Sooner or later, everyone needs to crash in a hotel room. Oftentimes, people will regret the choice they make when they book a hotel because they failed to do some research. Luckily, this is a great place for you. The following article provides excellent tips on how to have the best possible hotel visit.
Prior to making reservations, research hotels on sites like TripAdvisor. These websites have reviews and comments from people who have recent experience with their stay. What others say will help you make a wise decision.
Prior to booking a hotel, refer to TripAdvisor and similar online travel review sites. These types of sites let you read about real customers’ experiences with each hotel. What others say will help you make a wise decision.
When you’re looking for the perfect hotel, there are a few different things you should always check for first. While price is obviously a factor, you may want to think about room size and amenities as well. Amenities, such as a gym, room service, or free Wi-Fi, might be of importance to you. Seek out hotels that offer amenities that appeal to you.
Use travel websites, like Expedia and Priceline to find great hotel deals. If you are a part of a loyalty program, make note of that. Additionally, there may be other price breaks for you through various organizations, like AAA or other exclusive clubs.
Find out the exact time for check-in and check-out. If you don’t check, the room may not be ready when you arrive. If you’re going to come to the hotel before you should be checking in, call them first to see if there’s anything they can do for you.
Think about using room service if you want to enjoy late-night dining without needing to leave your hotel room. Room service can be expensive, but the luxury of being able to lounge about in your room in your jammies can make it worthwhile.
To get the best prices on hotel rooms, start your trip planning weeks, or even longer in advance. The earlier you book, the better rate you should get. This can save you as much as 40 percent off of the cost of your hotel.
Part of trip planning is knowing what time check-in is at your hotel. Many people show up before check-in time only to find out their room isn’t ready. If you might be arriving before the check-in time, ask the hotel whether it’s okay to come.
Don’t make the mistake of thinking all hotels will accept pets. Call before you book so that you know for sure. Also, find out if there are any size or breed restrictions.
Most hotels are not pet-friendly. So call ahead and make sure you understand if there are extra fees or a limited number of rooms available. Get the term “pet-friendly” defined, as well. The hotel may not allow large dogs or certain types of pets.
There are some things you have to do before taking your pet on a trip. Check to see if the hotel actually permits pets. Pack a supply of plastic grocery bags with you – you will need to clean up any pet waste. Ask for a corner room so that your pets’ noise doesn’t bother anyone else.
Be sure and take care of three important things before bringing a pet on your trip to any hotel. Ascertain that your hotel is really pet friendly. For easy cleanup, make sure that you have brought along an adequate number of plastic bags. Finally, ask the hotel staff if you can have a room on the far end away from guests so that you don’t interfere with their visit.
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.
If you wish to include amenities such as massage while staying at a hotel, be sure to make your reservations in advance. Many of the top masseuses out there are booked far ahead of time.
Are you a AAA member? If so, hotels may provide you a discount. You may not have known that, but it’s true. You can save 5 percent or more motels and hotels in the US. This is a savings that can really add up over several nights.
Green Hotels
If you travel frequently, sign up for loyalty programs at your favorite hotels. They provide rewards to those who stay with them often. These loyalty programs allow you to earn free upgrades, late check outs and even free stays.
Do you care about your environment? If so, a “green” hotel may be for you. Luckily, many hotels are around these days for you to choose from. Many new hotels are certified as green hotels. Older hotels can’t always do this, but instead choose to adhere to certain green practices. Talk to your travel agent in order to find the best green hotels for your needs.
The price you pay at a hotel often depends on the time frame in which you reserve the room. The price is subject to the laws of supply and demand like any other product. When possible, you can often get a good price if you book a room at the very last minute. This can net you a great deal. Hotels would rather discount the price because an empty room does not earn them any money.
The price of a hotel room is often a mix of many factors. Rooms are typically priced according to availability. If at all possible, do not book your room more than one day in advance. This will get you a great price on your room. Empty rooms don’t earn a hotel any money, so they are willing to slash the price.
Make sure you know hotel transfer costs prior to booking a hotel room in order to avoid a large unexpected cost. Particularly if you are getting a discount, the fee associated with the transfer may be high. Getting this information ahead of time will maximize your savings.
