

If your requirements include a roll-away bed or a crib, you should call ahead to reserve them. Not every hotel will have these items available, and the ones that do only have limited quantities. On occasion, these services may require an additional charge. Before making reservations, explain this.

TIP! If you’re going to need special sleeping arrangements at a hotel, such as a roll- away or baby bed, specify this as you make reservations. Not every hotel will have these items available, and the ones that do only have limited quantities.

Sign up for AAA if you wish to get better hotel arrangements when traveling. Parents with young children will appreciate the free car set offered in some locations.

If possible, don’t check out earlier than intended. You may be charged a fee if you do. You reserve a room when you book it, so if you leave early they lose money. This is why they usually charge you an fee for early departure.

TIP! Avoid leaving your hotel before your scheduled date of departure. An early departure charge may be added to your bill if you leave sooner.

There is nothing worse than having to tell your excited kids that really want to swim only to see that it has been closed.

If you are worried about your hygiene, you might want to not use the hotel’s bedspread. The top bedspread usually isn’t cleaned as often as the sheets or blankets underneath. This means they may be a hotbed of germs. Remove the comforter from the bed.

TIP! For hygienic reasons, it might be best to avoid the provided bedspread in your room. Although the blankets and sheets are cleaned when guests check out, sometimes the bedspread on top will not be.

Start looking in the hotel bathroom when checking for bed bugs. This is the place where you won’t find bedbugs. It is usually a good place for pets or children to sit for a couple minutes as well.

Don’t let a hotel take advantage of you. Sometimes hotels are going to overbook and then your room that you reserved won’t be there. In these situations, the hotel may try to book you at another hotel, or “walk” you. If you do choose to move, be sure that you get a better room and your travel is paid for.

TIP! If you find your reserved room is not available, you do have rights. Hotels sometimes over-book, and this can leave you without a room.

Check to see if a hotel you’re looking to stay at is non-smoking or smoking. If cigarette smoke bothers you, you may want to avoid hotels that offer smoking rooms. Smokers don’t always respect the fact that you are renting is a non-smoking room.

Whatever you do, don’t open the bottled water. Sure, you’re thirsty and hot. 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. It’s better to simply bring your own bottled water.

TIP! Avoid drinking bottled water from a hotel! You will likely be thirsty when you check in. This could tempt you to open the water that is in the mini-fridge or on the desk.

If you wish to be sure you’re not having a bad hotel stay, this advice should be followed because it will teach you what you need to know. These tips will help you have a better time while away from home. A stay in a hotel room should be a relaxing and enjoyable experience. Whether it’s for a single night or an entire week.

You can find reasonable upgrades without paying an upgraded price. Show up at the exact time you’re scheduled for check in. Often your room has not yet been cleaned, so they might give you a room upgrade at no extra charge.

TIP! Try getting an upgrade without paying for it. An easy way to get this to happen is to show up on time for when you’re supposed to be checking in.