Enjoy Your Next Hotel Stay With This Advice

Are you planning a trip where you will have to book a nice hotel? Are you interested in making the process easier for locating an excellent hotel? If so, this is the place to be. This information you need to know prior to booking a hotel reservations for your next stay.

Before booking your hotel room, look to online review sites for in depth reviews from recent travelers. Here you can get first-hand reports of the experience people had staying at different hotels. These reviews can aid you in your decision about whether to book the hotel.

TIP! Check for online reviews before making any reservations. Here you can get first-hand reports of the experience people had staying at different hotels.

Check in on the organizations that you are a member with. Some offer big discounts on certain hotels. People often forget that they are eligible for these discounts, which can often be 10% and higher. It can add up to equal a free hotel night!

Find great prices at online travel sites like Orbitz and Expedia. Join the loyalty program for any hotel chain that you love and believe you’ll stay with often. You may also be able to get discounts through AAA or AARP.

TIP! Use websites like Orbitz and Expedia for great prices. Are you a member of a certain hotel’s membership program? If so, make sure you put this information into the travel site.

There are things to consider as you search for a hotel. You may want free WiFi access, large pool, WiFi or a free breakfast buffet. Try to find a tip that checks off as many of your desired amenities as is realistic.

Put your electronics into the room’s safe. You can put just about anything in there, as long as it isn’t too big, and you won’t have to worry about it.

TIP! Put your electronics into the room’s safe. Putting these items in the safe ensures that you can go out and have fun, not worrying about what you’ve left in the room.

Check online for the best deals before you book a hotel room during your next trip. This is why you should look for these discounts. Check out websites such as Jetsetter, RueLaLaTravel, or RueLaLaTravel.

Make use of the various hotel search websites on the Internet. These websites will help you find good deals quickly. They can also allow you to look at the average rates of a hotel. Also, hotel search websites can assist you in determining where to vacation and what to do there.

TIP! Use hotel search tools online. Use these websites to your advantage! They can also show you what the hotel’s average rates typically are, allowing you to see whether you are actually getting a good deal or not.

Inspect the room before unpacking your bags. Is the room clean and free from mildew and mold? Are all the towels in ample supply?If there are any obvious problems, call the front desk that instant so they can address them or move you to another room.

When you get to your hotel room, look over the room before unpacking. Make sure the room is entirely clean and free from any mildew or mold. Check the shower, toilet and sink to ensure they work properly. Have the staff provided all the necessary soap, shampoo, towels, etc. that you will be needing? If you notice any problems, report them immediately. If your issues are not resolved, ask to move to another room.

TIP! Inspect the room before unpacking. Is the room clean? Check the shower, toilet and sink to ensure they work properly.

Know your check-in time is. Some people end up waiting for their room is still not ready. Call the front desk to find out if you to arrive before check-in.

If you tend to return to the same family of hotels for your vacation, consider joining their membership reward programs. These programs usually work by letting you rack up points. These points add up to restaurant discounts, free nights, tickets to a show, spa treatments, and more.

TIP! If you stay at the same hotels all the time, check to see if they have a frequent-stay program. These hotel programs give you points for each stay.

Plan your trip in advance as possible.Many locations offer the best discounts if you are willing to book a few months in advance. You might even be able to save up to fifty percent off at some very exclusive hotels.

Before you decide to book, always find out if there are any hotel transfer fees so you won’t be surprised on your bill. In many situations in which the room’s price is a great deal, the undisclosed price of your transfer can frequently eat up the savings. Asking before you arrive can really increase your overall savings.

TIP! Make sure you know hotel transfer costs prior to booking a hotel room in order to avoid a large unexpected cost. In many situations in which the room’s price is a great deal, the undisclosed price of your transfer can frequently eat up the savings.

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 usually booked up for months ahead of time, so make your reservation early and book by name where possible.

Join the hotel’s membership program if you frequently stay there on business trips. That way, each time you stay, you accrue points that you can turn into vacation freebies when it’s time to take the family on an adventure.

TIP! Join a loyalty program to get deals on your stays. This way, when you stay at a hotel, you can get points and then turn those points into free stuff that you can do with your family.

If you belong to AAA, it may qualify you for 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 around the country. These savings can really add up.

