You certainly want to feel taken advantage of when booking a hotel room. A horrible hotel experience, whether because of the price or the actual hotel, can ruin the entire trip for everyone involved. The following advice will help you bypass some of the most common pitfalls with hotels so that your stay is a great one.
Room service can be a great way to have a private, comfortable meal. This will cost you a little extra, but the convenience it provides is worth it.
Check for online reviews prior to booking your stay. These will give you with first-hand information from people that have stayed at that certain hotel. What people say about their experiences at the hotels you’re thinking of booking can ensure you make an informed decision.
Before you book a hotel, look for deals online. Often, the only way to learn about discounts is to look online. It is your responsibility to find these discounts. Check websites like Hotwire.com, Kayak.com and Priceline.com for great discounts.
Use websites to find the most competitive prices for hotel chains online. If you are a member of the hotel’s loyalty program, remember to include that information when you are checking on rates. You may also have other discounts through AAA or AARP.
Do not assume that each hotel welcomes pets. Put a call into the front desk just to be sure, no matter what it says on their website. Be sure you know what pet-friendly means because there could be specific restrictions on sizes or certain breeds of dogs.
You can stash your expensive items in the safe and go about your day without worry.
If you need to travel with your pet, you need to make three advance preparations. First, inquire as to whether the hotel really is a pet-friendly place. Gather plastic grocery bags so you are able to clean up any pet messes. Reserving a room near the end of a hallway will keep other guests from being disturbed by your pet.
Check the organizations that you’re a member with. Some groups provide members with discounts on hotel stays. People don’t always remember to check out these discounts, which may be for 10 percent or more off of your stay. It can add up to almost a free night!
If you want to arrange for a couples massage at your hotel, be sure to book the appointment right away. Frequently, the most skilled massage specialists at the best hotels are reserved by name, so when you plan ahead, you can get the best.
Take advantage of tools provided online when searching tools.These sites can help you to find great deals quickly.
AAA members get an extra discount at certain hotel chains. It may be surprising that auto clubs members receive hotel deals, but they do. It will let you save 5% or so on hotels that are around the nation. When you stay for multiple nights, the savings really add up.
Do not assume that your pets are welcome at all hotels.
Frequent travelers can benefit from loyalty programs offered by many hotels. This type of program provides discounts and benefits for frequent visitors. The rewards can include free room upgrades, free meals and movie or show tickets tickets. The points can add up.
Book massages as far ahead of time as possible to guarantee you get the perfect couples massage for you and your significant other.The best massage therapists are well-known at resorts, and you don’t want to miss out.
Remember that hotel chains often provide loyalty programs offering excellent discounts. These are similar to frequent flyer programs, offering points each time you stay at a particular chain. 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, you should see what your hotel membership discount will be. You might be surprised to learn that your membership to the auto club also includes discounts may be lurking. You may be able to save upwards of five percent at hotels throughout the country. This is a savings that can really add up on a long trip.
Going green is a growing trend so it is no surprise that hotels are going green as well. Fortunately, there are many green hotels to choose from today. Green certification is something some of the newly built hotels are quite proud of promoting. Hotels that have been around for a while may employ a variety of eco-friendly practices. Check online or ask a travel agent for help.
If you are a daily runner, continue your routine when traveling by bringing running clothes and your GPS.
The time you book the room will change how much you’ll pay. Availability is one factor that plays a part in cost. Whenever you can, don’t book your hotel room until the last 24 hours. This will allow you to get a great price on a hotel room. Hotels don’t earn money on empty rooms, so they are often willing to reduce the price.
Green Hotels
If you travel frequently, you can maximize your hotel benefits by looking into reward programs from large hotel chains. 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.
If you care quite a bit about your environment, you should look into “green” hotels. The great thing is there are plenty of green hotels is steadily growing. Some of the newer hotels were built green standards in mind. Many older hotels will still be environmentally aware by utilizing some eco-friendly measures in place. Talk to your travel agent if you want to find the best green hotels for your needs.
Get a membership to AAA to make booking hotel arrangements a breeze when you travel. Not only do AAA members get hotel discounts at many chains that are well worth the AAA membership, but you can find it a lot easier to find a rental car where you go. Some places provide free car seats too.
Join a loyalty program if you frequently stay there on business trips. These programs allow you to collect points can translate into some major perks when you’re vacationing.
If you are going to inspect if your hotel room has bed bugs, then start looking in the bathroom. This is where bedbugs are least likely to be. That means that the bathroom is a great place to keep your bags while you check the rest of your accommodations for bedbugs. It is a good place for pets or children to wait for a couple minutes as well.
