Practically everyone has a story to tell about a bad hotel experience. It can cost a lot and that’s a mistake you shouldn’t make more than once. So, read this article to learn how you can get the best value on the perfect hotel for you.
Check online reviews before booking a room. These types of sites let you read about real customers’ experiences with each hotel. Reading other people’s reviews of the hotels you’re considering can really help you decide which one to choose.
Prior to booking a hotel, refer to TripAdvisor and similar online travel review sites. This gives you first-hand accounts of people’s experiences in each hotel. The information provided by patrons of the hotel will help you make a good choice of where to stay.
Room service is great for late meals. Although you’ll probably pay more, it is worth being able to comfortably dine in the room while in pajamas.
Use websites like Orbitz and Expedia for great prices. If you are a member of a loyalty program, use that info when checking rates. You can also get additional discounts from any organization you are apart of, such as the AAA or the AARP.
There are several things you should consider when booking a hotel. Price is one consideration, but you may also want a hotel that is close to a certain destination. What about free breakfast, local calls, wifi or swimming pool? Choose an establishment that offers the amenities you desire.
There are several things you should consider when booking a hotel. Price is one thing you should consider, but when you get a hotel you may want it near a certain place. Other amenities that people look for are a gym, pool, free local phone calls, free Wi-Fi, and free breakfast. Seek out hotels that offer amenities that appeal to you.
Use hotel search tools online. They allow you to quickly locate great discounts. They display the average rates of hotels so that you can see if the deal you are getting is good. 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.
Be sure you inspect the room you are given at check in before you start unpacking. Is it without mildew and mold? Does your shower, sink, and toilet work in the right way? Do you have all the towels and linens you need? If you notice any deficiencies in your room, immediately call the front desk so you can resolve these issues, or if the problems are too severe, move you to another room.
Search for hotel deals online. In a lot of cases, the person booking your room isn’t going to tell you about online discounts. So, it’s up personally to you to go searching for such discounts. Check out websites like SniqueAway, Jetsetter, or RueLaLaTravel.
Find out the exact time for check-in and check-out. 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 before check-in, call the hotel in advance and see if you can check-in early.
Check out your room ahead of unpacking. Is it tidy and sanitary? Check the shower, toilet and sink to ensure they work properly. Do you have the blankets, pillows and towels you need? Any problems that you notice should be reported to front desk staff right away. That way, they can be rectified or you can change rooms.
Think about these three things if you plan to bring a pet with you during your hotel stay. Be sure that this hotel will be friendly to 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.
If you want to get a low rate at your hotel, start planning early for your vacation. Most hotels have serious discounts for early booking customers. Even high end hotels can offer you a substantial savings this way.
If you are a daily runner, make sure you pack exercise clothes and a GPS watch. Try enjoying an early jog at your new destination. This can be a great way to stay in shape while seeing some of the local scenery. Even if you stick to city streets, you will gain a better perspective on your destination city before you leave.
If you and a loved one are wanting to go to a hotel and get massages, it is important that you book the appointment way in advance. Most of the best masseurs will be reserved by name ahead of time. You’ve got to get in your reservation early to get the best masseur or masseuses.
If you are someone who travels a lot, signing up for any hotel loyalty programs is probably a good idea. They provide benefits to anyone who stays at a hotel chain frequently. There are many rewards given when you accumulate loyalty points such as free stays, free upgrades and later than usual check out times.
If you have a AAA membership, it may qualify you for a hotel discount. Your membership in this auto club has just such a discount available to you. You could save 5% or even 10% on some rooms. The savings can really add up nightly.
Do you care about your environment? If so, a “green” hotel may be for you. Luckily, there are a lot of green hotels out there in this day and age. Some of the newer hotels are certified green. Also, older hotels often make several changes to become eco-friendly. Speak with a travel agent to see if they can help you pick out hotels that care about the environment.
Do you care about your environment? If so, a “green” hotel may be for you. Luckily, you can choose from quite a few green hotels these days. Some new hotels are built to green standards and are certified green. Older hotels can go green by making environmentally friendly choices in energy use. Ask around for hotels that are friendly to the environment.
How much you pay for a hotel room depends on when you book your room. Rooms are typically priced according to availability. Try booking your hotel room within 24 hours of your stay. This can get you a seriously discounted rate. Empty rooms don’t earn a hotel any money, so they are willing to slash the price.
If you must make a hotel transfer, find out about the fees. A transfer can sometimes come with a substantial hidden cost. Asking about this ahead of time helps you maximize your savings.
You should always find out how much hotel transfers will cost before you book a room. 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. Inquire before you book, so you aren’t hit with an unexpected price increase.
If you want to save money, and you stay at the same place a lot, consider signing up for the hotel’s version of a frequent guest program. When you do that, you accumulate points for every stay, and that can add up to free nights or vacation discounts.
Sign up as an AAA member to make hotel arrangements easier when you are traveling. AAA members can receive great hotel discounts as well as locate a rental car much more easily. In addition, free car seats are usually provided, which parents are certain to enjoy.
Try to avoid long distance calling in hotel rooms. You can use the Internet to make these types of calls. Some hotels offer free Wi-Fi, so you can use 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 wish to see if a hotel room has bed bugs, check out the bathroom. Bedbugs are rarely seen in this room. That makes the bathroom the safest place to keep the luggage while you look through the remainder of the accommodations. If you have pets or children with you, ask them to wait in the bathroom too.
Is your room non-smoking or not? If you don’t smoke, you may wish to avoid those that have smoking rooms. You could still get a non-smoking room, but smoke can flow through the air and settle on your clothes. You may find that a smoker has been in your non-smoking room before you and ignored the rules. To be sure you don’t absorb cigarette smoke, think about staying at a nonsmoking hotel.
Figure out if you want a hotel you can or cannot smoke in. If you are a non-smoker, you will enjoy a non-smoking room more. The smoke can settle into your clothing and luggage. Smokers often don’t care that their room is non-smoking, too. If you want to avoid smelling like cigarettes when you leave, you may wish to consider a non-smoking hotel.
Always find out the pet policy at any hotel you stay at. If you are afraid of pets or have allergies to them, you should probably avoid booking at pet friendly hotels. These hotels may also have an odor due to the smells sinking in the floor and linens. 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 might be too low to cover the extra cleaning costs.
Find out what the policy on pets is. If you’re allergic to pets or fear them, then you may want to avoid hotels that allow pets. These hotels sometimes have odors because the carpet and linens have absorbed them. 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 charged may not be adequate to cover the extra cleaning needed to completely remove the odors.
It’s not often possible to check in to a hotel room early. Plan your trip right or you might end up waiting in a hotel lobby. Before you can enjoy your room, hotels need to clean the room properly. If you do arrive before the normal check-in, you can ask if it’s possible to do so early, but this should not be expected.
It is not always possible to check-in early. Be sure to plan your arrival with that in mind, or you may be sitting in the lobby area for some time. It is usually necessary for hotels to service your room prior to allowing you to check in. If you are early, don’t expect miracles.
Don’t check out early, if possible. Hotels often charge early departure fees. The room is not marketed by the hotel and you will have to make up that lost revenue. You may end paying for a day you don’t use the room. So make sure that you know the hotel’s policy on checking out a day or two early – it might cost you.
Booking a bad hotel is an experience we all want to avoid. Big discounts can’t beat a poor experience. Either way, your trip could be ruined. Use the information here to help you plan your next trip and find a good hotel. You can get some great discounts to make your experience even better.
When your hotel attempts to “walk” you, don’t stand for it! There may be times when a hotel overbooks, leaving with no room. In this case the hotel has to send you to a different 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.