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 will give you complimentary Skype connections on their Wi-Fi. In this way, you can stay in touch with friends, relations and colleagues without racking up a big phone bill.

TIP! Don’t make any long distance calls from your hotel room. Make use of the Internet, instead.

If you enjoy a morning run, make sure you pack exercise clothes and a GPS watch.

Find out if the hotel you’re staying at has a functioning pool for the kids. There is nothing worse than getting to a hotel with kids to find the pool is closed.

TIP! Call ahead of arrival to see if the pool is open to keep the family happy. There aren’t many things that are as frustrating as going to your hotel with kids that really want to swim only to see that it has been closed.

Free Nights

If you wish to see if a hotel room has bed bugs, check out the bathroom. Bedbugs are least likely to live here. That is what makes it the best place to start. You can store your luggage there and search the rest of your room for those bedbugs. It can be a temporary haven for children and pets.

TIP! If you are concerned about bed bugs, look in the bathroom first. This is the place least likely to have bedbugs.

If you often stay at the same hotel chain, check out their membership programs for frequent guests. These hotel programs give you rack up points. They add up to free nights, free nights, show tickets, hotel restaurants discounts and much more.

Look into the smoking policies in the hotel you are considering. If you are not a smoker, you probably want to avoid staying in a smoking room. While it is possible to book a nonsmoking room, you can still be affected by the smoke from other areas. You may find that a smoker has been in your non-smoking room before you and ignored the rules. Choose a non-smoking hotel to a smoke smell on your clothes.

TIP! Determine whether or not the hotel you are considering allows smoking or not. If you are not a smoker, you probably want to avoid staying in a smoking room.

Don’t make any long distance calls on your hotel room. Many hotels will give you complimentary Skype connections via Wi-Fi. This will help you a lofty bill.

Always ask about the hotel’s smoking policy if you smoke. Most hotels have designated smoking rooms. Ask for those rooms if you are a smoker. There are hotels that will charge you quite a bit if they find out that you were lighting up in the room that wasn’t for smoking. This is why you should stick to the rules.

TIP! Be sure you understand your hotel’s smoking policy if you smoke. Many have designated rooms for smokers.

It is extremely frustrating when you and your room with the kids screaming “pool” only to find out it’s closed.

Be sure you understand the pet policy of the hotel. 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. Some hotels are pet-friendly and don’t charge for it, while other hotels will add a hefty fee for keeping a pet. The fee may be for any cleaning that needs to be done.

TIP! Always find out the pet policy at any hotel you stay at. If you’re fearful of pets or have an allergic reaction to them, it would be in your best interest to make reservations at hotels that have a strict no pets policy.

Never check out before the departure unless it’s an emergency. Some hotels charge a fee for early departure fees. 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 can, avoid checking out before the day you are scheduled to. Your hotel may charge you a fee to do so. If you reserve a room for a set number of days but check out a day or two early, that hotel may charge a fee because they couldn’t book that room. To earn back this money they will lose, they charge you an additional departure fee.

TIP! Don’t check out early, if possible. If you do, you may be charged a fee for early departure.

Avoid sleeping under the hotel bedspread.The top bedspread is one item that does not usually get washed between bookings. It can carry a lot of bacteria and germs. Just remove it from the bedspread.

If you are particular about cleanliness, you probably shouldn’t use the hotel bedspread. Your sheets should be fresh and clean but the bedspread is not washed after each guest. This means you might find that the bedspread is carrying germs and bacteria. Therefore, as soon as you walk into your room, take the bedspread off the bed.

TIP! For the sake of hygiene, avoid the bedspread provided by the hotel. The top bedspread usually isn’t cleaned as often as the sheets or blankets underneath.

Don’t open the water! You may be very likely to be tired and thirsty upon arrival. The mini fridge may tempt you.Hotels are aware of this and charge more for bottled water. Check out the gym and see if they may have free water. A better option to simply bring a few of your own bottled water.

You have rights in the event where a hotel needs to “walk” you. You might find that a room you booked isn’t available when you arrive because they overbooked. The hotel “walks” you to a new hotel nearby. Avoid getting “walked” whenever you can, but if you have to switch hotels, be certain that your reservation there is equivalent or even an upgrade.

