So many trips are ruined by questionable hotels. Having a successful vacation requires that your accommodations fit the bill too. You want a hotel that offers great service, a comfortable room at a price that fits into your budget. The below article contains helpful advice on how to pick the best hotel room.
Find great hotel room prices by checking out travel websites like Orbitz and Expedia. If you are in a hotel loyalty program, put your information in. You may also be eligible for deals that are offered to members of certain organizations, like AAA or AARP.
Before you pick out your hotel you’re going to reserve a spot at, check out review sites online like TripAdvisor. These will give you some information from people that have stayed at that certain hotel. Reading other people’s reviews of the hotels you’re considering can really help you decide which one to choose.
Take a look into organizations you are part of. Do they offer hotel discounts? It is easy to forget about the discounts. On a multiple night stay, these savings can really add up. This can mean a lot of savings over a full week stay.
Use travel websites to find the most competitive prices for hotel chains online. If you are a member of a loyalty program, use that info when checking rates. You may also be eligible for other discounts through any memberships you have with organizations such as AAA and AARP.
A number of factors all need consideration in your hotel reservation process. Price is one thing you should consider, but when you get a hotel you may want it near a certain place. Amenities such as complimentary WiFi, free local calls, complimentary breakfast, a gym and pool and a convenient restaurant are also important considerations. Shop around for a hotel that has the features that are most important to you.
When leaving your hotel room, keep any electronics you have secure by putting them in the room’s safe. Place all electronics there along with important documents, such as your passport or plane tickets.
Be aware of when you can check into your room. People sometimes forget when they will be let into their rooms, showing up early only to learn that their room isn’t ready yet. If you can’t help your arrival time being early, you can ask for an early check-in but it might cost a bit extra.
There are things to think about when choosing a hotel. Price is one consideration, but you may also want a hotel that is close to a certain destination. Other amenities, such as a swimming pool, an onsite restaurant and free continental breakfast are important to travelers. Choose an establishment that offers the amenities you desire.
Don’t think that all hotels will be pet friendly. Put a call into the front desk just to be sure, no matter what it says on their website. Ask about their pet policy. Many hotels have restrictions on the breed and size of pet allowed on the premises.
Always check for online deals prior to booking your hotel room. Many times, the reservation specialist won’t tell you of discounts when you call to book your room. That’s why doing a bit of research pays off, so you are aware of discounts and specials. There are many travel websites that offer discounts.
If you belong to the AAA, see what kinds of discounts the hotel offers. You might be surprised to learn that your membership to the auto club also includes discounts on hotels. You can save more than five percent on hotels all over the country. These savings can really add up if you travel often.
Make sure that you know the check-in time for the hotel that you book. Many people show up before check-in time only to find out their room isn’t ready. If you anticipate arriving early, check with the hotel to find out if your room will be ready.
If you are concerned about the environment, you may want to take a “green” vacation. The great thing is there are plenty of green hotels you can select from. Some newer hotels have been built green and are certified green. Also, older hotels often make several changes to become eco-friendly. Your travel agent can help to identify the environmentally friendly hotels.
If you want to get a low rate at your hotel, start planning early for your vacation. A lot of places will give you a discount if you’re going to book about a month or so in advance. You can expect savings up to fifty percent if you book months in advance.
Make sure you know hotel transfer costs prior to booking a hotel room in order to avoid a large unexpected cost. It is not uncommon to find that greatly discounted bookings may have a hidden cost for the transfer. You can increase the amount you save by simply finding this information out in advance.
Do not assume that each hotel welcomes pets. Call ahead to their service desk and make sure, even if their website listing says they are. Get the term “pet-friendly” defined, as well. The hotel may not allow large dogs or certain types of pets.
Join a membership program if you travel frequently. Then you can accrue points, get extra perks, and save money.
There are three different things you should do in advance if you’re going to be traveling with a pet. First, you’ll need to find out if a hotel is even pet-friendly. Be sure to have plenty of plastic bags on hand to make pet cleanup easy. Ask for a corner room so that your pets’ noise doesn’t bother anyone else.
Call the hotel before you arrive to make sure the swimming pool is in working order. If you arrive at your hotel and the pool is closed, your kids will be very disappointed.
