During a hotel stay, you don’t want to feel like you have been taken advantage of. A bad experience can spoil your time, regardless of the cause of the undesirable events. The article below can help you bypass some of the most common pitfalls with hotels so that your stay is a great one.
To get the very best prices for the hotels that you’d like to visit, use travel sites online like Orbitz and Expedia. If you are a member of a hotel loyalty program, make sure to indicate this when searching for rates. If you have a membership in any other organization, put that down as well.
Make use of the room safe to ensure the safety of your electronics when you are not in your room. You can use it to store your tablet and other expensive items to keep them secure.
When picking a hotel, there is a lot to think about. Price is one factor, however you may also need your hotel to be close to a particular destination. For example, you might want a room that is in walking distance to gym, or a hotel that has free Wi-Fi. You want to secure a room at a hotel that provides the things you desire.
Consider your organizational memberships. Many organizations provide hotel discounts for members. People often forget about these discounts, which can be 10% or more. This can help you to save some cash, especially if you’re going to be staying for a few nights. For a week of vacation time that adds up to an extra day!
When you get to your hotel room, look over the room before unpacking. Is it clean? Are the toilet, shower and sink functioning properly? Are all the towels you’ll need present in the room? If you spot any problems, make the front desk aware immediately so they can take care of it or move you to a room that meets your needs.
There are many different things to consider as you search for a hotel to stay in. While price is obviously a factor, you may want to think about room size and amenities as well. What about free breakfast, local calls, wifi or swimming pool? Choose a hotel that meets all of your needs.
Be aware in advance of the check-in time. If you don’t know you may end up waiting a long time. If you find you will be arriving early, call the hotel in advance and find out if you will be allowed in.
Look for deals online. Lots of times, when you book a room, they don’t tell you about online discounts. This is why you should look for discounts yourself. Look at Jetsetter, Enrovia and Hotels.com.
If you’re interested in the massage services of a hotel you intend to stay at, reserve your appointment ahead of time. Frequently, the most skilled massage specialists at the best hotels are reserved by name, so when you plan ahead, you can get the best.
Don’t assume your hotel is pet-friendly. Ask the hotel if pets are allowed, no matter what their site says. Also, speak to them about what they’re meaning by pet-friendly because they may not allow specific breeds or certain sizes of pets.
If you’re a member of the AAA, you should see what your hotel membership discount will be. You may not know that your membership to the auto club includes discounts on hotels. Membership in AARP, a union, an auto club or even being a police officer can get you a discount. These savings can really add up if you travel often.
If you want to take your pet along on a trip, take care of three tasks before you leave. Make sure it’s a pet-friendly hotel. Be sure to bring some bags with you so you can pick up your pet’s waste. You should also see if you can get a room near the end part of the hallway to make sure other guests don’t have to put up with pet noise.
If you like running and frequently stay in hotel rooms, be sure and pack up a GPS watch, along with your favorite running clothes. If you want to jog early in the morning, don your gear and then go for it. Running not only provides you with great exercise, but it also helps you better learn the city in which you are residing.
If you want a couples massage, book early. Often the best masseurs and masseuses at top resorts are booked by name, so if you do your planning early, you can make your experience sublime.
If you travel frequently, it is wise to enroll in hotel loyalty programs. They offer a variety of benefits to their members. You can score things like complimentary upgrades, later check-out options and even free nights once you accumulate enough loyalty program points.
Be sure to follow your fitness regimen while staying in a hotel by packing your workout clothes and any other equipment you may need. So, make sure you have your running gear and shoes and you will be set to jog anywhere. Even if you stick to city streets, you will gain a better perspective on your destination city before you leave.
If you are always staying at the same chain, find out about the programs they offer to frequent guests. Just like frequent flyer mile programs, these hotel programs offer you points for your stay. You can exchange these points for discounts and freebies at the hotel and its restaurant. You may also be able to use them on local amenities.
If you stay at the same chain of hotels often, look into their membership programs for frequent guests. Similar to frequent flyer programs, some hotels have programs that give point for each stay. As a result, you could have your next stay discounted or receive other benefits, like tickets to a show.
