
Read on to learn how you can find the perfect hotel.
Take a look into organizations you are part of. Some groups provide members with discounts on certain hotels. These discounts are often forgotten about, and they can provide significant savings. For extended stays, this can really add up. It may equate to one whole free night.
You can find good deals on hotel rooms using online and check out some of the travel sites. If you’re a member of a loyalty program of a hotel, make note of that. You may also qualify for discounts due to AAA or AARP.
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. Amenities that you might personally want or need include a swimming pool or gym, on-site restaurant, continental breakfast and free Wi-Fi or local calls. Try to find a hotel that offers as many of your desired amenities as possible.
You should put any expensive items to keep them secure.
If you’re thinking of taking your pet to a hotel with you, there are some things you need to do first. Check to see if the hotel actually permits pets. Additionally, bring along a few plastic bags suitable for cleaning up after your animal. If you can arrange a corner room, there will be less likelihood of your pet disturbing other guests.
Check with the organizations that you belong to. Some may offer discounts on hotels to their members. People frequently forget these discounts are available, which may be for 10 percent or more off of your stay. It can add up to equal a free hotel night!
Pack your GPS and running clothes while on vacation. When you wake up in the morning, throw on your gear and head out for a morning jog. It will give you a perspective that you’ll never get while riding in a car.
There are many different things to think about when choosing a hotel to stay in. Amenities that you might personally want or need include a swimming pool or gym, fitness facilities, continental breakfast and free Wi-Fi or local calls. Try locating a hotel that checks off as much of your wish list as is realistic.
It may be wise to look into loyalty programs that your favorite hotels offer. They provide benefits to travelers who regularly stay in the same hotel chain. Enjoy late check out, bonus upgrades and free nights with the loyalty paints you have earned.
Know the check-in time. Some people neglect asking what the check-in time is and get to the hotel when their room to be available because they forget to check this critical detail.Call the front desk to find out if you think you’ll be early.
If you are concerned about the environment, you may want to take a “green” vacation. Fortunately, there are many green hotels available nowadays. Many newer hotels are environmentally friendly. Some older hotels choose to use eco-friendly practices as well, making them a good green option. Ask your travel agent to help you identify environmentally friendly hotels.
Plan your trip in advance as you can to ensure best rates. Many hotels offer discounts if you book more than a month or two ahead of time. You may save 50 percent off at some very exclusive hotels.
To keep from having an unwanted major expense on your hotel bill, ask about the cost of hotel transfers before booking them. If you’re getting what appears to be a nice deal on the room, these types of hidden charges can sometimes surface. You save the most money when you ask about this beforehand.
Book your appointment as early as possible. The best professionals are often in high demand, so planning early is the best way to create a good experience.
When you travel, go through AAA to find hotel accommodations easier.` AAA members not only get discounts at many hotel chains, it will also make it much easier to rent a car. Some places provide free car seats too.
If you belong to AAA, ask about a hotel discount. You may not know that your membership to the auto club also includes discounts on hotels. You can save upwards of five percent at hotels in the US. This can really add up over several nights.
Try not to make long distance calls from your hotel room. Using the Internet is a better option. You can access Skype with the Internet connection at your hotel. 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.
If you run regularly, make sure you pack exercise clothes and a GPS watch.
If you are bringing your kids along for the trip, then it’s a good idea to call a hotel in advance and make sure they have working pools. There is nothing worse than arriving at your destination anxiously looking forward to splashing around in the pool, only to find that it is closed.
It is wise to join a hotel loyalty programs that your favorite hotels offer. They offer rewards to those who stay with them often. You will be able to earn stuff like a free upgrade, free stays, and complimentary late check out with enough points accrued.
Inspect your room for bed bugs, starting with the bathroom. This room is usually free from bugs. This makes it an ideal spot to put your luggage as you check out the rest of your room for bedbugs. Kids and pets can safely wait there too.
Be sure to avoid hotel transfers when booking a room.If the rooms are cheap, it is especially important that you ask about any hidden fees that might be tacked onto your bill. Asking these things before anything happens will allow you arrive can really increase your overall savings.
Figure out if you want a hotel you can or cannot smoke in. If you do not smoke, you might not want to go to a hotel with smoking rooms. You may be able to get a non smoking rooms still, but you can get smoke in the air which will stick to you. Sometimes a smoker will get a non smoking room and still smoke in it. Choose a non-smoking hotel to a smoke smell on your clothes.
Get an AAA membership for hotel when you travel. Parents with young children are likely to enjoy the complimentary car set offered in some locations.
