You may not realize it, but which hotel you choose to stay in can have a big impact on your vacation. Since it is so expensive, choosing the right hotel is a must. The following tips will ensure that the process is less of a headache for you.
Prior to making reservations, research hotels on sites like TripAdvisor. These sites will allow you to see previous guests’ experiences at the hotels you are considering. Factor former guests’ reviews into your final decision.
Prior to booking a hotel, refer to TripAdvisor and similar online travel review sites. This will give you valuable information about the recent experiences of people at each hotel. Find out what actual customers say about the hotel and it can help you avoid a costly mistake.
If you want a nice meal at night with your special someone, and you are too comfortable in your room to go out, order some food through room service. While it may cost more, it is more convenient to remain in your room while satisfying your hunger.
Find great prices at online travel sites like Orbitz and Expedia. Input your loyalty info when you are looking for rates online. You can also get additional discounts from any organization you are apart of, such as the AAA or the AARP.
Use your hotel room’s safe to keep your valuables secure. You should put any expensive items in the hotel safe.
When leaving your hotel room, keep any electronics you have secure by putting them in the room’s safe. You can put your iPad, GPS watch, and other small, costly items into the safe, and then head out for the day with peace of mind about their security.
If you belong to any organizations, check with them for travel deals. Some of them may provide discounts on hotel stays. These discounts are often forgotten about, and they can provide significant savings. This can result in significant savings, especially for longer stays. This can rack up a free night over the entire course of a whole week.
See if your organizational memberships offer any benefits. Many of them offer hotel discounts to members. People often forget that they are eligible for these discounts, which may be for 10 percent or more off of your stay. This can lead to a great amount of money saved, especially for those spending multiple nights at the hotel. That’s almost an extra free night throughout an entire week.
You can use hotel search tools on the Internet. You can use such websites to discover great deals with ease and speed. Not only will they show the best deals, but they’ll also include extra information about the rooms, floor plans, and even reviews from other customers. On top of that, they can help you determine the cheapest destinations.
Always see if you can find deals online when you’re thinking of getting a hotel room. Most of the time, people you speak with over the phone won’t mention any discounts possibly available to you. It is your responsibility to scour the Internet for these savings. Look at Jetsetter, RueLaLaTravel or similar websites for discounts.
Plan your trip as far in advance as possible. There are quite a few hotels that will reward booking your room a few months in advance with nice discounts. You might even be able to save up to 50 percent off at some very exclusive hotels.
Although many hotels have certain rooms that allow pets, never assume your hotel will without researching ahead of time. Call the hotel in advance to ensure the hotel is pet friendly. Find out what their rules on pets are also, as they may not let large pets or certain breeds stay with them.
Do not make the assumption that your pets are welcome at all hotels. Even if a web listing says a hotel is pet friendly, call the hotel to verify. Also ask exactly what they mean by pet-friendly, as there might be restrictions on certain breeds and sizes of pet that they allow on their premises.
If you often frequent the same hotel chains, look into their frequent stay membership programs. Like the programs for frequent flyer, these programs the hotel offer give you points whenever you stay with them. These points can be traded in for restaurant discounts, tickets to shows, free nights at the hotel, and much more.
It may be wise to look into loyalty programs that your favorite hotels offer. They offer rewards to guests who book the same hotel chain frequently. It is possible to earn perks such as free stays, extended check out times and other upgrades.
If you are a frequent business traveler, establishments like Marriott and Choice Hotels offer attractive membership programs. You will build up points with that hotel for added benefits. It works a lot like frequent flier miles do for airlines.
Sign up for frequent guest programs at hotels. They provide you with points for every stay. Over time, these points can really add up, allowing you to enjoy numerous upgrades, spa visits, restaurant discounts, and even free nights at the hotel.
Always avoid making long distance calls from your hotel room. Make use of the Internet, instead. Some hotels now provide Skype via Wi-Fi. Use these to keep up with loved ones or colleagues back home from the comfort of your hotel room instead of racking up costly phone calls from the nightstand.
You may wish to consider a “green” vacation if the environment is one of your concerns. Fortunately, there are many green hotels to choose from today. Some of the newer hotels are certified green. Eco-friendly strategies are also now commonly adopted by many older hotels. Ask around for hotels that are friendly to the environment.
Call the hotel before you arrive to make sure the swimming pool is in working order. Nothing is more frustrating than to have kids nagging you about swimming, only to find that the pool is closed.
How much you’re going to pay for your hotel room will depend on when your room is booked. The price of a hotel room varies with availability. If at all possible, do not book your room more than one day in advance. This will get you the very best rate on your hotel room. Hotels don’t earn money on empty rooms, so they are often willing to reduce the price.
If you want to inspect a hotel room for bed bugs, start with the bathroom. This is where you won’t find them. 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.
To get the most out of your hotel stays, particularly if you travel a great deal for business, join a membership program such as that offered by Choice Hotels or Marriott. When you stay at a hotel, you get points you can use later on.
Remember, that early check-ins are a rarity in most hotels. Make sure you plan around your check-in time, or you will be forced to sit in a lobby to wait for your room. The hotel must clean each room prior to the next visitor taking it. If you arrive earlier than your check-in time, you can always ask the front desk and see if they can let you in.
You can get great hotel discounts by becoming a member of AAA. Hotel and rental car discounts are available to AAA members. People that have young kids will get a car seat for free in a lot of different places.
If you will be in need of a roll-away bed or a crib, be sure to let the hotel management know in advance. Some hotels do not have these items, and most have limited quantities. Additionally, there may be an extra fee for these items. Talk about these when reserving your room so you aren’t hit with unexpected expenses.
When traveling with children, check with the hotel ahead of time to ascertain that the pool is usable. Nothing is more frustrating than to have kids nagging you about swimming, only to find that the pool is closed.
Don’t use the hotel bedspread if you can avoid it. The bedspread usually isn’t washed like the linens are. It may be a carrier of bacteria and germs. Remove the blanket and sleep in peace.
Start looking in the bathroom when checking for bed bugs in a hotel. This room is usually free from bugs. This is the best place to put your bags while you look around. It is a good place for pets or children to wait for a couple minutes as well.
Be aware of your options in case a hotel “walks” you. Hotels will overbook, leaving you without a room. In such cases, the hotel “walks” you, or sends you to another hotel. This should only be a last resort and the other accommodations should be just as good or better and your trip there should be paid for as well.
Find out if the hotel you want is smoking or non-smoking. If you are not a smoker, you might want to avoid hotels with smoking rooms. You may rent a non-smoking room, however, the smoke from the smoking rooms can still be present in the air and make your clothes smell like it. Smokers also sometimes smoke in rooms that you are not supposed to smoke in. If you don’t want to smell like cigarettes after leaving your hotel room, you might want to look for a non-smoking hotel.
These tips should help you understand that preparation is one key to getting the best room for your situation. It is important to know when to make your reservations and what qualities to seek. Keep these tips in mind to find the perfect hotel.
Be sure you know what the hotel smoking policy is if you smoke cigarettes. Most hotels have designated smoking rooms. If that is the case, you should ask for one of those rooms. You may be charged hefty fees if there is evidence that you have smoked in a that is designated as non-smoking.