If you wish to get a lot out of a hotel stay, especially if you’re traveling for your business, get a membership program and join it like what the Marriott or Choice Hotels offers. When you stay at a hotel, you get points you can use later on.
The price you pay at a hotel often depends on the time frame in which you reserve the room. Rooms are priced based on availability. If you can, don’t make your reservation more than one day prior to your stay. You can often get the best price if you do it this way. Hotels don’t earn money on empty rooms, so they are often willing to reduce the price.
A membership in AAA can make booking a hotel easier when you travel. A membership with AAA not only provides you with hotel discounts but a guaranteed piece of mind when trying to rent a vehicle. You might even get a free car seat if you have kids.
To keep from having an unwanted major expense on your hotel bill, ask about the cost of hotel transfers before booking them. Many times, rooms seem to be a good deal, but there are hidden fees for this service. Asking these things before anything happens will allow you to save more.
Always avoid making long distance calls from your hotel room. Try using the Internet, instead. With a Wi-Fi connection, you can use Skype for your calls. This will help you converse with those back home without racking up a lofty bill.
For those frequent travelers, it may be better to build loyalty and perks by joining the membership club of your favorite hotel. By joining a membership program, you earn points during every visit. These points can add up to free items over time.
Call ahead of arrival to see if the pool is open to keep the family happy. Your kids and you will be very frustrated if the pool at your hotel is closed because of repairs when you arrive.
When you travel, go through AAA to find hotel accommodations easier.` A membership with AAA not only provides you with hotel discounts but a guaranteed piece of mind when trying to rent a vehicle. In addition, parents may enjoy the benefit of having free car seats provided.
If you want to inspect a hotel room for bed bugs, start with the bathroom. This is where you won’t find them. This is why you should keep your luggage in there while you go on a search for bedbugs. It’s also safer to the pets and kids you may have.
If you are planning on staying in a hotel room with your children, make sure you call the hotel in advance to ensure they provide a working pool or some other fun activities for your children to do. There is nothing worse than having to tell your excited kids they cannot swim.
Find out if the hotel you want is smoking or non-smoking. 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. Sometimes, smokers rent non-smoking rooms and smoke in them. To avoid cigarette odors entirely, opt for a non-smoking hotel.
When checking your hotel accommodations for bed bugs, begin in the bathroom. The bathroom is not a common place where bedbugs would be. It makes a safe place to keep your luggage when looking for bedbugs elsewhere in the room. It’s also a safe spot for kids and pets to sit for a bit too.
If you smoke, be sure you’re aware of what the hotel thinks of smoking where you’re staying. Certain hotels provide rooms that are specifically for people who smoke. If so, you should avail yourself of this option. Don’t smoke in a nonsmoking room, or you may be charged by the hotel for doing so.
It may come as a shock to you, but most hotels don’t allow you to check-in early. You need to plan appropriately to avoid waiting in the lobby all day. The hotel must clean each room prior to the next visitor taking it. If you do happen to arrive early, check with the desk to see if you can check in, but don’t expect that request to be honored.
Know your hotel’s policy on pets prior to booking with them. If you’re allergic to pets or fear them, then you may want to avoid hotels that allow pets. Rooms that allow pets may also have the odor of animals. This can be in the linens and carpet. Some hotels charge extra fees for pets, but some do not charge much. It might not cover deep cleaning.
If a crib or a rollaway bed is necessary for your stay, let your booking agent know. Some hotels don’t have them, and others have a limited amount. Also, these things can cost extra. Discuss your needs at the time of booking.
It is not always possible to check-in early. If you are going to arrive early, plan on doing something to fill your time. It is usually necessary for hotels to service your room prior to allowing you to check in. You can request an early check-in ahead of time, but it may cost more.
In order to make sure you avoid hotel stays that are distasteful, follow the advice that has been provided to you here. Now you know exactly what to look out for. You want to be able to relax and enjoy yourself at your hotel room.
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. In these situations, the hotel may try to book you at another hotel, or “walk” you. 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.