Many options exist when booking travel accommodations, from shady motels to five star hotels on the strip. A good hotel room can make a trip memorable, while a bad one can turn it into a disaster. To ensure you find the best possible hotel, read this article.
Prior to making reservations, research hotels on sites like TripAdvisor. Websites like TripAdvisor will give you some first-hand accounts of hotel experience from actual customers. What former guests have to say with regards to a hotel being considered can ensure you make an informed decision.
Room service can make your stay more enjoyable. Room service generally costs more than ordering out; however, it is nice to be able to order a meal in the middle of the night if you so choose.
To get the very best prices for the hotels that you’d like to visit, use travel sites online like Orbitz and Expedia. If you’re a member of a loyalty program of a hotel, make sure you input that data when checking out rates. Some organizations like AAA and AARP offer lodging discounts for a variety of hotel chains.
Figuring out which hotel you want to book isn’t an easy process. Price is one, but a prime location is another. Other amenities, such as a swimming pool, an onsite restaurant and free continental breakfast are important to travelers. Ensure the hotel you are planning on staying at has the amenities you desire.
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.
Inspect the room before unpacking. Is the room clean? Do you see any mold or mildew? Do a quick check to ensure that the shower, sink and toilet are all in proper working order. Do you have enough towels and linens? Any problems that you notice should be reported to front desk staff right away. That way, they can be rectified or you can change rooms.
Take advantage of the safe you have in your room, especially if you have electronics with you. You can place your small, expensive items such as your iPad in the safe, so you can enjoy your day knowing they are safe and secure.
Do not assume that each hotel welcomes pets. You should call ahead to double check, even if it was stated on the website that this is a pet friendly hotel. 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.
When thinking about the type of hotel you would like to stay at, there are plenty of options to consider. Your budget comes first, but proximity to attractions is also important. Internet access, pools, fitness centers and breakfast offered are a few other things to consider. Look for a hotel that gives you a lot of the things you are looking for.
If you’re taking a pet to the hotel, do some things beforehand. Make sure the hotel is actually pet-friendly. Bring along lots of plastic bags for clean ups. When you go to make the hotel reservation, see if there is room on the end that would prevent the other guests from hearing a noisy pet.
You can use online travel sites to find great hotels. They allow you to quickly locate great discounts. 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 assist you in deciding when to vacation and what to do once you arrive at your destination.
If the hotel you stay at offers a couples massage, it is very important that you make an appointment well ahead of time. The best practitioners go fast, so make your reservation early and book by name where possible.
Check online for great hotel deals. The reservation clerk won’t offer these details to you over the phone. It is your responsibility to find these discounts. Check websites like Hotwire.com, Kayak.com and Priceline.com for great discounts.
If you want to keep your regular running routine, pack your GPS and running clothes. Go for a run when you wake up in the morning. It will give you a perspective that you’ll never get while riding in a car.
If you are an avid jogger, a GPS watch is a great investment so you can always find your way back to your hotel. Also, don’t forget your exercise clothes! If you want to jog early in the morning, don your gear and then go for it. Even if your route takes you through the street of a city, at least you will get a glimpse of the area you are visiting.
Do you travel on a periodic basis and use the same hotel chain? If so, check out the loyalty programs provided by that hotel. These are exceptional benefits reserved for customers who frequently use a particular chain of hotels. These programs can assure you niceties such as the best prices, room upgrades, and special perks such as free meals or late checkouts.
Environmentalists can now enjoy a green vacation. The number of “green” hotels is steadily growing. Many newer hotels are environmentally friendly. Some hotels that aren’t that new will pick out some ways to be more eco-friendly so they can show they care. Finding hotels that are environmentally friendly can be as easy as asking your favorite travel agent.
If you are always staying at the same chain, find out about the programs they offer to frequent guests. These are similar to frequent flyer programs, offering points each time you stay at a particular chain. You can exchange these points for discounts and freebies at the hotel and its restaurant. You may also be able to use them on local amenities.
How much you pay for a hotel room depends on when you book your room. Rooms in hotels are often priced based on their availability. Try to always book your hotel room only a day in advance. This gives you the best prices in reserving hotel rooms. Hotels would rather discount the price because an empty room does not earn them any money.
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. That way, each time you stay, you accrue points that you can turn into vacation freebies when it’s time to take the family on an adventure.
To get optimal value from a hotel stay, especially if you find yourself traveling a lot for your business, sign up for membership programs such as those offered by Marriott or Choice Hotels. When you do, you get points every time you stay at a hotel.
One way to get discounts on hotel rooms is to join AAA. The discounts at many hotel chains and deals on car rentals can more than pay for the AAA membership fees. It’s great to know that you can count on both of these things.
Being a member of AAA can save you money on hotels. Members of AAA receive many travel benefits including reduced hotel rates and lower car rental rates. It is definitely worth looking into.
Call the hotel before you arrive to make sure the swimming pool is in working order. There aren’t many things that are as frustrating as going to your hotel with kids that really want to swim only to see that it has been closed.
Inspect your room for bed bugs, starting with the bathroom. This is usually one of the few places you won’t see any. That means you can store your luggage here as you inspect. It can be a temporary haven for children and pets.
The bathroom is the first place to go when checking for bed bugs in your hotel room. This is where you won’t find them. You can leave your bags there while you investigate the remainder of the room for bedbugs. Have kids and/or pets wait for you in the bathroom while you look around.
Look into the smoking policies in the hotel you are considering. If you are a non-smoker, you might want to stay away from hotels that offer smoking rooms. Although certain hotels that allow smoking will provide guests with non-smoking rooms, smoke will still be in the air. Even if a room is designated as nonsmoking, sometimes people smoke in there anyway. To avoid cigarette odors entirely, opt for a non-smoking hotel.
Always read a hotel’s pet policy, whether you are a pet owner or not. If you’re scared of pets or are allergic, you might want to stay away from pet-friendly hotels. These hotels sometimes have odors because the carpet and linens have absorbed them. Most hotels charge a pet fee; however, sometimes this is negligible. In fact, the extra charge for pets might not even cover the costs of cleaning; therefore, you should make sure you know all this ahead of time.
Always ask about the hotel’s smoking policy if you smoke. Many have rooms set aside for people who smoke. If this is the case, then you shouldn’t be shy when asking for this type of room. Some hotels charge a hefty penalty if they find any evidence that you were smoking in a non-smoking room, so be sure to adhere to the hotel’s rules with regard to smoking.
It is usually not possible to check into your hotel early. Plan your time accordingly unless you want to wait in the lobby for hours. Most hotels clean and prepare rooms at a certain time, so that they are ready for check-in. If you happen to show up early just ask if your room was prepared early, but they’re most likely going to say no.
If you need a crib, ask for it as you reserve the room. Some hotels may not have one, so you want to know this upfront. Additionally, there may be an extra fee for these items. Make your needs known at the time you place your reservation so that you do not have any unpleasant surprises.
A lot of people aren’t able to look for a hotel in the right way and they go with the first one they see. This approach is gambling, and can hurt you. Staying in a dirty hotel room doesn’t lead to a great user experience, so follow the suggestions outlined above to avoid this fate.
Avoid leaving your hotel before your scheduled date of departure. You may be charged a fee if you do. 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. Therefore, they have to make up for the loss by charging an early departure fee.