Sooner or later, you will have to book a hotel. Regardless of whether it is for business or pleasure, you need to know what you are doing. These tips should prove to help out quite a lot.
Before you pick out your hotel you’re going to reserve a spot at, check out review sites online like TripAdvisor. In this way, you can get real information from real people regarding their experiences at a variety of hotels. Find out what actual customers say about the hotel and it can help you avoid a costly mistake.
Check online hotel reviews prior to booking your stay. These types of sites let you read about real customers’ experiences with each hotel. Other customers can give you some valuable insight and help you choose the right place to stay.
When leaving your hotel room, keep any electronics you have secure by putting them in the room’s safe. Your iPad, watch, and other smaller, expensive items can be placed into the safe, then you can rest assured at their safety as you head out for a fun-filled day.
You can find a lot of great deals on hotels if you go online and check out some of the travel sites out there. If you are a member of the hotel’s loyalty program, don’t forget to add that information as you check rates. Also, you may be eligible for discounts through other organizations to which you may belong, such as AARP or AAA.
Consider your organizational memberships. Some organizations offer discounts on hotels to their members. Many people don’t remember these discounts, which can save them 10% or more. That can add up to huge savings over multiple nights. That’s almost an extra free night throughout an entire week.
If you have a safe in your closet, then you should use it to keep your valuables safe while you are outside of the room. You can put just about anything in there, as long as it isn’t too big, and you won’t have to worry about it.
When thinking about selecting a hotel, there are quite a few salient points to consider. The cost is important but hardly the only factor to keep in mind. Other amenities that people look for are a gym, pool, free local phone calls, free Wi-Fi, and free breakfast. Look for a hotel that provides you with the amenities that are a priority to you.
Always check the room before you begin to unpack your belongings. Is it without mildew and mold? Check the toilet, the shower, and the sink to make sure they are clean and function properly. Are there enough of the right linens? If you see any issues, be sure to tell the front desk. This way, they can fix the problems or switch rooms for you.
There are tons of online search tools that help customers find satisfactory rates they can’t find elsewhere. These kinds of websites allow you to locate great deals fast. They can provide you with an idea of the average rate charged by each hotel, so you will have a good idea as to whether or not the deal you are being offered is good. Finally, they can assist you in deciding when to vacation and what to do once you arrive at your destination.
To get a good price when you want a hotel room, get your trips planned quite a few weeks or so in advance. If you can book early, you may get a huge discount. You can expect savings up to fifty percent if you book months in advance.
Don’t assume your hotel is pet-friendly. Ask the hotel if pets are allowed, no matter what their site says. Make sure that you ask ahead what pet-friendly means to the hotel because this is a loose term that may still mean there are certain restrictions.
If you want to take your pet along on a trip, take care of three tasks before you leave. First, ensure that the hotel actually allows pets. It is also a great idea to bring along some plastic bags to clean up when your pet makes a mess. Also, request a room away from other guests so that your pet does not bother them.
If you want to take your pet along on a trip, take care of three tasks before you leave. Make sure the hotel is actually pet-friendly. Remember to bring bags so that you can pick up your pet’s waste when you travel. See if you can stay in a room toward the end of a hall so your pet does not disturb guests.
Bring your running clothes with you on your trip. Go for a run when you wake up in the morning. It will give you a better perspective of the city you are visiting.
If you’re interested in the massage services of a hotel you intend to stay at, reserve your appointment ahead of time. The best masseuses are booked well in advance.
For people who are frequent travelers, consider signing up for some loyalty programs with your favorite hotels. There are some great benefits offered to clients who often book the same chain. You can get a free upgrade, restaurant gift certificates or even a free stay!
If you are a runner, be sure to bring your running clothes and shoes. So, make sure you have your running gear and shoes and you will be set to jog anywhere. Running in a city allows you to see things other travelers miss.
If you often stay at the same hotel chain, check to see if they offer membership to frequent stay programs. These programs usually work by letting you rack up points. 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.
People who care about the environment may be more comfortable staying in a hotel that is eco-friendly. Many hotels offer environmentally friendly standards today. Some hotels are certified to be green. Some older hotels choose to use eco-friendly practices as well, making them a good green option. Ask your booking agent about green hotels.
The time you book the room will change how much you’ll pay. Hotels price rooms based on availability. Try to always book your hotel room only a day in advance. This can get you a seriously discounted rate. Empty rooms don’t earn a hotel any money, so they are willing to slash the price.
