Have you ever stayed in a bad hotel before? If you have, then you know that can destroy your vacation. However, you shouldn’t have to book a pricey hotel to avoid this. Keep reading for some great advice on booking a nice hotel room.
Make sure you check out online review websites prior to making a reservation for a hotel. These provide you with first-hand information about people’s recent experiences at each hotel. Other customers can give you some valuable insight and help you choose the right place to stay.
You can enjoy a romantic dinner in your room by calling room service. This will cost you a little extra, but the convenience it provides is worth it.
Online travel sites like Orbitz and Expedia can help you find the lowest rates on hotel rooms. Are you a member of a certain hotel’s membership program? If so, make sure you put this information into the travel site. You can also get additional discounts from any organization you are apart of, such as the AAA or the AARP.
Keep your electronics secure by using the hotel safe located in your hotel room. 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.
Look for deals online. Usually, when you try to book a room over the phone, the clerk will not let you know that there is a better deal online. It’s your job to find them yourself. Websites like Travelocity and Expedia can be a great way to do research on hotels.
The organizations that you are a member of might be of help. Hotel discounts are often one of the benefits offered. The discounts could be 10% or even higher! This can lead to a great amount of money saved, especially for those spending multiple nights at the hotel. It can add up to equal a free night!
Part of trip planning is knowing what time check-in is at your hotel. If you show up too early for check-in, then your room may not be ready for you yet. Call and ask if you think you’ll be early.
There are things to think about when choosing a hotel. The cost is important but hardly the only factor to keep in mind. Amenities that help you choose a hotel are free breakfast, free Wi-Fi, exercise room, pool, and a restaurant on the premises. Seek out hotels that offer amenities that appeal to you.
Planning for a trip months or even just weeks in advance can often get you a better rate for your hotel room. There are quite a few hotels that will reward booking your room a few months in advance with nice discounts. This can save you as much as 40 percent off of the cost of your hotel.
Check out the search tools offered by online travel sites. It is possible to find good deals fast when using sites such as these. They also can show you the average hotel rates, letting you see whether the deal is good or bad. Finally, you can also use these to help you learn what there is to do when you get to your destination.
If you plan on taking a family pet with you to a hotel reservation, do three things in advance. First, inquire as to whether the hotel really is a pet-friendly place. In addition, take along some plastic bags to pick up your pet’s mess. When you make your reservation, request accommodations near the very end of the floor in order to not disturb other guests.
Be sure to look at your room before unpacking your suitcase. Is the room clean? Do the sink, shower and toilet work properly? Make sure you have the linens, bath supplies and towels that you will need. If you have any problem with the room, report it immediatlely to have it fixed as soon as possible.
If you belong to the AAA, see what kinds of discounts the hotel offers. Many people are surprised to see hotel discounts included with their auto club membership. You can save upwards of 5% on your hotel stays. These savings really add up.
In order to save money on hotel stays, book far in advance. There are quite a few hotels that will reward booking your room a few months in advance with nice discounts. Even some elite chains will offer discounts as much as half off.
Be sure to follow your fitness regimen while staying in a hotel by packing your workout clothes and any other equipment you may need. For an early morning jog, get up and throw your gear on, and then head out the front door. Even jogging on pavement and alongside city avenues can provide you new perspective of any city that you visit.
Always book early for that special couples massage for you and your loved one. 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 travel often, consider signing up for a loyalty program with your favorite hotel chain. There are many benefits you may be able to get. You might receive an upgrade at no cost or be allowed to check out later than others with your points.
If you belong to AAA, see what kinds of discounts the hotel offers. It may be surprising that auto clubs members receive hotel deals, but they do. You may save 5% or even more on nationwide hotels. These savings really add up.
If you stay at the same hotels all the time, check to see if they have a frequent-stay program. Similar to frequent flyer programs, hotels have programs that add points on to your account each time you stay with them. These points add up to restaurant discounts, free nights, tickets to a show, spa treatments, and more.
If you tend to stay at the same hotel a lot, see about signing up for their frequent guest program. Similar to frequent flyer programs, some hotels have programs that give point for each stay. 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.
For those frequent travelers, it may be better to build loyalty and perks by joining the membership club of your favorite hotel. This way, when you stay at a hotel, you can get points and then turn those points into free stuff that you can do with your family.
