Going On Vacation? Check Out These Tips Before Booking Your Hotel!

If you’re staying at a new hotel for the first time, you don’t want to be taken advantage of by the hotel owners or the staff. Whether you are paying too much or the place is just lousy, a bad experience can ruin a vacation. Therefore, prevent this from happening to you by checking out the below article.

You can find good deals on hotel rooms using online travel sites. As you check your rates, don’t forget to include that you’re a loyalty program member. If you have a membership in any other organization, put that down as well.

TIP! When checking for good prices at hotels, refer to online travel sites like Orbitz and Expedia. Join the loyalty program for any hotel chain that you love and believe you’ll stay with often.

Check online hotel reviews prior to booking your stay. You will be able to see the most recent reviews. What patrons have to say about the hotels you are considering can help you make the best decision about where to stay.

Find out if any organization to which you belong offers good discounts. Hotel discounts are often one of the benefits offered. These discounts are often forgotten about, and they can provide significant savings. This can result in significant savings, especially for longer stays. This can also net you a free hotel night.

TIP! If you belong to any organizations, find out if they get any discount from certain hotel chains. Many of them offer hotel discounts to members.

You can find good deals on hotel rooms using online travel sites. If you are a member of the hotel’s loyalty program, don’t forget to add that information as you check rates. You might also be entitled to additional discounts through your other organizations, such as AAA or AARP.

A number of factors all need consideration in your hotel reservation process. Price is always a big factor, but you also need a hotel that’s geographically proximate to your target destinations. Amenities like free WiFi, fitness facilities, a pool and free meals may also be important considerations. Look for a hotel that provides you with the amenities that are a priority to you.

TIP! There are a number of things to consider when deciding which hotel to stay at. Of course price is a big deal, but a hotel close to where you are head is a big consideration.

There are many different things to consider as you search for a hotel to stay in. Of course you want to consider price, but you should also consider the hotel’s location. For example, you might want a room that is in walking distance to gym, or a hotel that has free Wi-Fi. Ensure the hotel you are planning on staying at has the amenities you desire.

The Internet is a great place to research hotels. Travel websites are very helpful when seeking the best deals. They can also show you what the hotel’s average rates typically are, allowing you to see whether you are actually getting a good deal or not. They also help you decide the dates for your vacation and the activities you’ll want to partake of.

TIP! Make use of the various hotel search websites on the Internet. These kinds of websites allow you to locate great deals fast.

Use hotel search tools online. These websites can help you get great deals quickly. You can see the average price of the rooms, and you can check to see how those rates stack up to the rates you’re being offered now. Finally, they can help you determine when you’d like to travel and what you’d like to do when you’re there.

Know when you are able to check in and get your room. If you don’t know you may end up waiting a long time. If you might arrive prior to check-in time, try calling the hotel and seeing if the room is available.

TIP! Know when you are able to check in and get your room. Many people show up before check-in time only to find out their room isn’t ready.

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 will be arriving early, call and ask if this is okay.

For the best hotel rates, plan your trip weeks or months ahead of time. A lot of hotel locations offer discounts for reservations a month or more in advance. Some of the most popular hotel chains can end up giving you up to 50 percent in savings.

TIP! 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.

In order to save money on hotel stays, book far 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.

Don’t think every hotel is pet-friendly. Be sure to call in advance and find out about their policies, regardless of website info. Find out what their rules on pets are also, as they may not let large pets or certain breeds stay with them.

TIP! Don’t assume a hotel is pet-friendly. Ask the hotel if pets are allowed, no matter what their site says.

If you wish to include amenities such as massage while staying at a hotel, be sure to make your reservations in advance. In order to get the best masseurs at these top hotels, you must plan early to ensure that you get a good experience.

If you are an AAA member, check into your membership hotel discount. Your membership in this auto club has just such a discount available to you. It’s possible you could save 5 percent or higher on hotels across the United States. It really is a savings that adds up over time.

TIP! Check your AAA membership for a hotel discount. You would be surprised where hidden discounts may be lurking.

If you are a daily runner, make sure you pack exercise clothes and a GPS watch. You can still enjoy your early morning jog while on vacation if you have your gear and the right room booked. Running in a city allows you to see things other travelers miss.

Do you travel on a periodic basis? If so, consider joining your hotel’s loyalty program. They provide benefits to anyone who stays at a hotel chain frequently. You can get a free upgrade, restaurant gift certificates or even a free stay!

TIP! Frequent travelers can benefit from loyalty programs offered by many hotels. There are many benefits you may be able to get.

