Hotel Secrets The Big Chains Don’t Want You To Know

Staying at any hotel should be an enjoyable experience. You are a guest and should be treated as such. You want to be comfortable, pay less and have fun. Keep reading for some advice on choosing a great hotel.

Think about using room service if you want to enjoy late-night dining without needing to leave your hotel room. You will probably pay more for this meal, but for the convenience of having it delivered to your room, it is worth it.

TIP! If you are hungry when you get to your hotel and do not want to leave, consider ordering room service. It might cost a little extra, but it’s definitely worth the bill.

Look for a closet safe in your hotel room, and use it for any expensive electronics you may have brought with you. Your small electronic devices can be left in the safe when you are out, so you will not have to worry about them.

Make use of the room safe to ensure the safety of your electronics when you are not in your room. This safe will store your small important items, such as your iPad, iPod, GPS, jewelry, etc. By doing this, you can keep these items secure and enjoy your day without fretting about someone stealing them.

TIP! Use your hotel room’s safe to keep your valuables secure. You can put your iPad, GPS watch, and other small, costly items into the safe, and then head out for the day with peace of mind about their security.

If you belong to any organizations, check with them for travel deals. Many of these places will give you cheaper hotel prices. Some discounts can be over ten percent! That can save a lot of money, especially if you are staying for multiple nights. It may equate to one whole free night.

When thinking about the type of hotel you would like to stay at, there are plenty of options to consider. Of course price is a big deal, but a hotel close to where you are head is a big consideration. You may or may not care about such amenities such as a gym, large pool, WiFi or a free breakfast buffet. You want to secure a room at a hotel that provides the things you desire.

TIP! When making a hotel selection, you should consider many things. The location of the hotel may be just as important than the price.

When making a hotel selection, you should consider many things. While price is obviously a factor, you may want to think about room size and amenities as well. For example, you might want a room that is in walking distance to gym, or a hotel that has free Wi-Fi. Choose an establishment that offers the amenities you desire.

Take advantage of online hotel searching tools. They allow you to quickly locate great discounts. In addition, these websites will provide a comparison of different hotel prices, which will allow you to find the best possible deals. They can also give you information on nearby attractions, too.

TIP! Make use of online tools to find a hotel. They allow you to quickly locate great discounts.

Check out the search tools offered by online travel sites. Some websites are designed to help you find the best deals. They also can show you the average hotel rates, letting you see whether the deal is good or bad. They also can help with figuring out when the ideal time to go on vacation is and what you can do once you are there.

Find out the exact time for check-in and check-out. If you show up too early, you may find yourself sitting around the lobby, waiting for your room to be ready. Call and ask if you think you’ll be early.

TIP! Know when you are able to check in and get your room. If you show up too early for check-in, then your room may not be ready for you yet.

Look for deals online. Many times, the reservation specialist won’t tell you of discounts when you call to book your room. It is your responsibility to find any available discounts. Look at Jetsetter, RueLaLaTravel or similar websites for discounts.

If you’d like to bring Fido on your next trip, you must make some advance plans. Find out if the hotel will allow pets first. Also, bring a lot of plastic sacks like ones from the grocery store so you can get your pet’s messes cleaned up. When making your reservation, ask for a room at the end of the hall to spare other guests your pet noise.

TIP! If you’re taking your pet with you, do these things in advance. Make sure it’s a pet-friendly hotel.

Don’t think every hotel is pet-friendly. Even if a web listing says a hotel is pet friendly, call the hotel to verify. Always ask about what exactly a pet-friendly policy entails, as there could still be limits on breeds and sizes.

Book any massage appointments you make early. In order to get the best masseurs at these top hotels, you must plan early to ensure that you get a good experience.

TIP! 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. Most of the best masseurs will be reserved by name ahead of time.

Book your appointment as far ahead of time as possible to guarantee you get the perfect couples massage for you and your significant other. The best masseuses are booked well in advance.

See if you can get a hotel discount through AAA if you are a member. You would be surprised where hidden discounts may be lurking. You can save upwards of 5% on your hotel stays. This is a savings that can really add up over several nights.

TIP! One of the best bonuses of a AAA membership is great discounts on booking a hotel. Did you know that this membership entitles you to hotel discounts? There are discounts at hotels around the country of 5 percent or more.

Always see if your AAA membership can get you a discount on the hotel you intend to stay at. You may not know that your membership to the auto club includes discounts on hotels. You can save 5 percent or more on your hotel stay just by showing your membership card. The savings can really add up if you’re staying multiple nights.

Inquire about hotel transfer costs before before booking. This is especially important if you run across an unbelievable deal. If you know this upfront, you can save more money.

TIP! In order to avoid an unwanted expense on the hotel bill, inquire about any hotel transfer fees prior to booking them. You don’t want to ruin the deal you are getting on your room by paying for an expensive transfer.

Always remember to pack running clothes and any thing else you need for exercising while on your trip. For an early morning jog, get up and throw your gear on, and then head out the front door. It’ll let you explore the city in a new way.

