It can be difficult to book a hotel room. Figure out your budget and decide which features you can’t live without. Remember this advice as you conduct your search.
Use travel websites, like Expedia and Priceline to find great hotel deals. Make sure you notify the reservation clerk about any loyalty program you belong to with the hotel. Some organizations like AAA and AARP offer lodging discounts for a variety of hotel chains.
Check online hotel reviews before booking a room. This lets you first-hand accounts of people’s experiences have been like. What former guests have to say about their experiences at the hotels you’re thinking of booking can aid you make an informed decision.
If you wish to keep things safe in a hotel, use the hotel’s safe that’s in the closet of your room. You can put just about anything in there, as long as it isn’t too big, and you won’t have to worry about it.
You should put any expensive electronics and jewelry in the hotel safe.
When thinking about the type of hotel you would like to stay at, there are plenty of options to consider. The location of the hotel may be just as important than the price. Amenities like free WiFi, fitness facilities, a pool and free meals may also be important considerations. Ensure the hotel you are planning on staying at has the amenities you desire.
Check in on the organizations that you belong to. Some offer big discounts on certain hotels. People often forget that they are eligible for these discounts, and they can be 10 percent or more. It can add up to equal a free hotel night!
Make use of the various hotel search websites on the Internet. These websites can help you get great deals quickly. They can provide you with an idea of the average rate charged by each hotel, so you will have a good idea as to whether or not the deal you are being offered is good. You can also use them to explore the area around the hotel for recreation.
There are things to consider as you search for a hotel. Amenities like free WiFi, fitness facilities, continental breakfast and free Wi-Fi or local calls. Try to get yourself a hotel that offers as many of your desired amenities as possible.
Prior to making a hotel reservation, do some research online in order to discover the best deals. Often, the only way to learn about discounts is to look online. This is why you should look for discounts yourself. Look at Jetsetter, Enrovia and Hotels.com.
Take advantage of tools online. These sites allow you quickly find great deals quickly.
Never make the assumption that all hotels allows pets in your room. Put a call into the front desk just to be sure, no matter what it says on their website. Make sure that you ask ahead what pet-friendly means to the hotel because this is a loose term that may still mean there are certain restrictions.
If you are a member of AAA, look into hotel discounts included. You would be surprised to learn that your membership to the auto club also includes discounts may be lurking. You can save upwards of 5% or even more on your hotel stays. These savings can really add up.
If you and a loved one are wanting to go to a hotel and get massages, it is important that you book the appointment way in advance. Many of the top masseuses out there are booked far ahead of time.
If you want to keep your regular running routine, continue your routine when traveling by bringing running clothes and your GPS.
Be sure to consult AAA to help you make excellent plans for your entire vacation. Your membership in this auto club has just such a discount available to you. You may be able to save upwards of five percent at hotels nationwide. It really is a savings that adds up over time.
If you care about the environment, you can chose a “green” vacation. The great thing is there are plenty of “green” hotels you can select from. Many new hotels are environmentally friendly.Some older hotels simply choose a variety of eco-friendly so they can show they care. Talk with a travel agent in order to find green hotels for your needs.
Sign up for frequent guest programs at hotels. Many hotels offer membership programs that allow you to earn points for each of your stays. In time you may even get to stay there for free!
The price for the hotel room has much to do with what you pay. Rooms prices are priced based on availability. This can net you to get a great price on your room.
People who care about the environment may be more comfortable staying in a hotel that is eco-friendly. Luckily, there are a lot of green hotels out there in this day and age. Many newer hotels are environmentally friendly. Many older hotels will still be environmentally aware by utilizing some eco-friendly practices. Check online or ask a travel agent for help.
Distance Calls
Join a loyalty program to get deals on your stays. This allows you to get more points with each stay that you can convert into free rooms and other benefits on your next family vacation.
Don’t make long distance calls from your hotel room. Many hotels now offer Skype connections on their Wi-Fi.This saves you a bunch of long distance calls from your hotel room.
If you are traveling with children, be sure the hotels you book have clean swimming pools that are up and running. There is nothing worse than getting to a hotel with kids to find the pool is closed.
There is nothing worse than having to tell your hotel with kids they cannot swim.