Frequent travelers can benefit from loyalty programs offered by many hotels. They provide rewards to those who stay with them often. You might receive an upgrade at no cost or be allowed to check out later than others with your points.

There are membership programs that hotels offer for those that stay frequently at their chains. Just like frequent flyer mile programs, these hotel programs offer you points for your stay. They can amount to show tickets, free nights, spa deals, hotel restaurants discounts and much more.

TIP! If you often stay at a certain type of hotel, ask about the “frequent stay” program. Just like with a frequent flyer mile program, you can get points for staying a hotel.

If you tend to stay at the same hotel a lot, see about signing up for their frequent guest program. They work a lot like frequent flier miles do with airlines. You earn points in a similar way. They can amount to show tickets, free nights, spa deals, hotel restaurants discounts and much more.

Timing matters when booking a hotel room. Rooms are typically priced according to availability. Book your room more the day before you need it if you can. This will get you the best hotel rates. This is because the hotel will want to book rooms that are currently empty.

TIP! What you will be charged for a room, depends on when it’s booked. Hotels price their rooms based on how many rooms are available.

Be sure you know the cost associated with hotel transfers when booking a room. Particularly if you are getting a discount, the fee associated with the transfer may be high. Asking about this ahead of time helps you maximize your savings.

Join a membership program if you travel frequently. 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.

TIP! 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. This allows you to earn point you can redeem for vacation freebies for you and your family.

If you want your family to have a happy stay, call the hotel ahead and ensure that their swimming pools are available and in good working order. Imagine arriving at your destination looking forward to a dip in the pool, only to discover that you can’t use it.

When you travel, go through AAA to find hotel accommodations easier.` AAA members can receive great hotel discounts as well as locate a rental car much more easily. People that have young kids will get a car seat for free in a lot of different places.

TIP! When you travel, go through AAA to find hotel accommodations easier.` AAA members not only get discounts at many hotel chains, it will also make it much easier to rent a car.

If you are concerned about bed bugs, look in the bathroom first. Bedbugs are least likely to live here. That makes it the perfect place to store your luggage while you inspect the rest of the premises for bedbugs. It’s also safer to the pets and kids you may have.

Don’t make long distance calls on your hotel phone. Try using the Internet instead to stay in touch. A lot of hotels offer wi-fi, making it possible for you to use Skype. 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.

TIP! In hotel rooms, avoid calling long distance if possible. Instead, you should try the Internet.

Know whether or not smoking is allowed in your room. Some hotels offer smoking rooms. If this is the case, then you shouldn’t be shy when asking for this type of room. Otherwise, you might find yourself paying a high fee for smoking in a room that is designated as non-smoking.

Check if a hotel you’re looking to stay at is non-smoking or smoking. If cigarette smoke bothers you, look for a hotel that doesn’t have smoking rooms. You may be able to get a non smoking rooms still, but you can get smoke in the air which will stick to you. Sometimes, smokers rent non-smoking rooms because that is all that is available, and then they smoke in them anyway. If you don’t want to stink like a cigarette when you are leaving a non smoking hotel may be a good choice.

TIP! Look into the smoking policies in the hotel you are considering. If you are a non-smoker, you will enjoy a non-smoking room more.

If you will be in need of a roll-away bed or a crib, be sure to let the hotel management know in advance. The hotel may not have these items on hand. If they do, quantities may be limited. Also, these things can cost extra. Talk about these when reserving your room so you aren’t hit with unexpected expenses.

Determine what the policy on smoking is if you smoke. Some have rooms for smokers. Ask for those rooms if you are a smoker. If they find you have smoked in a non-smoking area, they may charge you a fine.

TIP! If you smoke, be sure you’re aware of what the hotel thinks of smoking where you’re staying. A lot of places will have smoker’s rooms.

Hotel Stay

Know that you may not be able to check-in early at some hotels. Plan your trip right or you might end up waiting in a hotel lobby. The hotel must clean each room prior to the next visitor taking it. If you can’t avoid being early, ask the front desk to make an exception, but be prepared if they can’t accommodate you.

TIP! It’s not often possible to check in to a hotel room early. So, you may have to sit for a while in the lobby or find a way to occupy yourself until checking in if you are going to be arriving early.

Use these tips to make your hotel stay great. You now have a better idea of what to look for in the right hotel room and what to avoid from the wrong ones. Your hotel stay should be relaxing to you, not an unhappy experience.

If possible, don’t check out earlier than intended. The hotel may charge you a fee for your early departure. Booked hotel rooms are taken off the market, so if you leave early, the hotel loses money. They have to at least get something for the loss, thus an early departure charge.

TIP! Do not check out early. Hotels often charge early departure fees.