Have you ever reserved a hotel room, only to find that it was shabby and run-down? Staying at a lousy hotel can destroy your vacation. Still, you’re not exactly wanting to pay tons of money for a better room. Keep reading to learn how you can find a decent hotel at a good price.
Before booking your hotel room, look to online review sites for in depth reviews from recent travelers. These offer feedback from those who have recently stayed at the hotel you are considering booking. This can help you choose which hotel to stay at.
Be sure to read online review websites prior to booking a hotel. Websites like TripAdvisor will give you some first-hand accounts of hotel experience from actual customers. What people say about a hotel can help you figure out where you should be staying.
Check in on the organizations you belong to. Some organizations offer discounts on hotels to their members. It is easy to forget about the discounts. When you’re staying for more than one night, this can add up to a decent savings. If you are staying for a week, you can pay for a whole night’s lodging with these discounts.
Make use of the room safe to ensure the safety of your electronics when you are not in your room. Putting your valuable jewelry and electronic items in the hotel safe allows you to feel secure as you enjoy your vacation.
Never book a hotel room before seeking out online deals. Most of the time, people you speak with over the phone won’t mention any discounts possibly available to you. This leaves the job of finding discounts entirely up to you. Check websites like Hotwire.com, Kayak.com and Priceline.com for great discounts.
If you plan on taking a family pet with you to a hotel reservation, do three things in advance. Find out if the hotel will allow pets first. Pack a supply of plastic grocery bags with you – you will need to clean up any pet waste. When you make your reservation, request accommodations near the very end of the floor in order to not disturb other guests.
When you arrive at your hotel, thoroughly check your room previous to unpacking. It should be free of any mildew or mold. Does the plumbing work right? Does your room feature the linens and towels you require? If you see that there are problems with your room, let the people at the front desk know right away so they can get things taken care of. Or, they can move you to another room.
If you’re interested in the massage services of a hotel you intend to stay at, reserve your appointment ahead of time. Usually, the best massage therapists are booked well in advance at top resorts. If you plan early, you will have the best experience possible.
Know when you are able to check in and get your room. Some people forget to find out what time they are allowed in their room; they show up at the hotel only to find their room is not yet ready. If you anticipate arriving before check-in time, make a call to the hotel and inquire if you can arrive early.
If you want to keep up your running regimen on the road, make sure that your packing list includes lots of running clothes and a GPS watch. This makes it easy for you to wake in the morning and get in a run. Even if you’re running down the city streets of roads, it will give you a new perspective of the city that you’re visiting.
Plan your trip in advance for the best rates. Quite a few locations will give discounts if you choose to book a room a month or more in advance. Some of the most popular hotel chains can end up giving you up to 50 percent in savings.
If you travel a lot, you should consider joining hotel loyalty programs. They offer perks to folks who frequent their hotel. The rewards can include free room upgrades, free meals and movie or show tickets tickets. The points can add up.
Not every hotel allows pets. Be sure to call in advance and find out about their policies, regardless of website info. Be certain you understand all rules pertaining to pets. Some hotels only allow certain types, sizes and breeds.
What you will be charged for a room, depends on when it’s booked. Hotels price their rooms based on how many rooms are available. Try to book a specific room at least 24 hours ahead of time, but it’s even better if you book weeks ahead of schedule. This is the best way to get the best prices. Hotels don’t like to have vacancies so they often provide better prices.
Be sure and take care of three important things before bringing a pet on your trip to any hotel. Check to see if the hotel actually permits pets. Take some bags to clean after your pet. When you make your reservation, request accommodations near the very end of the floor in order to not disturb other guests.
In order to avoid any surprise charges, inquire about hotel transfers prior to booking. It is not uncommon to find that greatly discounted bookings may have a hidden cost for the transfer. Ask the hotel representative ahead of time to make sure you get the most savings.
If you are an AAA member, check into your membership hotel discount. You would be surprised where hidden discounts may be lurking. You can save more than five percent on hotels all over the country. The more nights you stay, the more you will save.
Make sure that your family enjoys their stay by calling ahead to ensure the hotel’s swimming pool is working, It can be extremely frustrating if you arrive at your hotel only to find out the pool is shut down for maintenance.
If you travel a lot, you should consider joining hotel loyalty programs. They offer rewards to guests who book the same hotel chain frequently. Rewards can include free hotel stays, upgrades and late check-out times if you save up enough points.
Moking Rooms
If you often stay at a certain type of hotel, ask about the “frequent stay” program. These programs give you points every time you stay there. These points can be used to earn free nights, discounts and 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. However, even with non-smoking rooms, there’s no telling if the guy next door is smoking. Sometimes, smokers rent non-smoking rooms because that is all that is available, and then they smoke in them anyway. Choose a non-smoking hotel to a smoke smell on your clothes.
The timing for your booking of a hotel room has much to do with what you pay. Rooms are often priced in accordance with availability. If you can, make your reservation no earlier than 24 hours before you arrive. This will net you the best price when it comes to hotel rooms. Hotels don’t like to have vacancies so they often provide better prices.
Do you smoke? If so, it is important that you are aware of a hotel’s smoking policy in advance. Many have rooms set aside for people who smoke. If you smoke, you should make a specific reservation for this type of room. If you smoke in a room designated as non-smoking, a big penalty can come along with it.
Be sure to avoid hotel transfer fees by asking about them in advance. Hotel transfer costs can be extremely large, especially in hotels that appear to offer an incredible deal on their room rates. Ask about this beforehand to save more.
Now that you have the right advice, you should be able to figure out how to find an exceptional hotel. Finding deals is easy when you have the right information. Keep this information in mind when booking and staying at a hotel.
When you travel, go through AAA to find hotel accommodations easier.` AAA members get good hotel discounts and can also find good car rental rates much more easily. Those who have small children will be pleased to find car seats available for free.