When you book has a huge impact on your final bill. The price is subject to the laws of supply and demand like any other product. If you can, make your reservation no earlier than 24 hours before you arrive. This will allow you to get a great price on a hotel room. The hotel will earn no money at all if the room is empty, which gives you a much better bargaining position.
You should always find out how much hotel transfers will cost before you book a room. It is not uncommon to find that greatly discounted bookings may have a hidden cost for the transfer. Asking about this beforehand will help to maximize your savings.
Discuss what a hotel transfer will cost you prior to actually booking anything. If you’re getting what appears to be a nice deal on the room, these types of hidden charges can sometimes surface. Inquiring in advance will mean more savings for you.
Join a membership program if you travel frequently. These points can translate into some major perks when you’re vacationing.
To make reserving a hotel easy, use AAA. AAA members can receive great hotel discounts as well as locate a rental car much more easily. At some locations they even offer free car seats.
To make reserving a hotel easy, use AAA. The AAA membership fee is well worth the discounts offered by many chains, and renting a car will also be easier. Parents can also often enjoy a free car seat that comes with some rentals.
Never use the hotel phone for long distance calls. Look to the Internet, instead. You can access Skype with the Internet connection at your hotel. You can stay connected with friends, family and business colleagues this way, rather than making expensive long distance calls.
If you wish to have happy kids while you’re on the road, be sure you call a hotel to see if they have a working pool at the time. Imagine arriving at your destination looking forward to a dip in the pool, only to discover that you can’t use it.
If you want to inspect a hotel room for bed bugs, start with the bathroom. Bedbugs are least likely to live here. This makes the perfect location to place your belongings while you inspect your hotel room for bedbugs. If you have pets or children with you, ask them to wait in the bathroom too.
Do you smoke? If so, it is important that you are aware of a hotel’s smoking policy in advance. A lot of hotels have rooms designated for smokers. You should try your best to book one of these if they are available. If you don’t, you can be hit with some major penalties for lighting up in a non-smoker’s room.
Always know the hotel smoking policy wherever you stay if you personally smoke. Certain hotels provide rooms that are specifically for people who smoke. If so, you should avail yourself of this option. 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.
If you are a parent who needs a roll-away or a crib in their hotel room, then you’ll need to call prior to making your reservation and find out if they are available. Not every hotel will have these things, and if they do they may not have many. There also may be an added charge for these things. Talk about what you need when booking your room so you are not unpleasantly surprised.
You should know that you generally aren’t going to be able to do an early check-in at a hotel. Unless you’re okay with waiting for your room to be ready, plan your timing wisely. The rooms can’t be readied and cleaned until the prior guests are gone, so this means that check-in time is usually around 2 p.m. or 3 p.m. If you are early, don’t expect miracles.
Departure Fee
If possible, don’t check out earlier than intended. An early departure charge may be added to your bill if you leave sooner. Booking that room means it wasn’t available when others were reserving. Therefore, they have to make up for the loss by charging an early departure fee.
If it’s possible, try not to check out before the departure date you had originally scheduled. If you do, then you could be charged an extra departure fee for early checkout. When a hotel room is something you book, they are taking it away from other people and will lose some money if you leave early. This is why they have the departure fee, to get their money back that they would have otherwise lost.
Be aware of your rights in the event that a hotel attempts to “walk” you. Sometimes hotels are going to overbook and then your room that you reserved won’t be there. That means the hotel will send you to another establishment, or “walk” you. Try not to let this happen to you, but if it is unavoidable, be sure that that you are getting a room that is at least as good as the one that you paid for.
If you find your reserved room is not available, you do have rights. If your hotel overbooks, your room may not be available when you get there. This means that they will direct 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.
Resist the urge to abscond with the hotel linens. As much as you may like the towels, washcloths or pillows, housekeeping is likely to notice any missing items, and the hotel may send you a bill for them. If you really like the linens, see if they are available for purchase.
As discussed here, everybody will need a hotel stay eventually. For whatever reason you’re staying in a hotel room, doing some research is the key to finding the ideal room for the best price. The previous article offered great tips for coming up with the right hotel, so implement those tips.
Want a free upgrade? Arrive right at your check-in time. Often the room isn’t quite ready at the exact time and the hotel will offer you an upgraded room instead.
