Hotels vary from the luxurious resorts to shabby motels that are downright scary. Choosing the wrong hotel is a surefire way to turn any trip into an epic disaster. Read on to learn how you can find a good hotel.
Online travel sites like Expedia or Orbitz can help you get the best price for rooms at the hotel you would like to stay at. When making hotel reservations, be sure to include information regarding hotel loyalty programs in which you may hold membership. If you have a membership in any other organization, put that down as well.
Check for online reviews before making any reservations. Reviews allow you to read about recent experiences at a hotel. Consider what they say to help you make your decision.
Consider taking advantage of room service when the urge strikes for a late-night snack with your special someone. You will probably pay more for this meal, but for the convenience of having it delivered to your room, it is worth it.
Find great prices at online travel sites like Orbitz and Expedia. 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.
Take advantage of the safe you have in your room, especially if you have electronics with you. Anything of value can be securely locked in the safe, then you won’t have to worry about your valuables while out enjoying yourself for the day.
Would you like to enjoy the comfort of enjoying an incredible evening meal with your loved one without having to dress up and leave your room? If so, consider using room service. Even though this will cost a bit more, the convenience and comfort are worth it.
There are many different things to consider as you search for a hotel to stay in. Your budget comes first, but proximity to attractions is also important. Other amenities, such as a swimming pool, an onsite restaurant and free continental breakfast are important to travelers. Seek to locate a hotel that provides lots of attractive amenities.
Check with any membership programs for deals. Sometimes you can get discounted hotel prices through these organizations. People frequently forget these discounts are available, and they can be 10 percent or more. This can add up to big savings, even more so if you will be staying for many nights. For a week of vacation time that adds up to an extra day!
Inspect your room before unpacking your bags. Is the room mildew-free and otherwise clean? Do the plumbing fixtures function properly? Have the staff provided all the necessary soap, shampoo, towels, etc. that you will be needing? Any problems that you notice should be reported to front desk staff right away. That way, they can be rectified or you can change rooms.
When get to your hotel, inspect the room before unpacking. Is it free of mildew and mold while being clean? Are the showers, sinks, toilets, etc. properly functioning? Count how many linens and towels you were given and make sure there are enough for everyone traveling with you. If you find obvious problems, notify the front desk right away so the hotel can correct the problems or they can assign a different room.
Never make the assumption that all hotels allows pets in your room. So call ahead and make sure you understand if there are extra fees or a limited number of rooms available. Get the term “pet-friendly” defined, as well. The hotel may not allow large dogs or certain types of pets.
If you go out to travel quite a bit, it’s good to get signed up for a hotel’s loyalty program. These programs provide perks to those who stay at a particular chain regularly. You can earn things like free upgrades, complimentary late check-out times and free stays if you accrue enough loyalty points.
Be sure and take care of three important things before bringing a pet on your trip to any hotel. Ascertain that your hotel is really pet friendly. In addition, take along some plastic bags to pick up your pet’s mess. See if you can stay in a room toward the end of a hall so your pet does not disturb guests.
If you stay at the same hotels all the time, check to see if they have a frequent-stay program. You should be able to earn points every time you are visiting one of the hotels. Use them for discounts, entertainment tickets and other things.
If you want a couples massage, book early. Often the best masseurs and masseuses at top resorts are booked by name, so if you do your planning early, you can make your experience sublime.
The cost of your hotel room largely depends on the dates on which you plan to stay there. Rooms are typically priced according to availability. If possible, don’t make your reservation more than a day in advance. This is the best way to get the best prices. The hotel is not going to make any money on a room that is unoccupied, which is why the reduce the price.
See if you can get a hotel discount through AAA if you are a member. Many people are surprised to see hotel discounts included with their auto club membership. You can save 5%, 10% or more at quality hotels throughout the country. This is a savings that can really add up over several nights.
A membership in AAA can make booking a hotel easier when you travel. If you do a lot of traveling, the AAA membership can pay for itself, and you can also get deals on rental cars. Parents of small children will probably like the car seat that’s provided for free in a lot of locations.
If you want to keep up your running regimen on the road, make sure that your packing list includes lots of running clothes and a GPS watch. This makes it easy for you to wake in the morning and get in a run. Running in a city allows you to see things other travelers miss.
Try not to make long distance calls from your hotel room. Using the Internet is a better option. The hotel may even offer Skype calls via 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.
It may be wise to look into loyalty programs that your favorite hotels offer. They offer perks to folks who frequent their hotel. Rewards can include free hotel stays, upgrades and late check-out times if you save up enough points.
If you are searching a hotel for bed bugs, you should check the bathroom first. This is usually one of the few places you won’t see any. That makes the bathroom the safest place to keep the luggage while you look through the remainder of the accommodations. It’s safe for pets and kids too.
Make sure you know hotel transfer costs prior to booking a hotel room in order to avoid a large unexpected cost. 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. You should inquire about this before booking the hotel room.
Understand the smoking rules in your hotel, especially if you smoke. Many hotels still offer smoking rooms. Ask for those rooms if you 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 follow the hotel’s smoking rules.
Get a AAA membership to facilitate the process of booking a hotel when you travel. AAA members can receive great hotel discounts as well as locate a rental car much more easily. Many car rental agencies add perks, such as a child car seat at no charge, for AAA members.
Look into the hotel policy with regard to pets. If you are allergic to animals, you should probably avoid staying in hotels that allow people to bring their pets. These hotels sometimes have odors because the carpet and linens have absorbed them. Some hotels charge a nominal fee for pets, while others charge substantially more. The fee might be too low to cover the extra cleaning costs.
Never use the hotel phone for long distance calls. You can use the Internet to make these types of calls. Most hotels offer Wi-Fi, but you will probably need their password and may have to pay a fee to use this service. Use these connections to keep in touch instead of costly long distance calls.
Hotel Early
Make sure to ask up front if the hotel allows smoking or does not. If you’re not a smoker, it may be wise to stay away from rooms that are for smoking. You may be able to ask for a non-smoking room, however smoke can still travel through the air, settling on your clothing. You may find that a smoker has been in your non-smoking room before you and ignored the rules. Think about staying at a hotel that is totally nonsmoking if you don’t want to stink when you check out.
You should know that it is not usually possible to check into your hotel early. Plan your trip right or you might end up waiting in a hotel lobby. The hotels need a chance to clean up your room prior to check in. If you do get to the hotel early, ask at the front desk if you can possibly check in early, but there is a chance you won’t be able to.
If you smoke, be sure you’re aware of what the hotel thinks of smoking where you’re staying. Many hotels still offer smoking rooms. If they do, ask for this type of room. If you smoke in one of the hotel’s non-smoking room, you can be charged hefty fees.
Ask for a roll away bed or crib when you are reserving your room, not when you arrive. Most hotels will supply these items on request, but they do have a limited supply. Sometimes, there are also extra charges for items like these. Talk about these issues as you reserve your room.
Review the pet policy at the hotel. If you have an allergy, or you just don’t like dogs, it may not be in your best interest to book a hotel that lets guests bring their pets. Usually, hotels that do allow pets will have a strong odor coming from the linens as well as the carpeting. Some hotels charge extra fees for pets, but some do not charge much. Depending on what the hotel is like, you might have to pay an extra cleaning fee.
When planning for a trip, you may make a hasty hotel reservation at the first place you find. When you do this, you never know what you will end up with. Nobody want to settle into a hotel room that’s dirty, so keep this advice in mind to help you avoid that.
Don’t pilfer the hotel towels or linens. No matter how much you love them, housekeeping will note missing linens and the hotel is likely to bill you for them. If you truly love them, ask the hotel about buying them.