Thousands of hotel chains exist, ranging from small roadside motels to five-star luxurious rooms. A good hotel room can make a trip memorable, while a bad one can turn it into a disaster. For tips on finding and staying at a great hotel, read the information below.
Use online travel sites, such as Expedia and Orbitz, to find the best prices at the hotels you want to stay at. Make sure you notify the reservation clerk about any loyalty program you belong to with the hotel. Also, as an added bonus, you may get discounts from other companies such as AAA or AARP.
Get room service if you don’t want to leave. While you’re likely to pay a little more, it’s worth having the convenience of staying in your room (and in your pajamas) while you wait to satisfy those nocturnal cravings.
Make sure you put your valuables inside the safe in your hotel room. This safe will store your small important items, such as your iPad, iPod, GPS, jewelry, etc. By doing this, you can keep these items secure and enjoy your day without fretting about someone stealing them.
Check out your room ahead of unpacking. Your room should definitely be neat and should not have any odd smells, suspicious stains or mildew. Do the sink, shower, and toilet all work properly? Do you need extra linens or towels? If you see any issues, be sure to tell the front desk. This way, they can fix the problems or switch rooms for you.
When booking a hotel, you need to establish what you need and what you would ideally like from your stay. Price is always a big factor, but you also need a hotel that’s geographically proximate to your target destinations. You may want free WiFi access, a convenient location, free long distance or a nice pool or gym. Shop around for a hotel that has the features that are most important to you.
Know when check-in time is. Some people forget to find out what time they are allowed in their room; they show up at the hotel only to find their room is not yet ready. If you anticipate arriving before check-in time, make a call to the hotel and inquire if you can arrive early.
Make use of the various hotel search websites on the Internet. Travel websites are very helpful when seeking the best deals. In addition, these websites will provide a comparison of different hotel prices, which will allow you to find the best possible deals. You can also find out about local amenities and things offered by the hotels.
To get the lowest price on accommodations, plan your trip in advance. It’s not uncommon for a hotel to offer a discount if a room is booked a couple of months ahead of time. You may find yourself saving as much as half off of the room’s typical rates.
Prior to emptying out your suitcase, carefully look over your room. It should be free of any mildew or mold. Are the facilities operating correctly? Count how many linens and towels you were given and make sure there are enough for everyone traveling with you. If you spot any problems, immediately notify the hotel staff so they can fix it or move you to another room.
Allow Pets
Know the check-in times. Some people forget to find out what time they are allowed in their room; they show up at the hotel only to find their room is not yet ready. If you will be arriving early, call and ask if this is okay.
Although many hotels have certain rooms that allow pets, never assume your hotel will without researching ahead of time. 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. Be certain you understand all rules pertaining to pets. Some hotels only allow certain types, sizes and breeds.
You should always start planning any serious trip months or weeks ahead of time. This will help you book early and get the best prices. If you can book early, you may get a huge discount. That saves you 50 percent or more frequently!
To keep your running regimen up while you are traveling, pack your GPS watch and plenty of running clothes. Go for a jog every morning. Even jogging on pavement and alongside city avenues can provide you new perspective of any city that you visit.
If you’re going to be wanting a massage at your hotel, book it well in advance. Often the best masseurs and masseuses at top resorts are booked by name, so if you do your planning early, you can make your experience sublime.
For people who are frequent travelers, consider signing up for some loyalty programs with your favorite hotels. This type of program provides discounts and benefits for frequent visitors. Some of the useful things that you can earn are extra upgrades, free nights, and late check-outs.
See if you can get a hotel discount through AAA if you are a member. Your membership in this auto club has just such a discount available to you. You can save up to an additional five percent at certain hotels throughout the country. This is a savings that can really add up over several nights.
Sign up for frequent guest programs at hotels. Just like frequent flyer mile programs, these hotel programs offer you points for your stay. You might earn free stays and discounts, show tickets, or other things.
There are membership programs that hotels offer for those that stay frequently at their chains. Like the programs for frequent flyer, these programs the hotel offer give you points whenever you stay with them. As a result, you could have your next stay discounted or receive other benefits, like tickets to a show.
