Just about everybody has a story to tell about a bad hotel experience. It is an expensive mistake to make. Below are some great tips to help make sure that you book a budget friendly hotel that’s great for your need.
You can find good deals on hotel rooms using online travel sites. Always remember to give your loyalty program information to the clerk when you book your room or search for prices. You may also be able to get discounts through AAA or AARP.
Before you pick out your hotel you’re going to reserve a spot at, check out review sites online like TripAdvisor. This gives you first-hand accounts of people’s experiences in each hotel. What people say about a hotel can help you figure out where you should be staying.
Think about using room service if you want to enjoy late-night dining without needing to leave your hotel room. Although you’ll probably pay more, it is worth being able to comfortably dine in the room while in pajamas.
Consider ordering room service if you want a special meal without needing to go out. You will probably pay more for this meal, but for the convenience of having it delivered to your room, it is worth it.
Check with the organizations that you are a member with. Hotel discounts are often one of the benefits offered. Some of these discounts can be pretty substantial, but many people don’t take advantage of them. This can help you to save some cash, especially if you’re going to be staying for a few nights. It may equate to one whole free night.
Search online tools for hotels. There are a lot of websites that have great deals and other useful tools to help you comparison shop to find the right hotel at the right price. They can also provide you with the average rate for a room at a particular hotel, so you can see if your offer is really a good deal. Finally, you can also use these to help you learn what there is to do when you get to your destination.
Do not make the assumption that your pets are welcome at all hotels. Be sure to ask even if the website says it’s ok to bring a pet. Be certain you understand all rules pertaining to pets. Some hotels only allow certain types, sizes and breeds.
Don’t book a hotel room without looking for online deals. Most of the time, people you speak with over the phone won’t mention any discounts possibly available to you. So, it’s up personally to you to go searching for such discounts. There are many travel websites that offer discounts.
Think about these three things if you plan to bring a pet with you during your hotel stay. First, ensure that the hotel actually allows pets. In addition, take along some plastic bags to pick up your pet’s mess. When you make your reservation, request accommodations near the very end of the floor in order to not disturb other guests.
When you get to your hotel room, look over the room before unpacking. Is the room mildew-free and otherwise clean? Check the toilet, the shower, and the sink to make sure they are clean and function properly. Do you have all the towels and linens you need? If you see any issues, be sure to tell the front desk. This way, they can fix the problems or switch rooms for you.
If you enjoy a morning run, try booking a hotel room that’s near the beach or an open park. Go for a run when you wake up in the morning. Even if your route takes you through the street of a city, at least you will get a glimpse of the area you are visiting.
Be aware of when you can check into your room. Many people forget the time, then they show up early and the room isn’t ready yet. Therefore, if you anticipate arriving early, call the hotel in advance and see if it is possible to check in early.
If you often frequent the same hotel chains, look into their frequent stay membership programs. Like the programs for frequent flyer, these programs the hotel offer give you points whenever you stay with them. In time you may even get to stay there for free!
In order to get the best hotel deals, always plan your trips weeks ahead of schedule, or even a few months. A lot of places will give you a discount if you’re going to book about a month or so in advance. Even some elite chains will offer discounts as much as half off.
If you want to work on saving the environment, a green vacation is something to look into. Luckily, you can choose from quite a few green hotels these days. Many newer hotels are environmentally friendly. Some hotels that aren’t that new will pick out some ways to be more eco-friendly so they can show they care. Speak with a travel agent to see if they can help you pick out hotels that care about the environment.
Don’t make the assumption that all hotels will welcome your pet. Always call to ask, even if it says pet-friendly online. Be certain you understand all rules pertaining to pets. Some hotels only allow certain types, sizes and breeds.
The price you pay at a hotel often depends on the time frame in which you reserve the room. The price is subject to the laws of supply and demand like any other product. When possible, you can often get a good price if you book a room at the very last minute. This will net you the best price when it comes to hotel rooms. They’ll lower the price to fill the room.
There are three different things you should do in advance if you’re going to be traveling with a pet. Find out if the hotel you have selected is pet-friendly. It is also a great idea to bring along some plastic bags to clean up when your pet makes a mess. Ask for a corner room since this can reduce the number of guests disturbed by a noisy pet.
In order to avoid an unwanted expense on the hotel bill, inquire about any hotel transfer fees prior to booking them. Particularly when the room price is a big deal, the hidden fee of transfer often can be the difference. If you know this upfront, you can save more money.
For members of AAA, hotels offer discounts that are exclusive to members. Your membership in this auto club has just such a discount available to you. You can save 5%, 10% or more at quality hotels throughout the country. It’s a savings that really adds up over the nights.