When you first arrive, inspect your hotel room’s bathroom. This is where bedbugs are least likely to be. You can leave your bags there while you investigate the remainder of the room for bedbugs. It can be a temporary haven for children and pets.
Ask if your possible hotel reservation is either smoking allowed in the hotel.If you’re someone who doesn’t like cigarette smoke, you might want to stay away from hotels that offer smoking rooms. Smokers also sometimes smoke in rooms that the room they are not supposed to smoke in.
Ask if there is smoking allowed in the hotel. If you are a non-smoker, you may not want to stay in a smoking room. You may be able to ask for a non-smoking room, however smoke can still travel through the air, settling on your clothing. Smokers don’t always respect the fact that the room they are renting is a non-smoking room. If you want to avoid smelling like cigarettes when you leave, you may wish to consider a non-smoking hotel.
Find out how the policy on pets is. These hotels might also suffer from odors because the floor and bed linens. Some hotels charge a nominal fee for pets, and the charge is not much in some places. The fee may cover totally or partially the extra cleaning involved.
The bedspread might not be the cleanest linen in the room. Your sheets should be fresh and clean but the bedspread is not washed after each guest. Therefore, you don’t really know what is on it. Remove the blanket and sleep in peace.
Never check out before the departure date unless it’s an emergency. The hotel might charge a fee for early departure fee. When you make your reservation, the hotel takes that room off the market; thus, if you depart early they will lose money.
Do not open that bottled water! After you check-in you may feel tired and thirsty. You might feel the urge to untwist the cap on the bottled water sitting in the mini-fridge. Hotels are counting on this, and they jack up the price of the water accordingly. The gym in the hotel may have water for free. Or, if you are thinking ahead, just bring a bottle with you.
Avoid using the bedspread. The bedspread usually isn’t washed between bookings. It may be a lot of invisible germs and other things you want to avoid. Just make sure you remove it from the bed.
Try to get a hotel upgrade without spending any money. You can do this by checking in exactly at your expected arrival time. Often the room isn’t quite ready at the exact time and the hotel will offer you an upgraded room instead.
Do not open that bottled water in your room. You may be thirsty and thirsty. You can be tempted to casually open that bottle of water beckoning on the mini fridge. Hotels know this and have hiked up the price of that tempting bottled water significantly. You might be able to get bottled water in the gym. A better option to simply bring a few of your own bottles.
If you must find a hotel while traveling, check gas stations, tourist stops and rest centers to get a free guide book with information about local hotels. These often have good discount coupons included. This will save you time and money.
You will be able to get better hotel rates when you don’t book during peak tourist seasons. Rates are at this time. You are more likely to find a good rate.
Tipping for maid service and room service can improve the quality of your trip. For instance, the bill for room service usually includes the tip; however, the bill for maid service does not include the tip. People will respect you and treat you better if you tip them.
You can often get a free upgrade. You can be sure of this by being on time to accept your expected arrival time. Sometimes, rooms aren’t ready when patrons arrive, which means they offer an upgraded room for free.
Some rooms come with a view, while others do not. If you do not have to pay more for a room with a good view, ask for one. Small things like this can add to your experience. You can always ask for a room with a better view.
Rest Areas
You should always avoid paying the full price that hotels advertise to its guests. Advertised rates are called “rack rates” and experienced travelers never, ever pay them. Hotels are used to travelers asking for discounts or special rates and they are usually happy to accomodate you. Ask for the lowest possible price when calling up the hotel. Being bold is a good idea. Visit travel websites to enjoy some excellent discount rates.
If you need to book a room while driving, check rest areas, rest areas and gas stations for free tourist books that contain maps of hotels, prices and incredible discounts. This will help you call ahead and reserve the room instead of driving around looking for a good bargain.
Book your hotel stay for a special occasion. You could get a perk because of the event in question. Sometimes, you will be presented with free champagne. Don’t lie about it, though, that would be wrong.
There are a variety of ways that you can ensure a great stay in a fantastic hotel. So keep the advice from above in mind and start planning your next trip. You can find a stay that is both physically and financially comfortable.
It is often possible to obtain the best deal by speaking to the desk clerk. They can’t always lower the price, but they may be able to add a few additional perks to improve your stay. Of course you won’t know unless you ask, so make a point of doing so.
