All Your Hotel Questions Answered With This Great Advice

When planning a trip, you need to pay attention to certain things. You must pick a destination and arrange for transportation. You also need to make accommodations, but knowing which hotel to choose is hard if you are going somewhere that you don’t personally know. Read these tips to help you get this right and maybe even save you some money.

Use travel websites, like Expedia and Priceline to find great hotel deals. If you are a member of a particular hotel’s loyalty program, remember to include that information when you are checking on rates. You might also be entitled to additional discounts through your other organizations, such as AAA or AARP.

TIP! When checking for good prices at hotels, refer to online travel sites like Orbitz and Expedia. If you are a member of a particular hotel’s loyalty program, remember to include that information when you are checking on rates.

Prior to choosing and reserving a hotel room, check review sites online like TripAdvisor or Expedia. Websites like TripAdvisor will give you some first-hand accounts of hotel experience from actual customers. What others say will help you make a wise decision.

Check with the organizations that you are a member with. Many clubs, groups and organizations are able to get members discounted hotel rates. People don’t always remember to check out these discounts, which can often be 10% and higher. When you’re staying for more than one night, this can add up to a decent savings. After a week has gone by it will add up to a free night almost!

TIP! Consider your organizational memberships. Many clubs, groups and organizations are able to get members discounted hotel rates.

Consider ordering room service if you want a special meal without needing to go out. While it may cost a little extra, it is worth it if you can stay in your comfortable room as you satisfy your cravings.

Be sure to look at your room before unpacking your suitcase. Is the room free of mildew and mold and clean? Do the sink, shower and toilet work properly? Have the staff provided all the necessary soap, shampoo, towels, etc. that you will be needing? Call the front desk if you find any issues; they can either fix the problem or give you a different room.

TIP! Inspect the room before unpacking. Is it free of mildew and mold while being clean? Check the shower, toilet and sink to ensure they work properly.

Make sure you put your valuables inside the safe in your hotel room. You can use it to store your tablet and other expensive items to keep them secure.

Plan your trip as far in advance as you can to ensure best rates. If you chose to book a month or even two ahead of your arrival date, you can get great discounts. That saves you 50 percent or more frequently!

TIP! To get the lowest price on accommodations, plan your trip in advance. Some hotels have a discount if you book your room a month or more ahead of time.

Many factors come into play as you choose a hotel. Your budget comes first, but proximity to attractions is also important. Amenities such as complimentary WiFi, free local calls, complimentary breakfast, a gym and pool and a convenient restaurant are also important considerations. Seek out hotels that offer amenities that appeal to you.

Although many hotels have certain rooms that allow pets, never assume your hotel will without researching ahead of time. Put a call into the front desk just to be sure, no matter what it says on their website. Make sure they specify what pet-friendly means since there may be certain restrictions on pet sizes and breeds that are allowed on the property.

TIP! Don’t think every hotel is pet-friendly. Call and ask before you reserve.

Be aware in advance of the check-in time. If you are early, your room may not be ready. If you anticipate arriving before check-in time, make a call to the hotel and inquire if you can arrive early.

See if you can get a hotel discount through AAA if you are a member. Your membership may entitle you to hotel discounts. You can save more than five percent on hotels all over the country. This really adds up when you are staying for many nights.

TIP! Always see if your AAA membership can get you a discount on the hotel you intend to stay at. You could also get a surprise that you have an auto club membership that gives you hotel discounts.

To get a good price when you want a hotel room, get your trips planned quite a few weeks or so in advance. The earlier you book, the better rate you should get. You can expect savings up to fifty percent if you book months in advance.

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! Go for a jog every morning. Spending time on the road with your own two feet will give you a perspective that you’ll never get while riding in a car.

TIP! Always remember to pack running clothes and any thing else you need for exercising while on your trip. When you wake up and feel like a jog, simply toss on your gear and head out.

Don’t think every hotel is pet-friendly. Always call to ask, even if it says pet-friendly online. Verify exactly what is meant by “pet-friendly” since certain breeds and pets over a certain size may not be allowed.

Do you travel a lot? Consider using a hotel loyalty program. They offer perks to folks who frequent their hotel. The rewards can include free room upgrades, free meals and movie or show tickets tickets. The points can add up.

