You may not realize it, but which hotel you choose to stay in can have a big impact on your vacation. Considering the costs of hotels, it is important that you know what to look for (and what to avoid) when you are making a reservation. That’s why these tips have been prepared to help you find the right hotel for your trip.
Before you pick out your hotel you’re going to reserve a spot at, check out review sites online like TripAdvisor. These provide you with first-hand information about people’s recent experiences at each hotel. Find out what actual customers say about the hotel and it can help you avoid a costly mistake.
Be sure to put all valuables, such as jewelry and electronics, in the hotel safe. Your small electronic devices can be left in the safe when you are out, so you will not have to worry about them.
You can find good deals on hotel rooms using online travel sites. 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.
Never book a hotel room before seeking out online deals. You might not learn from the person on the phone that you can actually get great discounts over the Internet, instead. For this reason, making a proactive search is advisable. Look to websites like RueLaLaTravel or Jetsetter for more help.
Check with any membership programs for deals. Many of these places will give you cheaper hotel prices. Many people forget to do this and miss out on saving a sizable amount of money. For extended stays, this can really add up. This can rack up a free night over the entire course of a whole week.
To get the best prices on hotel rooms, start your trip planning weeks, or even longer in advance. Most hotels have serious discounts for early booking customers. This can save you as much as 40 percent off of the cost of your hotel.
Prior to making a hotel reservation, do some research online in order to discover the best deals. A lot of the time, when you book a room with someone, they’ll tell you there aren’t any online discounts. It’s your job to find them yourself. Look at Jetsetter, RueLaLaTravel or similar websites for discounts.
Think about these three things if you plan to bring a pet with you during your hotel stay. Take time to ensure that the hotel you’re booking is, in fact, pet-friendly. Remember to bring bags so that you can pick up your pet’s waste when you travel. 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.
When get to your hotel, inspect the room before unpacking. Is the room mildew-free and otherwise clean? Does everything work? Are there enough linens and towels? If you have any problem with the room, report it immediatlely to have it fixed as soon as possible.
If you want to get your daily runs in while on vacation, make sure to bring your running gear with you. You can still enjoy your early morning jog while on vacation if you have your gear and the right room booked. It will give you a perspective that you’ll never get while riding in a car.
In order to save money on hotel stays, book far in advance. If you chose to book a month or even two ahead of your arrival date, you can get great discounts. This will allow you to save up to 50 percent even when staying at an elite hotel.
If you travel often, consider signing up for a loyalty program with your favorite hotel chain. They have benefits for those who frequently stay at a hotel. There are many great rewards even leading up to free stays as you gather up more loyalty points.
Don’t think every hotel is pet-friendly. Call the hotel in advance to ensure the hotel is pet friendly. Verify exactly what is meant by “pet-friendly” since certain breeds and pets over a certain size may not be allowed.
If you are worried about the environment, consider taking a “green” vacation. Green hotels can feature specialized recycling programs, may only use recyclable products and use environmentally friendly cleaning supplies. Green certification is something some of the newly built hotels are quite proud of promoting. Hotels that have been around for a while may employ a variety of eco-friendly practices. Ask your booking agent about green hotels.
Think about these three things if you plan to bring a pet with you during your hotel stay. Be sure that the hotel really does allow pets. In addition, you will need numerous plastic bags and cleaning supplies so that you can make sure you clean up any messes your pet makes. See if you can stay in a room toward the end of a hall so your pet does not disturb guests.
To keep from having an unwanted major expense on your hotel bill, ask about the cost of hotel transfers before booking them. In many situations in which the room’s price is a great deal, the undisclosed price of your transfer can frequently eat up the savings. Ask the hotel representative ahead of time to make sure you get the most savings.
If you’re going to be wanting a massage at your hotel, book it well in advance. Frequently, the best massage people will be booked by name. This means that if you book early, you’ll have a better experience.
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.
If you have a AAA membership, look into hotel discounts included. Many people are surprised to see hotel discounts included with their auto club membership. Membership in AARP, a union, an auto club or even being a police officer can get you a discount. It really is a savings that adds up over time.
Is your room non-smoking or not? If you are a non-smoker, you might want to stay away from hotels that offer smoking rooms. While you can book a non-smoking room, smoke can infiltrate your room and settle into your clothing. Smokers also sometimes smoke in rooms that you are not supposed to smoke in. If you don’t want to smell like cigarettes, consider staying at a hotel that’s non-smoking.
If you want to keep your regular running routine, pack your GPS and running clothes. Simply set an alarm or get a wake up call and take an early morning run. Even if you are running down roads or down city streets, you’ll get a new perspective on the city you’re visiting before you’re done.
Determine what the policy on smoking is if you smoke. Many have designated nonsmoking rooms. If you smoke, you should make a specific reservation for this type of room. There are hotels that will charge you quite a bit if they find out that you were lighting up in the room that wasn’t for smoking. This is why you should stick to the rules.
You may wish to consider a “green” vacation if the environment is one of your concerns. It is fortunate for you that there are quite a lot of green hotels available. Newer hotels are often certified green and designed and built using green standards. Hotels that have been around for a while may employ a variety of eco-friendly practices. Your travel agent can help to identify the environmentally friendly hotels.
In most cases, an early check-in just isn’t possible. Plan your time accordingly unless you want to wait in the lobby for hours. The hotel must clean each room prior to the next visitor taking it. You can inquire about checking in early, but do not expect that you’re going to be able to do it.
What you will be charged for a room, depends on when it’s booked. Availability is one factor that plays a part in cost. If possible, try to book your room 24 hours or less in advance. This will net you the best price when it comes to hotel rooms. They’ll lower the price to fill the room.
Ask about a rollaway or crib when you book your room. Not all hotel chains do offer these and those that will often have a very limited supply. Also, you may face extra charges for the use of these items. Talk about what you need when booking your room so you are not unpleasantly surprised.
Find out about hotel transfer costs prior to booking a room to avoid hefty fees. Hidden transfer costs can really make a room not worth it. Asking about this ahead of time helps you maximize your savings.
No matter how clean your hotel seems, never use the hotel bedspread for sleeping. Sheets and blankets are washed regularly, while bedspreads usually aren’t. That means it could harbor contaminants you don’t want to be in contact with. Remove it from the bed before you use it.
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. These programs allow you to collect points that can be applied toward further travels.
Be prepared with a knowledge of your rights if a hotel ever tries to “walk” you. Hotels sometimes over-book, and this can leave you without a room. The hotel will then “walk” you, or send you out 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.
You should know that it is not usually possible to check into your hotel early. If you are going to arrive early, plan on doing something to fill your time. 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.
Don’t steal the hotel linens when you leave, no matter how tempting and comfortable they are. They might be lovely, but you will be charged for them. If you find you really like these items, then ask the hotel if you could purchase them instead.
Do not check out early. Some hotels charge a fee for early departure. When you book a hotel room, the hotel takes that room off the market; thus, if you depart early they will lose money. They have to at least get something for the loss, thus an early departure charge.
As you have seen from the above article, if you take the time to do some research, then you can get a great rate on a great hotel room. You just have to know what to look for and when to book. Keep the aforementioned tips in mind to ensure you find the perfect hotel.
If you are concerned about germs, you might want to take the bedspread off of the bed. The blankets and sheets under the bedspread are typically washed between guests, however the top cover is not. That can mean it is full of germs, bacteria or who knows what else. Remove the blanket and sleep in peace.