Tips, Tricks And Techniques For A Great Hotel Stay

You are going to need to book a hotel during your life. Whether you are traveling for business or pleasure, you must know what you are doing when it comes to selecting a hotel. Here are some tips that can help you.

Use travel websites, like Expedia and Priceline to find great hotel deals. If you are a member of a hotel loyalty program, make sure to indicate this when searching for rates. Find out if you can get a discount for being an AAA or AARP member, too.

TIP! 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.

Check online reviews prior to booking your stay. This will give you valuable information about the recent experiences in each hotel. What people say with regards to a hotel being considered can aid you in coming to the right decision.

You can enjoy a romantic dinner in your room by calling room service. This service comes at a premium, but you can stay comfortable in your room while enjoying you eats.

TIP! You can enjoy a romantic dinner in your room by calling room service. Room service can be expensive, but the luxury of being able to lounge about in your room in your jammies can make it worthwhile.

Use websites like Orbitz and Expedia for hotel chains online. If you are a member of the hotel’s loyalty program, use that info when checking rates. You may also qualify for discounts due to AAA or AARP membership.

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. Your small electronic devices can be left in the safe when you are out, so you will not have to worry about them.

TIP! Keep your electronics secure by using the hotel safe located in your hotel room. Anything of value can be securely locked in the safe, then you won’t have to worry about your valuables while out enjoying yourself for the day.

Consider ordering room service if you want a late-night snack with your special someone. Room service can be expensive, it is nice to be able to order a meal in the middle of the night if you so choose.

When can you check in? Some people fail to check when they will be able to access their rooms. They arrive at the hotel but find that their room isn’t ready yet. Call the hotel desk and find out if your room has been prepared if you know that you’ll be arriving early.

TIP! Be aware of when you can check into your room. People sometimes forget when they will be let into their rooms, showing up early only to learn that their room isn’t ready yet.

Check with the organizations you belong to.Some of these organizations offer discounts on hotels to their members. These discounts are often forgotten about, they can save you upwards of ten percent.It can add up to almost a free night!

There are three different things you should do in advance if you’re going to be traveling with a pet. Find out if the hotel allows pets. Make sure you bring along plenty of plastic bags to dispose of any pet waste. Be kind to other hotel guests by requesting a room that is as far away from other guests as possible, so they won’t be disturbed by any noise your pet may make.

TIP! If you need to have a pet stay with you in your hotel room, do a few things ahead of time. Make sure the hotel is actually pet-friendly.

Always see if you can find deals online when reserving a hotel room. This is why you to search for these hidden discounts. Check out websites like SniqueAway, RueLaLaTravel, and SniqueAway.

Be sure to consult AAA to help you make excellent plans for your entire vacation. You may be surprised that your auto club membership includes hotel discounts, but it does. There are discounts at hotels around the country of 5 percent or more. It’s a savings that really adds up over the nights.

TIP! If you are a member of AAA, ask about a hotel discount. You would be surprised where hidden discounts may be lurking.

Book massages as far ahead of time as possible to guarantee you get the perfect couples massage for you and your significant other.The best massage therapists are well-known at resorts, so get in while you can.

If you often stay at a certain type of hotel, ask about the “frequent stay” program. Like the programs for frequent flyer, these programs the hotel offer give you points whenever you stay with them. These points can quickly add up to many perks such as a free night, discounts at the hotel restaurants, spa deals and much, much more.

TIP! Remember that hotel chains often provide loyalty programs offering excellent discounts. Similar to frequent flyer programs, some hotels have programs that give point for each stay.

If you are a daily runner, try booking a hotel room that’s near the beach or an open park.

Timing matters when booking a hotel room. Hotel rooms are priced based on how many are available. If you can, don’t make your reservation more than one day prior to your stay. You may find the best prices this way. Empty rooms earn no money, so the hotels often slash the prices.

TIP! The timing for your booking of a hotel room has much to do with what you pay. Availability sets pricing.

It may be wise to join a hotel loyalty programs that your favorite hotels offer.They have benefits for those who regularly stay in the same hotel chain. You might earn a free upgrade, late checkout time, and complimentary late check out with enough points accrued.

Inquire about the price of a transfer before you place a booking. If the rooms are cheap, the transfer could ruin the deal. You save the most money when you ask about this beforehand.

TIP! In order to avoid an unwanted expense on the hotel bill, inquire about any hotel transfer fees prior to booking them. If you are getting a very low price on the room, it is especially important that you ask about any hidden fees that might be tacked onto your bill.

