Is a hotel reservation something you’ve made but you figured out later that the place wasn’t any good? If you have, you know how poorly this situation can turn out. However, a decent hotel room should not cost an arm and a leg, either. In order to book a room with a reasonable rate, continue reading.
Use Orbitz or Expedia to find a great deal. If you belong to a hotel’s loyalty program, be sure to input that information when checking rates. Also, as an added bonus, you may get discounts from other companies such as AAA or AARP.
Consider taking advantage of room service when the urge strikes for a late-night snack with your special someone. Although you’ll probably pay more, it is worth being able to comfortably dine in the room while in pajamas.
If you belong to any organizations, find out if they get any discount from certain hotel chains. You may be able to receive discounts on hotel through these organizations. You may save ten percent or more. For extended stays, this can really add up. This can also net you a free hotel night.
Search for hotel deals online. Often, the only way to learn about discounts is to look online. That’s why it’s always your duty to search the web for better deals whenever you are booking a hotel room. Review the different websites, such as Jetsetter or SniqueAway.
Make use of online tools to find a hotel. There are a lot of websites that have great deals and other useful tools to help you comparison shop to find the right hotel at the right price. They will also let you know what people pay on average when they go to that hotel. This lets you figure out if the deal you’re getting is a good one. Finally, they can help you determine when you’d like to travel and what you’d like to do when you’re there.
Know when you are able to check in and get your room. If you don’t know when you can check in, you may find your room is not ready when you arrive at your hotel. If you will be arriving before check-in, call the hotel in advance and see if you can check-in early.
Always check the room before you begin to unpack your belongings. Is it without mildew and mold? Do the sink, shower, and toilet all work properly? Are you given the linens and towels that you’re going to need? 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.
Plan your trip as far in advance as you can to ensure best rates. You can get some great discounts if your trip is booked several months into the future. This way, you can save as much as 50 percent even with the most elite brands.
Don’t make assumptions about pet policies of hotels. Therefore, make sure you call the hotel staff to confirm that they will allow pets. Even if they have a website that states pets are allowed, you should still call to confirm this. 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.
Be sure and take care of three important things before bringing a pet on your trip to any hotel. Check to see if the hotel actually permits pets. Also, bring a lot of plastic sacks like ones from the grocery store so you can get your pet’s messes cleaned up. If you can arrange a corner room, there will be less likelihood of your pet disturbing other guests.
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. Membership in AARP, a union, an auto club or even being a police officer can get you a discount. This really adds up when you are staying for many nights.
If you’re going to be wanting a massage at your hotel, book it well in advance. Most of the best masseurs will be reserved by name ahead of time. You’ve got to get in your reservation early to get the best masseur or masseuses.
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. It’ll let you explore the city in a new way.
One of the best bonuses of a AAA membership is great discounts on booking a hotel. You would be surprised where hidden discounts may be lurking. You may be able to save upwards of five percent at hotels nationwide. When you stay for multiple nights, the savings really add up.
Sign up for frequent guest programs at hotels. These programs usually work by letting you rack up points. These points can add up to hotel restaurant discounts, spa deals, free nights and much more.
Loyalty Programs
If you are concerned about the environment, you may want to take a “green” vacation. There are a lot of eco-friendly hotels out there. Some of the newer hotels are certified green. Older hotels can go green by making environmentally friendly choices in energy use. Request the help of the travel agent in identifying hotels that are environmentally friendly.
If you travel a lot, you should consider joining hotel loyalty programs. Loyalty programs provide frequent guests benefits for booking with them on a regular basis. There are many great rewards even leading up to free stays as you gather up more loyalty points.
Timing matters when booking a hotel room. The price is subject to the laws of supply and demand like any other product. Book your room more the day before you need it if you can. You may find the best prices this way. An empty room will earn the hotel no money; so, they generally slash the price.
If you often frequent the same hotel chains, look into their frequent stay membership programs. Many hotels offer membership programs that allow you to earn points for each of your stays. As a result, you could have your next stay discounted or receive other benefits, like tickets to a show.
If you travel frequently, you can maximize your hotel benefits by looking into reward programs from large hotel chains. Each hotel stay can accrue points towards vacation perks.
What you will be charged for a room, depends on when it’s booked. Rooms are priced based on availability. If you can, make your room reservations only a day in advance. You can often get the best price if you do it this way. Empty rooms don’t make money, so hotels slash prices to fill the building.
Become a AAA member if you want to make arranging hotel accommodations a bit simpler. AAA members can receive great hotel discounts as well as locate a rental car much more easily. You might even get a free car seat if you have kids.
Being a member of AAA makes travel very easy. You’ll get discounts on hotel rooms, easier car rentals and more benefits. At some locations they even offer free car seats.
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. Imagine arriving at your destination looking forward to a dip in the pool, only to discover that you can’t use it.
Do you smoke? If so, it is important that you are aware of a hotel’s smoking policy in advance. Many hotels set aside certain rooms or wings for smoking guests. Therefore, if you are a smoker, always ask for a room that allows smoking. You may be charged hefty fees if there is evidence that you have smoked in a that is designated as non-smoking.
If you require a rollaway bed or crib at your hotel, let the person know when making a reservation. Not every hotel offers these items, and the ones that do only have limited quantities. Sometimes, there are also extra charges for items like these. Avoid difficulties by making these arrangements in advance.
Now that you have read this article, you should have a better idea of how to find a great hotel without having to pay through the nose. When you know how to look for a hotel reservation deal, it’s quite easy. Just put in a little time and your travel plans can be a dream.
You have rights in the event where a hotel needs to “walk” you. Hotels routinely overbook, which means that you could find that there is no room available for you when you arrive at the hotel. This will require that you have to stay at a different hotel. Avoid this if possible, but if must go to another hotel, make sure you get a comparable or better room and the travel to there paid for.