Get a AAA membership for hotel perks when you travel. Parents can also often enjoy the free car seat provided in many locations.
Look into a hotel’s pet restrictions. If you’re scared of pets or have allergies, you may not want to stay in a pet friendly hotel. Not to mention, you’ll definitely notice unwanted smells in the floor or in the linens if you don’t own a pet yourself. Many hotels charge a fee for staying with a pet, but it might not be a lot. It might not cover deep cleaning.
It can prove rather frustrating when you and your children to arrive at a hotel expecting a pool and/or other activities only to find out it’s closed.
If you will be needing a rollaway or a crib, alert the hotel to this fact when making your reservation. Not every hotel offers these items, and the ones that do only have limited quantities. Certain hotels will even charge a fee for these things. Ask about this before you finalize your reservations, to make sure your needs are fully met.
Start by inspecting the hotel bathroom if you need to make sure there are no bed bugs in a hotel. This is probably not where you will find them. It is usually a good place for pets or children to sit for a couple minutes as well.
If a hotel tries to “walk” you, know what your rights are. When you check-in, you may discover the room you secured isn’t actually available. The hotel will then “walk” you, or send you out to another hotel. It’s best to avoid this, but if you can’t, be sure you are going to a better hotel and getting a better room.
You should be aware of the hotel allows pets. These hotels sometimes have odors because the carpet and bed linens. Some hotels have an extra fee for pets, while other hotels will add a hefty fee for keeping a pet. The fee may cover totally or partially the cost of the extra cleaning needed to completely remove the odors.
For a cheaper room, don’t book during a busy tourist season. Rooms typically cost the most during this time. Instead, book your room in the off-peak time of year, when hotels are desperate to fill their rooms. This will allow you to get a rate that’s a lot better.
Never check out before the departure date unless it is absolutely necessary. The hotel might charge you a fee for your early departure fee. When you book a hotel room, the hotel takes that room off the market; thus, so they lose money if you leave early.
If you find yourself having to book a hotel while on the road, look at tourist centers, rest areas and gas stations for free tourist books that contain maps of hotels, prices and incredible discounts. So you can call ahead and get a room, rather than driving all around and hoping to find a good deal.
You know your rights if a hotel needs to “walk” you. The hotel will attempt to foist you to another hotel. Avoid getting “walked” whenever you can, but if you’re going to a different hotel, be certain that your reservation there is equivalent or even an upgrade.
Don’t pay the price the hotels advertise. It is a rack rate, and you don’t need to pay it. Hotels generally think you’re going to barter with them anyways. Call them and ask for a better deal. Being bold is a good idea. Sometimes, travel websites will offer considerable discounts.
Don’t open the water! You are very likely be thirsty when finally arriving to a hotel. You can be tempted to casually open that bottled water calling to you from the mini-fridge. Hotels know this and charge more for bottled water significantly. You might be able to get a bottle of water for free in the hotel gym. A better idea is to bring a few of your own bottled water.
Travel when you have a special event. You could get a perk because of the event in question. You may be able to get something like free champagne. However, you should not be dishonest about it because that is not right.
Do not take any of the temptation to run off with you when you check out of the hotel.
You can find some great prices by checking the online websites of Expedia or Travelocity. These websites sell lots of hotel rooms, and hotels allow them to offer discounts than cannot be found any other place. Be aware that some require that you bid on a hotel room, and others may not provide you with the name of the hotel, only the price and the rating of the hotel until you buy.
You will be able to get a hotel room rate if you book during the off season. Rates are at this time. You should get a better price.
Tip your maid. Tips for other things can be skipped as they are generally added into the bill, but housekeeping and cleaning services should be tipped. You probably were a slob, so be sure to leave something for the maid.
If you’re trying to get into a hotel while you’re out and about, look at tourist centers, rest areas and gas stations for free tourist books that contain maps of hotels, prices and incredible discounts. This will save you call ahead and reserve the room that’s right for you.
It is often possible to get a better deal simply by asking the clerk at the desk. They may not lower the price, but they might give you some extra perks for staying. You won’t know if you never ask.
If you want to avoid a distasteful hotel stay, use the advice you have read here. If you know what to watch for and what constitutes a good deal, then you’re likely to have better experiences. If you are traveling and stop for rest, you don’t want to be confronted with a lot of hassles.
Remember that quality among hotels within a specific chain may vary. While you may have enjoyed your stay in one place, the next place may not be the same. Research each individual hotel so that you know what you are in for before getting there.