If preserving the environment is of interest to you, consider taking a “green” vacation. The number of green hotels is steadily growing. Some hotels have been built green and are certified green. Some older inns just select one or more of several eco-friendly strategies to show they care. Talk to your travel agent in order to find hotels that are eco-friendly.

You don’t want to make too many long distance calls while you’re staying in a hotel room. Use the Internet, instead. With a Wi-Fi connection, you can use Skype for your calls. This can be a much cheaper option than calling from a hotel room and getting hit with lots of fees.

TIP! Avoid using the hotel phone to make long distance phone calls. Use the Internet, instead.

Be sure you know the cost associated with hotel transfer fees by asking about them in advance. Especially in situations where the price of the room represents a major deal, the price of your transfer can make a big difference. Asking before anything happens will allow you to save more.

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. It can be extremely frustrating if you arrive at your hotel only to find out the pool is shut down for maintenance.

TIP! When traveling with children, check with the hotel ahead of time to ascertain that the pool is usable. It will be a huge disappointment if you arrive at the hotel with the kids ready to swim and they are not able to do so.

Join the hotel’s membership program to get deals on business trips. These points can be applied toward further travels.

If you are worried about bed bugs, start your inspection in the bathroom. Bedbugs usually won’t stay here. That means that the bathroom is a great place to keep your bags while you check the rest of your accommodations for bedbugs. It’s also safe for pets and kids this way.

TIP! If you are going to inspect if your hotel room has bed bugs, then start looking in the bathroom. This is the place where you are least likely to find them.

Get a AAA membership to facilitate the process of booking a hotel perks when you travel. Parents of small children will appreciate the complimentary car set offered in some locations.

Make sure to ask up front if the hotel allows smoking or does not. If you’re not a smoker, a smoking room may be unappealing. The smoke can settle into your clothing and luggage. There are times when smokers end up staying in non-smoking rooms, and smoking in them. If you want to avoid smelling like cigarettes when you leave, you may wish to consider a non-smoking hotel.

TIP! Figure out if you want a hotel you can or cannot smoke in. If you’re someone who doesn’t like cigarette smoke, you may want to find a different hotel.

Don’t call long distance in your hotel phone. Many hotels will give you complimentary Skype connections via Wi-Fi. This saves you a much cheaper option than calling from a hotel room and getting hit with lots of fees.

Determine what the policy on smoking is if you smoke. A lot of hotels have rooms designated for smokers. If you smoke, you should make a specific reservation for this type of room. Some hotels charge large penalties if they find that smoking occured in a room not designated for it, so make sure you follow the hotel’s smoking rules.

TIP! If you smoke, be aware of the hotel policy with regard to smoking. Many have designated nonsmoking rooms.

There is nothing worse than having to tell your hotel with kids they cannot swim.

Always find out the pet policy at any hotel you stay at. If you don’t like pets or are allergic, you want to avoid pet-friendly hotels. Hotels that allow pets typically have rooms that have a pet odor in them. One hotel may charge guests an arm and a leg to bring their pet, while others don’t. If the hotel allows animals in any room, then you may want to book elsewhere if you have allergies.

TIP! Look into the hotel policy with regard to pets. If you fear pets or have allergies it may be best to make reservations at hotels that have a strict no pets policy.

Start looking in the bathroom if you need to make sure there are no bed bugs in a hotel. This is the few places you won’t see any. It can be a temporary haven for pets and kids to stay.

Avoid leaving your hotel before your scheduled date of departure. The hotel may charge a fee for early departure. When you reserve a room, the management of the hotel removes that room from the market, so if you leave early, the hotel loses some money. This is why they have the departure fee, to get their money back that they would have otherwise lost.

TIP! Try to avoid checking out of the hotel ahead of your scheduled checkout time. The hotel may charge you a fee for your early departure.

You should be aware whether or not the hotel’s policy concerning pets. These hotels sometimes have odors sinking into the floor and bed linens. Some hotels are pet-friendly and don’t charge for it, while others charge substantially more. The fee may not be adequate to cover the extra cleaning that needs to be done.

You know your rights if a hotel attempts to take advantage of you. This refers to hotels overbooking their hotel rooms; therefore, the hotel room that you booked may not be available when you check in. This will require that you have to stay at a different hotel. 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.

TIP! Understand your rights when it comes to hotels “walking” you. Hotels sometimes over-book, and this can leave you without a room.