Don’t make long distance calls on your hotel phone. Use the Internet, instead. A lot of hotels offer wi-fi, making it possible for you to use Skype. But the Internet is infinitely useful while traveling so it is usually worth it.

TIP! Always avoid making long distance calls from your hotel room. Use the Internet, instead.

Do you travel a lot? Consider using a hotel loyalty program. They offer rewards to guests who book the same hotel chain frequently. These loyalty programs allow you to earn free upgrades, late check outs and even free stays.

If you want to inspect a hotel room for bed bugs, start with the bathroom. This is the least likely place for bedbugs to be. This is the best place to put your bags while you look around. It’s also safer to the pets and kids you may have.

TIP! When checking your hotel accommodations for bed bugs, begin in the bathroom. This is the least likely place for bedbugs to be.

Join a loyalty program to get deals on your stays. When you do, you get points every time you stay at a hotel.

If you smoke, learn the smoking policy of the hotel where you are staying. Many have rooms set aside for people who smoke. Ask to see if any of these are available. Otherwise, you might find yourself paying a high fee for smoking in a room that is designated as non-smoking.

TIP! Always ask about the hotel’s smoking policy if you smoke. Hotels normally have rooms set aside for smokers.

To make reserving a hotel easy, use AAA. AAA offers their members good discounts on hotels, car rental and other aspects of travel. Those with youngsters will be grateful for the free car seats.

If you need an extra bed or crib, make sure you discuss this when making your reservation. Most hotels only have so many of these items to go around, and some hotels may not have any at all. Additionally, there may be an extra fee for these items. Talk about these issues as you reserve your room.

TIP! If you will be needing a rollaway or a crib, alert the hotel to this fact when making your reservation. Some hotels won’t have these extra amenities, and when they do, there is often an extra cost.

Make sure that your family enjoys their stay by calling ahead to ensure the hotel’s swimming pool is working, There are few things as frustrating as showing up to a hotel, with your kids chomping at the bit to get in the pool, only to have it closed for repairs.

Understand your rights when it comes to hotels “walking” you. Sometimes a hotel will overbook and you will find the room you booked is not available. That means the hotel will send you to another establishment, or “walk” you. Try to avoid this scenario if you can, but if it becomes necessary to secure alternate accommodations, be sure that the room is at least comparable to the one at the hotel you booked, and get compensation for your travel expenses.

TIP! Beware of an establishment that attempts to “walk you.” Hotels sometimes over-book, and this can leave you without a room.

Start looking in the bathroom when checking for bed bugs in a hotel. This is the least likely place for bedbugs to be. That means your luggage will be safe there while you check out the other areas of the room. Not to mention a great place for your children and pets too.

Leave the bottled water alone in your hotel room! Sure, you might be a little thirsty after checking into your new room. You may decide to reach for that bottle of water calling to you from the mini fridge. Hotels take advantage of guests by charging ridiculous amounts for bottled water. Check out the gym instead; they may have free water. Simply, bring your own bottled water.

TIP! Do not drink the bottled water in your room. Sure, you might be a little thirsty after checking into your new room.

Be aware that it is normally not possible to check into a hotel early. Be sure to plan your arrival with that in mind, or you may be sitting in the lobby area for some time. It is usually necessary for hotels to service your room prior to allowing you to check in. You can request an early check-in ahead of time, but it may cost more.

Don’t steal the hotel linens when you leave, no matter how tempting and comfortable they are. As soft and luxurious as they are, the housekeepers will likely notice that things are missing, and you might get a bill from the hotel for them. If you actually like the hotel’s stuff, ask if there is a way to purchase the items.

TIP! Resist the urge to abscond with the hotel linens. Housekeeping keeps track of linens.

Early Departure

You can save quite a bit on your next vacation when you choose to bundle your hotel room and flight. Often travel websites provide greater discounts for package deals. In order to make sure you’re getting the best deal, make sure you do a few comparisons.

TIP! Remember that booking both your flight and hotel can often save you money. Use a travel site that has package deals, which include hotel, flight, and rental car.

It you’re able to, try not to check out until it’s time for you to depart. The hotel might charge you a fee for early departure. The room is not marketed by the hotel and you will have to make up that lost revenue. You may end paying for a day you don’t use the room. They have to at least get something for the loss, thus an early departure charge.

You can get lower hotel rates by booking during off season. Rooms are usually very expensive at that point in time. Hotels are looking to increase occupancy during off-season months and this is the ideal time to book a room. Your chances of getting a great deal will increase exponentially.

TIP! If you would like to pay less when staying at a hotel, don’t book during peak season. Hotel rates are very high during tourist season.

It is important that you are knowledgeable on the hotel booking process in order to avoid disappointment in your hotel visits. Using the tips you have learned here, you will do much better when it is time to book your next hotel room. The right room is out there for you, and you just have to know what you’re doing.

If you wish to get an upgrade in a hotel, try getting one without paying anything. An easy way to get this to happen is to show up on time for when you’re supposed to be checking in. Quite often, your room has not been cleaned yet, so you may be able to get an upgraded room at no extra charge.

TIP! You can actually get a room upgrade without paying a dime. An excellent method of achieving an upgrade is simply showing up for your room right on time.