Checking in early may not be available. Plan to arrive at the proper check-in time so you don’t find yourself wandering around the hotel’s lobby for hours. Hotels need to get a room cleaned up before you get to check into it. If you arrive earlier than your check-in time, you can always ask the front desk and see if they can let you in.
Distance Calls
If you require extra amenities like a roll away bed, you want to mention this while making your reservation. Some hotels may not have one, so you want to know this upfront. Sometimes, there is an additional charge for these items. Talk about these things when you make your reservations.
Don’t make any long distance calls on your hotel room. Many hotels will give you complimentary Skype connections via Wi-Fi. This can be a much cheaper option than calling from a hotel room and getting hit with lots of long distance calls from your hotel room.
If possible, don’t check out earlier than intended. The hotel might charge you an early departure fee. A booked hotel room is taken off the market, meaning your early departure would cost them money. This is why they have the departure fee, to get their money back that they would have otherwise lost.
It can prove rather frustrating for you check in to your room with the kids screaming “pool” only to discover that there are none.
You may wish to use a different blanket than the comforter that is in your hotel room. The blankets and sheets under the bedspread are typically washed between guests, however the top cover is not. That means it could harbor contaminants you don’t want to be in contact with. Just get that blanket off of the bed.
Check if your prospective hotel you’re looking to stay at is non-smoking or smoking. If you’re someone who doesn’t like cigarette smoke, you might want to avoid hotels with smoking rooms. Smokers also sometimes smoke in rooms that the room they are renting is a non-smoking room.
Don’t take any of the linens. You may really like those towels, pillowcases and washcloths, but their absence will not go unnoticed. You will be billed for them. If you really have to have the stuff, see if the hotel will sell it to you.
Find out how the policy on pets is. These hotels sometimes have odors sinking into the carpet and linens have absorbed them. Some hotels add an extra charge for pets, and the charge is not much in some places.The fee charged may cover totally or partially the cost of the extra cleaning that needs to be done.
Book your flight and hotel at the same time to save money. You may be able to save a lot of money by booking both from the same place. In order to make sure you’re getting the best deal, make sure you do a few comparisons.
Some hotels have these amenities at all. Talk about these things when you make your room.
If an upgrade is desirable, try a strategy that might get it free. Arrive right at your check-in time. Often the room isn’t quite ready at the exact time and the hotel will offer you an upgraded room instead.
Never actually check out before the departure unless it is absolutely necessary. The hotel might charge you a fee for your early departure fee. When you make your reservation, the hotel takes that room off the market; thus, so they lose money if you leave early.
To tip or not to tip, that is the question. While a tip is usually added to a room service bill, there are no tips included with maid service. Leaving a tip for the housekeeper will help to make sure that housekeepers like you.
Avoid using the bedspread. The bedspread is one item that does not usually get washed like the linens are. It can carry a carrier of bacteria and germs. Just remove the bed to have peace of mind.
To get great prices, use websites like Travelocity or Expedia. Both of these websites book large quantities of hotel rooms. This allows them to have cheaper rates than the competition. Some sites need you to bid on a room, while others may withhold the actual price until you commit to buy, so watch out for that.
Do not open the bottled water! You may be very thirsty and tired when you arrive. You can be tempted to casually open that bottled water calling to you from the mini-fridge. Hotels take advantage of guests by charging ridiculous amounts for that already exorbitantly priced bottled water. Check out the hotel gym and see if they offer it for free. A better idea is to bring your own bottles.
Ask the clerk at the hotel to give you a better deal. Even if they can’t lower the price, they can offer other perks such as free continental breakfast or even a breakfast buffet. However, you can’t know if you never ask!
You may be able to score a free upgrade of your hotel room. You can be sure of this if you arrive right at the time when you are supposed to check in. If your room isn’t clean yet, you may be offered a better room at no additional charge.
Always inquire about any extra charges or hidden fees when you book a hotel room using a third party. The initial quote may not be correct. Taking a close look at the fine print can help you be aware of these type of charges.
Rest Stops
Hotel chains may have inconsistent quality in each establishment. While you may have enjoyed your stay in one place, the next place may not be the same. Check the information on each hotel before you book a room.
If you need to book a hotel on short notice while traveling, check out ads at rest stops, gas stations and rest stops with valuable discounts. This way you can just call ahead to book a room instead of driving around looking for you.
Don’t trust edited brochures to adequately represent a hotel and its surrounding area. The pool might actually be tiny or dirty. Make sure you find some photos of the hotel from a third party.
A lot of people just book the first room that they find and don’t bother doing research for the perfect one. But this can really end up backfiring. A dirty hotel is not desirable to anyone. Follow the tips in this article so you do not end up in one.