Get an AAA membership for hotel perks when you travel. The discounts at many hotel chains and deals on car rentals can more than pay for the AAA membership fees. Also, if you require a car seat, the rental company may provide you with one if you are a member of AAA.
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. This allows you to get more points with each stay that you can convert into free rooms and other benefits on your next family vacation.
Avoid making long distance calls from the hotel room phone. Use the Internet, instead. Many hotels now offer Skype connections via Wi-Fi. You will be able to stay in touch with family and friends while you are away without the additional expense of costly phone calls.
Know whether or not smoking is allowed in your room. Some hotels offer smoking rooms. If that is the case, you should ask for one of those rooms. Some hotels will levy a large fine if they can determine that you smoked in a room where smoking was not allowed, so make sure you understand and follow the hotel’s smoking policy.
Learn about the smoking policies if you smoke. Hotels normally have rooms set aside for smokers. If this is the case, then you shouldn’t be shy when asking for this type of room. Some hotels fine guests if they find that they smoked in a designated non-smoking room. This means that you must be sure to obey the hotel’s smoking rules.
It may come as a shock to you, but most hotels don’t allow you 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. Before you can enjoy your room, hotels need to clean the room properly. If you do get to the hotel early, ask at the front desk if you can possibly check in early, but there is a chance you won’t be able to.
What is the policy on pets? If you dislike or are allergic to pets, you should avoid hotels allowing them. Hotel floors and linens can glean unpleasant odors from pets. Some hotels charge extra fees for pets, but some do not charge much. Some hotels use the paid fees to clean the hotel more thoroughly.
Ask for a roll away bed or crib when you are reserving your room, not when you arrive. Some hotels don’t provide these things, and the ones that do usually have a limited amount. On occasion, these services may require an additional charge. Let the hotel know what you need to avoid anything that you will turn in a bad surprise.
If needed, always ask about the availability of a crib or roll-away at the time you reserve the room. Some hotels don’t have these things, while others do have a few. Sometimes, there is an additional charge for these items. You should discuss this with the hotel agent prior to booking so that you do not have an unexpected charge to your bill.
If possible, don’t check out earlier than intended. Hotels often charge early departure fees. Booked hotel rooms are taken off the market, so if you leave early, the hotel loses money. That is why you are charged a fee.
Do not check out prior to your agreed upon departure date if you can avoid it. If you do, then you could be charged an extra departure fee for early checkout. When you book a hotel room, the hotel takes that room off the market; thus, if you depart early they will lose money. Therefore, they have to make up for the loss by charging an early departure fee.
It is possible to save money on travel by getting a package deal on your flight and hotel. Online sites allow for bundles which lead to great discounts. To get the most from this service, compare rates of several different hotels and airlines.
For hygienic purposes, you may want to avoid using the bedspread that the hotel provides. The blankets and sheets under the bedspread are typically washed between guests, however the top cover is not. This bedspread could be a source of germs. Just remove it from the bed.
You can find reasonable upgrades without paying an upgraded price. You might be able to do this by arriving on time. A lot of the times your room may not be ready yet so they’ll give you a deal on a different room that’s better for free.
Be aware of your options in case a hotel “walks” you. Sometimes hotels are going to overbook and then your room that you reserved won’t be there. This means that they will direct you to another hotel. Avoid having this happen if you can, but if you’re going to a different hotel, be sure that the deal is better than the place you were trying to get.
Some hotels rooms have better views than others. If there is not a price difference between rooms, opt for the one with the best view. These are the little things that make your trip more enjoyable without costing you any money. There is no harm in asking if a room with a better view is available.
There is no escaping the fact that everyone must stay at a hotel at some time. Without proper research, you may end up in a hotel you are not so pleased with. Using the information you found in this article, you’ll be able to score a great hotel for a great price.
Never let a hotel charge you the advertised rates. They call this the “rack rate,” which most travelers know not to pay. The hotel expects you to haggle. Give them a call and ask for a deal. Be assertive. Travel sites on the Internet may also be a great place to find great savings.