One of the best bonuses of a AAA membership is great discounts on booking a hotel. It might be surprising to learn that some auto club memberships include hotel discounts. You can save upwards of 5% on your hotel stays. These savings can really add up if you travel often.
The bathroom is the first place to go when checking for bed bugs in your hotel room. This is the place least likely to have bedbugs. You can leave your bags there while you investigate the remainder of the room for bedbugs. It’s safe for pets and kids too.
Do you travel on a periodic basis and use the same hotel chain? If so, check out the loyalty programs provided by that hotel. They offer perks to folks who frequent their hotel. These programs can assure you niceties such as the best prices, room upgrades, and special perks such as free meals or late checkouts.
Determine what the policy on smoking is if you smoke. Some hotels offer smoking rooms. So be sure to request one of these rooms. Some hotels charge large penalties if they find that smoking occured in a room not designated for it, so make sure you follow the hotel’s smoking rules.
How much your hotel room will cost depends largely on the time you book. Availability sets pricing. If possible, don’t make your reservation more than a day in advance. A late booking when the hotel is slow often results in a bargain. This is because the hotel will want to book rooms that are currently empty.
It may come as a shock to you, but most hotels don’t allow you to check-in early. So, you may have to sit for a while in the lobby or find a way to occupy yourself until checking in if you are going to be arriving early. Before you can enjoy your room, hotels need to clean the room properly. If you can’t avoid being early, ask the front desk to make an exception, but be prepared if they can’t accommodate you.
If you smoke, be aware of the hotel policy with regard to smoking. Some have rooms for smokers. If they do, ask for this type of room. Some hotels charge large penalties if they find that smoking occured in a room not designated for it, so make sure you follow the hotel’s smoking rules.
Do not check out prior to your agreed upon departure date if you can avoid it. 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. To earn back this money they will lose, they charge you an additional departure fee.
If you are concerned about germs, don’t use the hotel bedspread. The bedspread isn’t washed often, while the sheets are. This means you might find that the bedspread is carrying germs and bacteria. Remove the comforter from the bed.
For the sake of hygiene, avoid the bedspread provided by the hotel. Although the blankets and sheets are cleaned when guests check out, sometimes the bedspread on top will not be. It can carry a lot of germs. Just remove this covering from the bed to have peace of mind.
Know what the industry term “walk” means when booking a room. Hotels routinely overbook, which means that you could find that there is no room available for you when you arrive at the hotel. This means that they will direct you to another hotel. This is inconvenient, and try to avoid it if possible. If you must go elsewhere, make sure transportation is paid and you get a better room than you originally booked.
Be aware of your options in case a hotel “walks” you. Sometimes hotels are going to overbook and then your room that you reserved won’t be there. The hotel will then send or “walk” you to another hotel. 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.
Want a free upgrade? To do this, arrive at the hotel when you are supposed to check in. Sometimes, your room is not yet clean, which means they offer an upgraded room for free.
Be sure you don’t take off with any items from your hotel room. If you do take any items, the housekeeping staff is sure to notice, and you may receive a bill from the hotel. If you actually like the hotel’s stuff, ask if there is a way to purchase the items.
If it becomes necessary to book a hotel from the road, check rest areas, tourist centers and gas stations to find tourist books with maps of hotel locations, prices and discount offers. This allows you to call the hotel to book a room, instead of driving from one to another in search of a good deal.
Bundle your flight and your accommodations for greater savings. Online sites allow for bundles which lead to great discounts. Make sure you do your research, though, to ensure you are getting a good deal.
Tipping when appropriate will make your hotel stay more pleasant. An example would be room service because it has the tip on the bill. However, you’ll find that maids don’t get extra so you may want to tip them. When you tip, people will like you more at the hotel and you’ll get their respect too.
To get the best hotel rate, do not book at the height of the tourist season. Usually, hotels charge their highest rates during these seasons. Try booking a room when it’s harder for hotels to fill rooms, like during the off-season. You will have a better chance in getting a good rate.
It is possible to find excellent accommodations at a reasonable price with just a little common sense. This article showed you some great ways to do that. Your dream reservation doesn’t have to prove the priciest one. Keep these tips in mind, and have fun planning!
If you need to book a room while driving, check rest areas, gas stations and tourist centers for complimentary tourists books which contain hotel prices, maps and great discounts. You can then call and book a room, rather than searching endlessly for places to stay.