The time you book the room will change how much you’ll pay. Hotels give rooms a price based on what’s available. If you can, don’t make your reservation more than one day prior to your stay. This can get you a seriously discounted rate. Empty rooms don’t earn the hotel money, so they’re happy to cut the price and reserve a room.
Get a AAA membership to facilitate the process of booking a hotel when you travel. If you do a lot of traveling, the AAA membership can pay for itself, and you can also get deals on rental cars. At some locations they even offer free car seats.
Membership Programs
Avoid making long distance calls from the hotel room phone. Use your cell phone or the Internet. Many hotels will give you complimentary Skype connections on their Wi-Fi. You can stay connected with friends, family and business colleagues this way, rather than making expensive long distance calls.
In order to enhance your hotel visits, especially when traveling for work, you should consider joining membership programs that hotels provide. Examples include membership programs provided by Marriott or Choice Hotels. When you do that, you accumulate points for every stay, and that can add up to free nights or vacation discounts.
Make sure to ask up front if the hotel you’ll be staying in allows smoking or does not. If you’re not a smoker, you might want to skip a smoking hotel. Although certain hotels that allow smoking will provide guests with non-smoking rooms, smoke will still be in the air. You may find that a smoker has been in your non-smoking room before you and ignored the rules. Think about staying at a hotel that is totally nonsmoking if you don’t want to stink when you check out.
Be careful not to make long distance phone calls on the hotel phone. If you don’t have a cell phone or the Internet, buy a calling card to keep with you during your trip. A lot of hotels offer wi-fi, making it possible for you to use Skype. This saves you a ton of money.
You should always be aware whether or not the hotel allows pets. If you fear pets or have allergies it would be best if you make reservations at hotels that have a strict no pets policy. If the hotel does not have good cleaning practices, you may be bothered by pet odors. Some hotels may charge you extra for pets, and some may not charge at all, or the fees are lower. It might not cover deep cleaning.
When checking your hotel accommodations for bed bugs, begin in the bathroom. This is where you won’t find them. This makes it an ideal spot to put your luggage as you check out the rest of your room for bedbugs. It is also a safe spot for your pets and kids.
In most cases, checking into a hotel room ahead of schedule isn’t possible. If you are going to arrive early, plan on doing something to fill your time. Hotels usually need to get the room cleaned and ready before you check in. If you should happen to get there early, ask at the desk about early check-in, but your request may not be granted.
Before making a hotel reservation, learn the hotel’s policy on smoking. If you are not a smoker, you probably want to avoid staying in a smoking room. Even if you book a non-smoking room, smoke can enter your room through air vents. Smokers also sometimes smoke in rooms that you are not supposed to smoke in. Instead of choosing a non-smoking room, you can actually find an entire non-smoking hotel if you really want to avoid nasty, secondhand smoke.
Don’t open the bottled water! After checking into your room you will probably feel exhausted and thirsty. As a result, that bottle of water on the little fridge may look very good to you. The hotel knows your cravings and has priced that bottle of water sky high. Some hotels offer free bottles of water in their gyms. The best option, however, it to bring your own bottled water.
Extra Cleaning
Think about bundling your flight and hotel together. Use a travel site that has package deals, which include hotel, flight, and rental car. Compare quotes between hotels and airlines.
You should be aware whether or not the hotel allows pets. It may be best to stay clear of hotels that accept pets if you are afraid of dogs or are allergic to pets. These hotels could have weird odors because of smells getting into the linens and the floor. Some hotels only allow pets in certain rooms and charge more for the room because they do extra cleaning to ensure it is up to standards after each guest. The fee may cover totally or partially the cost of the extra cleaning involved.
If you would like to pay less when staying at a hotel, don’t book during peak season. This is when you get charged high rates. Instead you should try booking a room when it’s not peak season as this is when a hotel wants more visitors. You will normally receive a discounted rate.
You should now know how to find an excellent hotel at a great price. You can easily find deals on hotels when you how how to look. Just remember the tips you read above for the next time you have to deal with this.
Some hotel rooms have excellent views, while others do not. If the great view doesn’t cost more, see if you can get a room with a view. A small thing like this makes your experience better. It is always smart to find out if you can get a room with a nice view.