Being a member of AAA makes travel very easy. Not only will AAA members receive discounts for a lot of hotel chains that make it worth getting into, you may also find rental cars more easily than those without the membership. Some places provide free car seats too.
Do you travel on a periodic basis? If so, consider joining your hotel’s loyalty program. They offer benefits to people that stay at the same chain quite often. You might earn a free upgrade, late checkout time, or other great perks.
Don’t make long distance calls on your hotel phone. If you don’t have a cell phone or the Internet, buy a calling card to keep with you during your trip. Many hotels now offer Skype connections via Wi-Fi. You can stay connected with people back home by using this instead of making expensive long distance calls from your hotel phone.
Membership programs offered by hotel chains help members who travel a lot get the best rooms during their stay. Every stay in a particular hotel chain where you are a member will add points to your total, which can later be used on free rooms or amenities that usually cost you.
Start looking in the bathroom when checking for bed bugs in a hotel. This is where you won’t find them. This is the best place to put your bags while you look around. It is also a safe spot for your pets and kids.
Get an AAA membership for hotel perks when you travel. You’ll get discounts on hotel rooms, easier car rentals and more benefits. It is definitely worth looking into.
Smokers should always learn the smoking policy at any hotel before they book a room. Some have smoking rooms. If that happens to be the case, then you need to ask for that type of room. If you stay in a room that doesn’t allow smoking and the hotel staff discover evidence of you smoking in this room, then you could be charged a large penalty. Therefore, it is important that you always follow the hotel’s rules when it comes to smoking.
Don’t make long distance calls on your hotel phone. Use the Internet, instead. Many hotels will give you complimentary Skype connections on their Wi-Fi. This will help you converse with those back home without racking up a lofty bill.
It may come as a shock to you, but most hotels don’t allow you to check-in early. Make sure you plan around your check-in time, or you will be forced to sit in a lobby to wait for your room. The rooms can’t be readied and cleaned until the prior guests are gone, so this means that check-in time is usually around 2 p.m. or 3 p.m. If you arrive earlier than your check-in time, you can always ask the front desk and see if they can let you in.
If you are traveling with kids, make sure the hotel you book has a working pool. You don’t want to get there, only to disappoint your children when you find out the pool is closed.
If possible, don’t check out earlier than intended. The hotel may charge a fee for early departure. By booking a room, you are preventing other potential guests from staying in the hotel. Therefore, by leaving early, you are costing the hotel extra revenue. Therefore, they have to make up for the loss by charging an early departure fee.
Start looking in the bathroom when checking for bed bugs in a hotel. You probably won’t find any bedbugs in the bathroom. That means you can store your luggage here as you inspect. It is a safe place for pets and kids to stay.
No matter how clean your hotel seems, never use the hotel bedspread for sleeping. The bedspread is one item that does not usually get washed between bookings. Therefore, you don’t really know what is on it. Just remove this covering from the bed to have peace of mind.
Do you smoke? If so, it is important that you are aware of a hotel’s smoking policy in advance. Some have rooms for smokers. If that happens to be the case, then you need to ask for that type of room. If you smoke in a room designated as non-smoking, a big penalty can come along with it.
Don’t get that bottled water and open it! You may be thirsty and tired when you arrive. As a result, that bottle of water on the little fridge may look very good to you. Hotels take advantage of guests by charging ridiculous amounts for bottled water. You might be able to get free bottled water in the hotel gym. However, to be safe, you should pack some water bottles yourself.
For hygienic purposes, you may want to avoid using the bedspread that the hotel provides. Although the blankets and sheets are cleaned when guests check out, sometimes the bedspread on top will not be. This means you might find that the bedspread is carrying germs and bacteria. Pull it off for peace of mind.
Resist the urge to abscond with the hotel linens. 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 do want to take something, ask about a direct purchase when you’re checking out.
Beware of an establishment that attempts to “walk you.” There may be times when a hotel overbooks, leaving with no room. That means the hotel will send you to another establishment, or “walk” you. Avoid having this happen if you can, but if you’re going to a different hotel, be sure that the deal is better than the place you were trying to get.
Don’t book your trip during peak season if you are looking to get a good price. This is the time that hotel rates are at their highest. Rather, you can better deals booking rooms on off-peak times when hotels are struggling to fill the building. This will get you a real bargain.
Nobody wants to stay in a terrible hotel room. Cheap prices aren’t worth bad experiences. The trip will be a bust in any event. Therefore, implementing the tips given here will help you find the best hotel. Once you have something in mind, you can then look into finding a deal on the hotel.
If you wish to get an upgrade in a hotel, try getting one without paying anything. You can do this by checking in exactly at your expected arrival time. If your room isn’t clean yet, you may be offered an upgrade.