TIP! If you travel often, it’s a great idea to enroll in a hotel’s loyalty program. They provide benefits to anyone who stays at a hotel chain frequently.

If the hotel you stay at offers a couples massage, it is very important that you make an appointment well ahead of time. That’s because the highest quality masseurs and masseuses are typically booked way in advance due to their good name. Therefore, by planning in advance, you can ensure you have the best possible experience during your massage.

Vacation “green” if you are worried about the environment. These are much more common today than they were in the past. Some of the newer hotels were built with green standards in mind. Many older hotels are environmentally aware and have eco-friendly measures in place. Speak with a travel agent to see if they can help you pick out hotels that care about the environment.

TIP! If preserving the environment is of interest to you, you can chose a “green” vacation. Green hotels can feature specialized recycling programs, may only use recyclable products and use environmentally friendly cleaning supplies.

AAA members get an extra discount at certain hotel chains. It may come as a surprise to find that an auto club membership offers hotel discounts, but that is the case. It can save you 5% or more on hotels all around the nation. Those discounts add up to great savings, especially if you will be having an extended stay.

In order to avoid any surprise charges, inquire about hotel transfers prior to booking. This is especially important if you run across an unbelievable deal. Be sure and inquire about this beforehand so that you get your savings.

TIP! In order to avoid an unwanted expense on the hotel bill, inquire about any hotel transfer fees prior to booking them. A transfer can sometimes come with a substantial hidden cost.

If you like running and frequently stay in hotel rooms, be sure and pack up a GPS watch, along with your favorite running clothes. In this way, you can simply suit up and enjoy your workout as usual while on the road. When you go running in a new city, you will get a free tour, up-close and personal.

When you travel, go through AAA to find hotel accommodations easier.` AAA members get good hotel discounts and can also find good car rental rates much more easily. At some locations they even offer free car seats.

TIP! Sign up for AAA to ensure easier hotel arrangements when traveling. Members of AAA get discounts at lots of hotel chains which more than makes up the membership to AAA, plus it is easier to rent a car anywhere you go.

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 be used to earn free nights, discounts and more.

Ask if your possible hotel reservation is either smoking or non. If you do not smoke, you might not want to go to a hotel with smoking rooms. Even if you reserve a non-smoking room, the smell of smoke can circulate through the hotel’s air vents and cause your clothes to pick up the odor. Even if a room is designated as nonsmoking, sometimes people smoke in there anyway. Too avoid exposure to the smell of cigarette smoke, it may be best to stay at a non-smoking hotel.

TIP! Think about whether or not you are going to be staying at a smoking or nonsmoking hotel. If you are a non-smoker, you might want to stay at a non-smoking hotel.

Hotel Rooms

Understand the smoking rules in your hotel, especially if you smoke. Many have designated rooms for smokers. If the hotel has one, ask for this kind of room. If you don’t, you can be hit with some major penalties for lighting up in a non-smoker’s room.

TIP! If you smoke, be sure you’re aware of what the hotel thinks of smoking where you’re staying. Many have designated rooms for smokers.

The price you pay at a hotel often depends on the time frame in which you reserve the room. Availability dictates the prices of hotel rooms. If at all possible, do not book your room more than one day in advance. This will net you the best price when it comes to hotel rooms. An empty room will earn the hotel no money; so, they generally slash the price.

In most cases, checking into a hotel room ahead of schedule isn’t possible. Be sure to not to show up early so you don’t have to wait. The room needs to be cleaned after the last guest leaves. You can request an early check-in ahead of time, but it may cost more.

TIP! It may come as a shock to you, but most hotels don’t allow you to check-in early. Plan to get there at the right time if you don’t want to wait.

Now you know how to easily find an affordable hotel that is comfortable. You are ready to begin, now that you are aware of things to avoid. Make your travel plans, and you are sure to have a great stay. You will have lots of great vacation stories to share when you return.

If you are concerned about germs, don’t use the hotel bedspread. The sheets and blankets underneath are usually washed between guests, but the top bedspread is usually not. It can carry a lot of germs. Just remove it from the bed.

TIP! For hygienic reasons, it might be best to avoid the provided bedspread in your room. The bedspread is one item that does not usually get washed between bookings.