Almost everyone has had the nightmare experience of booking a bad hotel. It can be a costly and unforgettable mistake that nobody wants to repeat. Follow the tips presented here to get excellent value in hotel accommodations.
Online travel sites like Expedia or Orbitz can help you get the best price for rooms at the hotel you would like to stay at. Make sure you notify the reservation clerk about any loyalty program you belong to with the hotel. You may also be eligible for deals that are offered to members of certain organizations, like AAA or AARP.
Prior to choosing and reserving a hotel room, check review sites online like TripAdvisor or Expedia. Here you can get first-hand reports of the experience people had staying at different hotels. Consider what they say to help you make your decision.
If you want a nice meal at night with your special someone, and you are too comfortable in your room to go out, order some food through room service. This service comes at a premium, but you can stay comfortable in your room while enjoying you eats.
Check out online travel websites in order to discover the best deals on hotels. Examples include Orbitz and Expedia. When making hotel reservations, be sure to include information regarding hotel loyalty programs in which you may hold membership. You may also be eligible for deals that are offered to members of certain organizations, like AAA or AARP.
Make use of the room safe to ensure the safety of your electronics when you are not in your 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.
If you take a lot of electronic gadgets with you on a trip, lock them up in the safe when away from the room. Putting your valuable jewelry and electronic items in the hotel safe allows you to feel secure as you enjoy your vacation.
Always check the room before you begin to unpack your belongings. Is it clean and free of mold and mildew? Does the plumbing work right? Does your room feature the linens and towels you require? If you spot any problems, immediately notify the hotel staff so they can fix it or move you to another room.
Consider your organizational memberships. There are times when an organization will give you great deals on the price of hotels. Some discounts can be over ten percent! When you’re staying for more than one night, this can add up to a decent savings. If you stay for a week, these discounts will almost add up for a free night.
In order to get the best hotel deals, always plan your trips weeks ahead of schedule, or even a few months. If you chose to book a month or even two ahead of your arrival date, you can get great discounts. Even some elite chains will offer discounts as much as half off.
When making a hotel selection, you should consider many things. Of course price is a big deal, but a hotel close to where you are head is a big consideration. Amenities that help you choose a hotel are free breakfast, free Wi-Fi, exercise room, pool, and a restaurant on the premises. You want to secure a room at a hotel that provides the things you desire.
Do not make the assumption that your pets are welcome at all hotels. Call before you book so that you know for sure. Also, ask what their definition of pet-friendly is, as there may still be restrictions on size or breed of pet allowed at the hotel.
Before you book a hotel, look for deals online. Often, the reservations clerk will not advise you that a better deal is available online. It’s your job to find them yourself. Look to websites like RueLaLaTravel or Jetsetter for more help.
If you’re thinking of taking your pet to a hotel with you, there are some things you need to do first. First, you’ll need to find out if a hotel is even pet-friendly. Gather plastic grocery bags so you are able to clean up any pet messes. When you call to make reservations, try getting a room away from other guests so any noise your pet makes won’t bother people.
When you arrive at your hotel, thoroughly inspect your room before unpacking. Your room should definitely be neat and should not have any odd smells, suspicious stains or mildew. Do the toilet, sink and shower work properly? Do you need extra linens or towels? If you see that there are problems with your room, let the people at the front desk know right away so they can get things taken care of. Or, they can move you to another room.
Book any massage appointments you make early. Most of the time, the most reputable masseuses will be booked, so plan early in order to have the most enjoyable experience.
In order to get the best prices for hotel stays, you will want to plan your trip several weeks or months beforehand. Many hotels offer the best discounts if you book a few months in advance. This will allow you to save up to 50 percent even when staying at an elite hotel.
If you have a AAA membership, look into hotel discounts included. You may be surprised that your auto club membership includes hotel discounts, but it does. You may save 5% or even more on nationwide hotels. This can add up on a long trip.
Running Gear
Always remember to pack running clothes and any thing else you need for exercising while on your trip. Get up early and dress for a jog in the early morning. No matter if you’re on city streets or down some roads, you can easily learn new things about a city doing this.
