Most everyone will find themselves needing to stay in a hotel from time to time. Many people are disappointed with their hotel chain because they didn’t properly research it beforehand. You have come to the right article. The tips will help you enjoy your next stay a great one!
Get room service if you don’t want to leave. Room service can be expensive, but the luxury of being able to lounge about in your room in your jammies can make it worthwhile.
Check for online reviews before booking a room. This will give you first-hand accounts of people’s experiences in each hotel. What former guests have to say about their experiences at the hotels you’re thinking of booking can ensure you in coming to the right decision.
Double-check your organizational memberships. Some organizations will receive discounts for different reasons from different hotels. It is easy to forget about the discounts. If your stay will be for multiple nights, these discounts can save you lots of money. That can give you close to a completely free night when it adds up.
You should put any expensive items to keep them secure.
Know the hotel’s check-in time. Some people end up waiting for their room to be available because they forget to check this critical detail. If you will be arriving early, call and ask if this is okay.
There are things you should consider when choosing a hotel. Amenities like a swimming pool, free local calls, complimentary breakfast, and other amenities may be things that you prefer. Try locating a tip that offers as many of your desired amenities as possible.
In order to save money on hotel stays, book far in advance. Many hotels offer the best discounts if you book a few months in advance. You might only pay half price for premium hotels.
Take advantage of online when searching tools. These websites will help you find good deals.
If you are traveling with a pet, it is best to find a pet friendly hotel ahead of time. Call the hotel to verify, even if it says so on the website. Also, speak to them about what they’re meaning by pet-friendly because they may not allow specific breeds or certain sizes of pets.
Check your hotel room ahead of unpacking. Is your room clean and free from mildew free? Are all the towels in the room? If any issues are immediately prevalent, report it immediatlely to have it fixed as soon as possible.
If you need to have a pet stay with you in your hotel room, do a few things ahead of time. Find out if the hotel allows pets. In addition, take along some plastic bags to pick up your pet’s mess. Ask for a corner room since this can reduce the number of guests disturbed by a noisy pet.
Know the check-in time. Some people neglect asking what the check-in time is and get to the hotel when their room to be available because they forget to check this critical detail.Call and ask if it is alright for you to arrive before check-in.
If you want to book a good couples massage, you should not wait until the last minute. 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.
Don’t make the assumption that all hotels will be pet friendly.
If you are an environmentally conscious traveler, you should look into “green” hotels. There are a lot of eco-friendly hotels out there. Some of the newer hotels are built in a way that they get certified green. Many older hotels are environmentally aware and have eco-friendly measures in place. A travel agent or similar source can help you find hotels that are considered ‘green’.
If you are a runner, make sure you pack exercise clothes and a GPS watch.
Being a member of AAA makes travel very easy. AAA members get good hotel discounts and can also find good car rental rates much more easily. At some locations they even offer free car seats.
If you often stay at the same hotel chain, see if they have frequent stay programs you can become a member of. These hotel programs usually work by letting you points every time you stay there. You might earn free stays and discounts, discounts at restaurants, or other things.
Never use the hotel phone for long distance calls. Try using the Internet instead to stay in touch. A lot of hotels have free Wi-Fi that you can use to connect with people. Use this type of thing to get with people you know while you’re in your hotel room so you can save quite a bit of money.
If you are worried about the environment, a green vacation is something to look into. There are a lot of “green” hotels out there. Some newer hotels were built with green and are certified green. Many older hotels will still be environmentally aware and have eco-friendly measures in place. Talk to a travel agent to find hotels that are eco-friendly.
Check with the hotel to make sure the pools are ready to go if you are traveling with children. There are few things as frustrating as showing up to a hotel, with your kids chomping at the bit to get in the pool, only to have it closed for repairs.
The timing for the hotel room has much to do with what you pay. Rooms in hotels are priced based on availability. This will get you receive the best available price.
Inspect your room for bed bugs, starting with the bathroom. This is usually one of the few places you won’t see any. That makes the bathroom the safest place to keep the luggage while you look through the remainder of the accommodations. Put kids and pets in there, too.
Join a membership program if you frequently stay there on business trips. These points can be applied toward further travels.
If you smoke, it is important to know what the hotel’s smoking policy is before you book your room. Some have rooms for smokers. You should try your best to book one of these if they are available. Smoking in a non-smoking room can be a big no-no and you may even be charged an extra cleaning fee.
Try to avoid long distance calls from your hotel room. Many hotels will give you complimentary Skype connections via Wi-Fi. You can stay connected with work or family without the high cost of a call from your room.
You should know that you generally aren’t going to be able to do an early check-in at a hotel. Therefore, don’t show up hours in advance, or you may be sitting around waiting for a while. The room needs to be cleaned after the last guest leaves. Should you arrive early, ask at the desk if it is possible to check in, but do not be surprised if they say no.
Start looking in the hotel bathroom when checking for bed bugs. This is the last room they are least likely to find bedbugs. It is a temporary haven for your pets and kids to stay.
If you are going to need a rollaway or a crib, make sure that the hotel knows this in the reservation process. Not every hotel will have these things, and if they do they may not have many. Also, you may get charged extra for these types of things. Let the hotel know what you need to avoid anything that you will turn in a bad surprise.
Be sure you know what the hotel smoking policy if you smoke. Many have designated for smokers. Ask to see if you are a smoker. If you smoke in a room designated as non-smoking, you can be hit with some major penalties for lighting up in a non-smoker’s room.
Don’t check out early, if possible. This could result in a charge for early departure. Whenever you reserve a room, it isn’t available to anyone else and the hotel will lose money if you cancel. They charge a fee for early departure to help compensate for the lost revenue.
Not all hotel will be able to accommodate you. Talk about these issues as you make your reservations.
Leave the bottled water alone in your hotel room! You may be thirsty and tired. As a result, that bottle of water on the little fridge may look very good to you. Hotels take advantage of guests by charging ridiculous amounts for bottled water. You might be able to get free bottled water in the hotel gym. The best option, however, it to bring your own bottled water.
Avoid using the bedspread. The bedspread usually isn’t washed between bookings. This can mean that the bacteria and bacteria. Just make sure you remove it from the bed to have peace of mind.
You can get lower hotel rates by booking during off season. That’s when it costs the most. Instead, book your room in the off-peak time of year, when hotels are desperate to fill their rooms. This puts you in a position with leverage, which helps you get a better deal for the room in question.
Do not take any of the linens with you when you check out of the hotel.
If you wish to get an upgrade in a hotel, try getting one without paying anything. You can do this by checking in exactly at your expected arrival time. Often the room you have reserved will still be dirty, so the front desk may offer an upgraded room for no charge.
Hotel Rates
Tipping the hotel staff when appropriate is a good way to ensure you have a better experience. For example, you may find that room service will make you tip no matter what on your bill. However, the maids won’t get tips included with their services. Tipping will make your stay better.
You can get better hotel rates when you don’t book during tourist seasons. This is the time that hotel rates are highest. This will get you a better chance of actually getting a discounted rate.
Some hotels rooms offer good views while others do not. Not all rooms with a good view cost extra, so if you can score a room for the same price with a nice view, then make sure you ask for it when you are booking. This can really make your experience great. It doesn’t hurt for you to ask if rooms are available that have better views.
As you already know, booking a hotel is a part of most people’s lives. When you do not do your research, the hotel you choose may not be a great one. Doing a little research helps ensure that you will have a pleasant stay.
Check out online sites like Expedia to find good deals. These sites help to sell lots of hotel reservations, so hotels will inform them of any discounts that may not be offered elsewhere. However, make sure you know how each site works before you use it, as they are all different.