TIP! Be prepared with a knowledge of your rights if a hotel ever tries to “walk” you. Hotels sometimes over-book, and this can leave you without a room.

Do not take any of the hotel.

Don’t steal hotel linens. Keeping linens, a robe or some similar item will likely not go unnoticed. You will be issued a bill for the items taken. 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. If you do take any items, the housekeeping staff is sure to notice, and you may receive a bill from the hotel.

You can get some money if you book a flight and hotel at the same time. A lot of travel websites provide significant savings for anyone who bundles things together.

You can often save money if you book your flight and hotel at the same time. Travel sites typically offers savings to people who book more than one service at the same time. Always compare the prices from multiple hotels to make sure you’re getting the best deal.

TIP! Save your money when on the road by making your flight and hotel reservations together as a bundle. Travel websites offer big savings when you book both your flight and hotel.

You may be able to receive an upgrade without paying a dime. You can be sure of this by checking in exactly at your hotel booking. Sometimes, rooms aren’t ready when patrons arrive, which means they offer an upgraded room for free.

If you want an upgrade, try to get one for free. Show up at the exact time you’re scheduled for check in. If the room you are booked for has not been cleaned yet, you may be offered a better room at no additional charge.

TIP! Try your best to score a free upgrade during your hotel stay. Show up at the exact time you’re scheduled for check in.

If it becomes necessary to book a hotel from the road, look at tourist centers, rest areas and gas stations for free tourist books that contain maps of hotels, and great discounts. This will help you call ahead to book a room that’s right for you.

Proper and appropriate tipping makes any hotel stay better. Room service should get a tip, but maid service shouldn’t. Tipping ensures the hotel employees like you.

TIP! You hotel stay might be more pleasant if you tip when appropriate. While a tip is usually included in room service, it isn’t included in maid service.

Tipping hotel staff can ensure you have a bit better. For instance, room service generally includes tipping in the bill; however, the bill for maid service does not include the tip. Tipping will be attending to your stay better.

The price that the hotel advertises is usually not something you should pay. Savvy travelers never pay the “rack rate”. Hotels expect you to haggle. Just give the hotel a call to see if you can get a great deal. Fortune favors the bold. Visit travel websites to enjoy some excellent discount rates.

TIP! You should always avoid paying the full price that hotels advertise to its guests. Referred to as the “rack rate,” travelers in the know do not pay that rate.

Don’t pay the advertised when you’re booking a hotel. Contact the hotel to see if there is a promotion currently taking place. You can find great discounts on travel websites.

Tipping the housekeeper at a hotel is a routine practice. Most other people that work there do not need a tip, but the maid is an exception. You probably were a slob, so be sure to leave something for the maid.

TIP! It is considered customary to tip your housekeeper when checking out of a hotel. You can skip tipping for certain things because you’re billed for them anyways, but you should definitely give a tip to the maid.

Book hotel travel during a special occasion. Hotels may throw in complimentary stuff if they know it is a special day for them. They may offer you a gift such as free champagne or some other goodie.

When calling to make reservations, ask the desk clerk about any current promotions. The clerk may not be able to discount the price, but he or she may be able to add some extras like a breakfast buffet or at least a continental breakfast. If you choose not to ask, you’re not going to know.

TIP! Inquire about deals. They may not lower the price, but they might give you some extra perks for staying.

You have no way of knowing if you never ask.

Some hotels use Photoshop to make their facility look better on brochures or the Internet. That large lovely pool you’re viewing may actually be small and decaying. Take some time and investigate the hotel that you want to book prior to making your reservation.

TIP! A lot of the images on hotel brochures and websites are enhanced with Photoshop. This may mean that the pool is smaller than it looks, the neighborhood is not really so nice and so on.

Watch out for extra charges and hidden fees whenever you make hotel reservations from third-party booker. Many times the initial quote does not reflect all of the fees and charges.

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The hotel’s quality of hotels in a chain may be inconsistent. It is the best idea to check each hotel individually so that there will be no surprises upon arrival.

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As you can probably tell, it is important to do research before booking hotels. This is the best method for ensuring a great stay. This information should offer plenty of assistance when you are searching for a room. If you use these tips, you are sure to have a wonderful stay.

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