If you want to get your daily runs in while on vacation, make sure to bring your running gear with you. So, make sure you have your running gear and shoes and you will be set to jog anywhere. Running not only provides you with great exercise, but it also helps you better learn the city in which you are residing.
If you are an environmentally conscious traveler, you should look into “green” hotels. Green hotels can feature specialized recycling programs, may only use recyclable products and use environmentally friendly cleaning supplies. Some of the newer hotels were built with green standards in mind. Older hotels may choose to take “green” standards seriously, which is a great thing. Your travel agent can help to identify the environmentally friendly hotels.
If you often frequent the same hotel chains, look into their frequent stay membership programs. Similar to frequent flyer programs, some hotels have programs that give point for each stay. 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.
The timing of your room booking often determines the price you pay. The price is subject to the laws of supply and demand like any other product. Try to always book your hotel room only a day in advance. This will net you the best price when it comes to hotel rooms. A room that’s empty won’t help the hotel, so generally they will get the price lowered.
Be careful not to make long distance phone calls on the hotel phone. Use the Internet, instead. Skype connections that are accessed through Wi-Fi are offered by many hotels. This is much cheaper than paying for a bunch of long distance calls from your hotel room.
In order to avoid an unwanted expense on the hotel bill, inquire about any hotel transfer fees prior to booking them. Especially if you’re in a situation where the room’s price is a really good deal, the price of your transfer can make a big difference. Asking about this ahead of time helps you maximize your savings.
If you are bringing your kids along for the trip, then it’s a good idea to call a hotel in advance and make sure they have working pools. You don’t want to get there, only to disappoint your children when you find out the pool is closed.
Get a AAA membership to facilitate the process of booking a hotel when you travel. A membership with AAA not only provides you with hotel discounts but a guaranteed piece of mind when trying to rent a vehicle. In addition, free car seats are usually provided, which parents are certain to enjoy.
Inspect your room for bed bugs, starting with the bathroom. This room is usually free from bugs. Stow you suitcases and other items here and then take a good look at the rest of your room. It is a safe place for pets and kids to stay.
Don’t call long distance in your hotel room. Instead, you should try the Internet. You’ll often find hotels have free Wi-Fi, which allows for Skype calling long distance numbers for free. In this way, you can stay in touch with friends, relations and colleagues without racking up a big phone bill.
Always ask about the hotel’s smoking policy if you smoke. Many hotels still offer smoking rooms. You should try your best to book one of these if they are available. Don’t smoke in a nonsmoking room, or you may be charged by the hotel for doing so.
Make sure to ask up front if the hotel you’ll be staying in allows smoking or does not. If you aren’t a smoker, then you want to avoid smoking rooms and maybe even smoking hotels in general, but most hotel chains do have smoking and non-smoking rooms. You may be able to ask for a non-smoking room, however smoke can still travel through the air, settling on your clothing. There are even cases where people are smoking in non-smoking rooms before you arrive. If you don’t want to smell like cigarettes after leaving your hotel room, you might want to look for a non-smoking hotel.
Check out the hotel’s pet policy. If you fear pets or have allergies to them, make reservations at hotels that have a strict no pets policy. The smells tend to stick around. Some hotels charge extra fees for pets, but some do not charge much. The fee may cover totally or partially the cost of the extra cleaning involved.
Be sure you understand your hotel’s smoking policy if you smoke. There are sometimes rooms designated for people who smoke. Ask for those rooms if you are a smoker. If they find you have smoked in a non-smoking area, they may charge you a fine.
No one wants to book a bad hotel. Cheap prices aren’t worth bad experiences. It can ruin your whole vacation. Therefore, implementing the tips given here will help you find the best hotel. Find the right hotel first, then call and start talking discounts and special rates.
Always find out the pet policy at any hotel you stay at. If you fear pets or have allergies it would be best if you make reservations at hotels that have a strict no pets policy. Hotel floors and linens can glean unpleasant odors from pets. Depending on the hotel, you may be expected to pay extra for keeping a pet, but it isn’t usually a large sum. Depending on what the hotel is like, you might have to pay an extra cleaning fee.