If you are going to be traveling, you will need to do some things before you leave. Packing your luggage and purchasing plane tickets are a must. However, you also need to make a hotel reservation. If you want some good ideas on hotel reservations, continue reading this article.
Use travel websites to find the most competitive prices for hotel chains online. If you have a hotel loyalty program your a part of, be sure you enter this information while looking through rates. Also, as an added bonus, you may get discounts from other companies such as AAA or AARP.
Before you choose a hotel and make reservations, check online review sites, such as TripAdvisor. These provide you with first-hand information about people’s recent experiences at each hotel. What former guests have to say with regards to a hotel being considered can ensure you make an informed decision.
If you are hungry when you get to your hotel and do not want to leave, consider ordering room service. Although you’ll probably pay more, it is worth being able to comfortably dine in the room while in pajamas.
Put your electronics into the room’s safe. Place all electronics there along with important documents, such as your passport or plane tickets.
Take advantage of online hotel searching tools. They allow you to quickly locate great discounts. They can also allow you to look at the average rates of a hotel. They also can help with figuring out when the ideal time to go on vacation is and what you can do once you are there.
Look at organizations you’re part of for discounts. Sometimes you can get discounted hotel prices through these organizations. The discounts could be 10% or even higher! That can save a lot of money, especially if you are staying for multiple nights. For a week of vacation time that adds up to an extra day!
Check the Internet for the best deals before you book a hotel room during your next trip. Many times, the person you book your room with will not tell you that you can get a discount online. It is your responsibility to find any available discounts. Look to websites like RueLaLaTravel or Jetsetter for more help.
There are several things you should consider when booking a hotel. You must consider price of course, and you might want to be close to a specific location within the city you’re staying. Amenities that help you choose a hotel are free breakfast, free Wi-Fi, exercise room, pool, and a restaurant on the premises. Ensure the hotel you are planning on staying at has the amenities you desire.
Be aware of when you can check into your room. If you don’t know when you can check in, you may find your room is not ready when you arrive at your hotel. If you will be arriving early, call and ask if this is okay.
Know your check-in time in advance. Some people end up waiting for their room to be available because they forget to check this critical detail. If you might arrive prior to check-in time, try calling the hotel and seeing if the room is available.
You can get better deals on hotel rooms if you book several weeks or months ahead. A lot of places will give you a discount if you’re going to book about a month or so in advance. Even high end hotels can offer you a substantial savings this way.
Not every hotel allows pets. Call ahead to their service desk and make sure, even if their website listing says they are. Also, find out if there are any size or breed restrictions.
Never assume that all hotels are pet-friendly. You should call ahead to double check, even if it was stated on the website that this is a pet friendly hotel. Make sure they specify what pet-friendly means since there may be certain restrictions on pet sizes and breeds that are allowed on the property.
If you belong to the AAA, see what kinds of discounts the hotel offers. You may not know that your membership to the auto club includes discounts on hotels. You can save 5 percent or more motels and hotels in the US. These savings really add up.
If you need to travel with your pet, you need to make three advance preparations. Make sure it’s a pet-friendly hotel. Pack a supply of plastic grocery bags with you – you will need to clean up any pet waste. When you go to make the hotel reservation, see if there is room on the end that would prevent the other guests from hearing a noisy pet.
Maximize your hotel stays with membership programs like the ones that Marriott or Choice Hotels offer. When you do, you get points every time you stay at a hotel.
If you want a nice massage for you and your loved one, book that as early as possible. Many of the top masseuses out there are booked far ahead of time.
Distance Calls
If you’re a member of the AAA, you should see what your hotel membership discount will be. Are you aware that the auto club you belong to may offer you excellent hotel discounts? You could save 5% or even 10% on some rooms. It’s a savings that really adds up over the nights.
Avoid making long distance calls from the hotel room phone. Use your cell phone or the Internet. Hotels usually have Wi-Fi, so you can call using Skype. You can stay connected with people back home by using this instead of making expensive long distance calls from your hotel phone.
If you go out to travel quite a bit, it’s good to get signed up for a hotel’s loyalty program. They provide rewards to those who stay with them often. You might receive an upgrade at no cost or be allowed to check out later than others with your points.
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. Showing up at your hotel and finding out the pool isn’t in working order can ruin an otherwise great trip.
Think about going on a “green” vacation. Fortunately, many green hotels exist nowadays. Newer hotels are often certified green and designed and built using green standards. Some older hotels simply choose a variety of eco-friendly practices to be environmentally aware. Talk to a travel agent if you want to find hotels that are eco-friendly.
Check in the bathroom first for bed bugs. You probably won’t find any bedbugs in the bathroom. You can leave your bags there while you investigate the remainder of the room for bedbugs. It is usually a convenient place for young children to sit for a moment too.
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. Be sure and inquire about this beforehand so that you get your savings.
Inquire if the hotel is a non-smoking hotel. If you’re someone who doesn’t like cigarette smoke, you may want to find a different hotel. Nonetheless, if there are smokers in the hotel, you may have problems with odors. Even if a room is designated as nonsmoking, sometimes people smoke in there anyway. Think about staying at a hotel that is totally nonsmoking if you don’t want to stink when you check out.
Maximize your hotel stays with membership programs like the ones that Marriott or Choice Hotels offer. These programs allow you to collect points that can be applied toward further travels.
If you want to have a successful trip, you must have enjoyable accommodations. Whether you are going on a family vacation with the kids, or traveling on business, the right hotel can make your trip more successful. Next time you make a hotel reservations, don’t forget all the tips you’ve just read.
Sign up as an AAA member to make hotel arrangements easier when you are traveling. AAA members get good hotel discounts and can also find good car rental rates much more easily. Parents with young children will appreciate the complimentary car set offered in some locations.