If you are worried about the environment, consider taking a “green” vacation. Fortunately, there are many green hotels to choose from today. Some of the newer hotels are certified green. Other older hotels will just provide green options for you. Talk to your travel agent if you prefer to stay at this type of hotel.
If you care about the environment, then you may be interested in taking a “green” vacation. Green hotels can feature specialized recycling programs, may only use recyclable products and use environmentally friendly cleaning supplies. Some of the newer hotels are built in a way that they get certified green. Older hotels can’t always do this, but instead choose to adhere to certain green practices. Check online or ask a travel agent for help.
If you don’t want to get a big expense on the hotel bill you get, speak to the place about hotel transfers prior to booking things. Particularly when the room price is a big deal, the hidden fee of transfer often can be the difference. Getting this information ahead of time will maximize your savings.
The cost of your hotel room largely depends on the dates on which you plan to stay there. Hotel rooms are priced based on how many are available. Try to book a specific room at least 24 hours ahead of time, but it’s even better if you book weeks ahead of schedule. In this way, you will get good rates. Empty rooms don’t earn a hotel any money, so they are willing to slash the price.
Become a AAA member if you want to make arranging hotel accommodations a bit simpler. AAA members get good hotel discounts and can also find good car rental rates much more easily. Those with youngsters will be grateful for the free car seats.
Be sure to avoid hotel transfer fees by asking about them in advance. Hotel transfer costs can be extremely large, especially in hotels that appear to offer an incredible deal on their room rates. If you know this upfront, you can save more money.
It may come as a shock to you, but most hotels don’t allow you to check-in early. Plan accordingly or you will find yourself waiting a long time to access your room. It is usually necessary for hotels to service your room prior to allowing you to 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.
Making a long distance call from a hotel room should be avoided. Instead, you should try the Internet. Most hotels offer Wi-Fi, but you will probably need their password and may have to pay a fee to use this service. This will help you converse with those back home without racking up a lofty bill.
Let the hotel know if you will be needing a crib or a rollaway bed. Some hotels won’t have these extra amenities, and when they do, there is often an extra cost. Additionally, you may need to pay an extra fee. Avoid difficulties by making these arrangements in advance.
Figure out if you want a hotel you can or cannot smoke in. If you don’t smoke, you may wish to avoid those that have smoking rooms. While you can book a non-smoking room, smoke can infiltrate your room and settle into your clothing. Sometimes, smokers book rooms that are non-smoking and smoke anyway. To be sure you don’t absorb cigarette smoke, think about staying at a nonsmoking hotel.
If it’s possible, try not to check out before the departure date you had originally scheduled. Your hotel may charge you a fee to do so. You reserve a room when you book it, so if you leave early they lose money. This is why they usually charge you an fee for early departure.
If you smoke, you should understand the hotel’s policy about smoking before you book a room. Many hotels set aside certain rooms or wings for smoking guests. Ask to see if any of these are available. Certain hotels will charge you a steep fee if you get caught smoking in a room that is non-smoking. Be sure to follow the rules of the hotel.
For hygienic reasons, it might be best to avoid the provided bedspread in your room. While sheets and linens are always washed, the topmost bedspread may not be, depending on the hotel policy. It may be a carrier of bacteria and germs. Remove the bedspread and use your own travel blanket or comforter, instead.
Find out what the policy on pets is. If you dislike or are allergic to pets, you should avoid hotels allowing them. These hotels may also have an odor due to the smells sinking in the floor and linens. Extra fees are sometimes imposed by hotels for guests who bring pets, but sometimes the fee is not too high. Depending on the hotel, that fee may or may not be enough to cover extra cleaning.
Some people take the first reservation they can find when searching for a hotel. So do the few minutes of research to ensure you get a hotel that makes your trip an enjoyable experience. Use the tips from this article so that you do not have to spend the night in unpleasant accommodations.
Be aware that it is normally not possible to check into a hotel early. Unless you’re okay with waiting for your room to be ready, plan your timing wisely. Before you can enjoy your room, hotels need to clean the room properly. If you are early, don’t expect miracles.