You should understand that you generally aren’t going to be able to do an early check-in at a hotel. Plan your time accordingly unless you might end up waiting in a hotel lobby. Hotels need to get a room so it is ready for you to check in. If you’re going to have to show up early, ask at the front desk if you can possibly check in early, but be prepared if they can’t accommodate you.

Resist the temptation to indulge in your hotel’s bottled water! After checking into your room you will probably feel exhausted and thirsty. This can tempt you to consume bottles of water from the mini-fridge. Hotels are well aware of this, and the bottled water they provide is far more costly than it is elsewhere. Some hotels give free bottles of water to their guest in their gyms. A better option to simply bring your own bottled water.

TIP! Stay away from the bottled water! You may be thirsty and tired. You may decide to reach for that bottle of water calling to you from the mini fridge.

Avoid using the bedspread. The bedspread is one item that does not usually isn’t washed between bookings.It may be a carrier of germs.Just remove this covering from the bed.

Do not take anything from the hotel. If hotel staff notice that these items are missing, you may be billed for them. If you really are in love with their linens, see if that hotel is willing to sell them to you.

TIP! Do not take the linens with you when you check out of the hotel. As soft and luxurious as they are, the housekeepers will likely notice that things are missing, and you might get a bill from the hotel for them.

Be aware of your rights in the event that a hotel “walks” you. This means that you have to stay at a different hotel. Avoid this if possible, but if you’re going to a different hotel, be certain that your reservation there is equivalent or even an upgrade.

Book your flight and hotel at the same time to save money. Online sites allow for bundles which lead to great discounts. If you want to maximize your possibilities, comparison shop the rates of multiple hotels and airlines.

TIP! It is possible to save money on travel by getting a package deal on your flight and hotel. A lot of travel websites provide significant savings for people who reserve a hotel and a rental car or flight from them.

Don’t drink the bottled water! You will likely to be tired and thirsty when you check in.You may decide to reach for that bottled water calling to you from the mini-fridge. Hotels are well aware of guests by charging ridiculous amounts for bottled water. Check out the hotel gym and see if they may have free water. A better option to simply bring your own bottles.

Tipping the hotel workers who provide special services such as the doorman, room-service or valet shows that you appreciate the assistance that they provide. Remember that room service bills include a tip; however, the person who cleans your room will not receive a tip unless you provide it. This will keep the workers happy and keep them offering you tip-top service.

TIP! To get good service and keep the mood happy all around, tip when the situation calls for it. For example, tip the housekeeping staff for keeping your room tidy.

If you find yourself having to book a hotel while on the road, look at tourist centers, rest areas and gas stations for free tourist books that contain maps of hotels, prices and discount offers. This will help you call ahead and reserve the room instead of driving around looking for a good bargain.

Don’t pay the price that’s advertised when you’re booking a hotel. The advertised price is known as the rack rate. If you are a savvy traveler, then you can get away without paying as much. Most hotels expect you to try to bargain about the price. Contact the hotel and then ask them for a discount. They are usually quite happy to accommodate you with a better price or a few extras. Travel sites on the Internet may also be a great place to find great savings.

TIP! Don’t ever pay the advertised prices. The posted price is known at the “rack rate”.

Check out online websites such as Expedia or Travelocity to help you find good deals. Some may require you to bid, while others may withhold the actual price until you commit to buy, so be aware of that.

At the end of your hotel stay, normally you should leave a tip for the housekeeper. Tips for other things can be skipped as they are generally added into the bill, but housekeeping and cleaning services should be tipped. Unless you made sure your room was spick and span every single day, remember to tip your maid.

TIP! Tipping the housekeeper who has tended to your room is a nice touch on your final day. You don’t have to tip everyone, but you should definitely tip your maid.

You won’t know if you fail to ask.

Each hotel in a chain will not likely be consistent. If you’ve gone to a great hotel at one time in a certain chain, that doesn’t mean the next place you will go will have service that’s better. Research each individual hotel so that you know what you are in for before getting there.

TIP! Keep in mind that hotels in a chain are not all the same. You may have a great time at a chain’s hotel in one location and a terrible time in another location.

As you have seen from this article, a lot of people need to stay in hotels. Before you make your reservation, you need to do some research first. The information from this article has shown you how to book a hotel and enjoy your stay.

Many hotel websites and brochures use Photoshop to enhance their hotels image. There might be a bad neighborhood shaded out, or the kiddie pool is made to look bigger than it really is. So, take the time to really get to know the realistic environment of the hotel you are booking.

TIP! Be aware that some hotels use computer software to enhance the pictures of the rooms they post on their websites. The pool might actually be tiny or dirty.