Do you get a migraine thinking about making your next hotel reservation? There are a lot of things to choose from, and how can you locate the best? Don’t worry. The tips that follow will help you with all things related to hotels.
There are plenty of websites that offer reviews for local hotels, for example TripAdvisor. Use these websites to review a hotel before you make the actual reservation. Reviews allow you to read about recent experiences at a hotel. Reading other people’s reviews of the hotels you’re considering can really help you decide which one to choose.
Get room service if you don’t want to leave. This service comes at a premium, but you can stay comfortable in your room while enjoying you eats.
When checking for good prices at hotels, refer to online travel sites like Orbitz and Expedia. If you are a part of a loyalty program, make note of that. You may also qualify for discounts from other organizations you belong to such as AAA or AARP.
A number of factors all need consideration in your hotel reservation process. Of course price is a big deal, but a hotel close to where you are head is a big consideration. Amenities like free WiFi, fitness facilities, a pool and free meals may also be important considerations. So decide on the amenities that mean the most to you and start looking.
If you wish to keep things safe in a hotel, use the hotel’s safe that’s in the closet of 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.
Do not assume that each hotel welcomes pets. Put a call into the front desk just to be sure, no matter what it says on their website. Also ask exactly what they mean by pet-friendly, as there might be restrictions on certain breeds and sizes of pet that they allow on their premises.
When booking a hotel, you need to establish what you need and what you would ideally like from your stay. You must consider price of course, and you might want to be close to a specific location within the city you’re staying. Amenities such as complimentary WiFi, free local calls, complimentary breakfast, a gym and pool and a convenient restaurant are also important considerations. You want to secure a room at a hotel that provides the things you desire.
If your pet is coming to a hotel with you, there are a few things you need to do in preparation. First, find out if the hotel allows pets. Also, bring a lot of plastic sacks like ones from the grocery store so you can get your pet’s messes cleaned up. When you make a reservation you should see if you can stay near the back of the hallway to keep other guests away from your pets when they are making noises.
Look for 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.
Book any massage appointments you make early. The best professionals are often in high demand, so get in while you can.
When you get to your hotel room, look over the room before unpacking. Is it free of mildew and mold while being clean? Is everything in the bathroom working as it should? Do you have all the towels and linens you need? If you spot any problems, immediately notify the hotel staff so they can fix it or move you to another room.
Always see if your AAA membership can get you a discount on the hotel you intend to stay at. It may surprise you that AAA gives hotel discounts, but most of them do. You can save 5 percent or more on your hotel stay just by showing your membership card. These savings can really add up if you travel often.
You can get better deals on hotel rooms if you book several weeks or months ahead. Most hotels have serious discounts for early booking customers. This way, you can save as much as 50 percent even with the most elite brands.
Pack your GPS and running clothes while on vacation. Get up early and dress for a jog in the early morning. You’ll get plenty of good exercise and a better understanding of the city around you.
There are three things to do ahead of time if you want to bring your pet to a hotel with you. You want to ensure you’ve chosen a pet-friendly hotel. It is also a great idea to bring along some plastic bags to clean up when your pet makes a mess. Finally, ask the hotel staff if you can have a room on the far end away from guests so that you don’t interfere with their visit.
Do you travel a lot? Consider using a hotel loyalty program. They provide benefits to anyone who stays at a hotel chain frequently. There are many rewards given when you accumulate loyalty points such as free stays, free upgrades and later than usual check out times.
If the hotel you stay at offers a couples massage, it is very important that you make an appointment well ahead of time. Many of the top masseuses out there are booked far ahead of time.
Become a member of AAA in order to make your travel arrangements easier. AAA members receive excellent discounts on hotels, car rentals and other attractions. If you are a parent of a young child, you may even be provided with a free car seat.
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. Green certification is something some of the newly built hotels are quite proud of promoting. Older hotels can go green by making environmentally friendly choices in energy use. Finding hotels that are environmentally friendly can be as easy as asking your favorite travel agent.
Call the hotel before you arrive to make sure the swimming pool is in working order. There are few things as frustrating as showing up to a hotel, with your kids chomping at the bit to get in the pool, only to have it closed for repairs.
Find out about hotel transfer costs prior to booking a room to avoid hefty fees. Particularly when the room price is a big deal, the hidden fee of transfer often can be the difference. Inquire before you book, so you aren’t hit with an unexpected price increase.
If you are going to inspect if your hotel room has bed bugs, then start looking in the bathroom. You probably won’t find any in there. That means that the bathroom is a great place to keep your bags while you check the rest of your accommodations for bedbugs. Kids and pets can stay there as well.
Membership programs offered by hotel chains help members who travel a lot get the best rooms during their stay. This allows you to earn points each time you book a room. You can use these points to purchase perks in the future.
If you’re a smoker, then make sure you get a hotel with a smoking room. If cigarette smoke bothers you, look for a hotel that doesn’t have smoking rooms. Nonetheless, if there are smokers in the hotel, you may have problems with odors. It is not unheard of for those who smoke to stay in non-smoking rooms and proceed to smoke. If you are a non-smoker, be sure to request a non-smoking room in a non-smoking area of the hotel or you can find a hotel that is completely smoke free.
Steer clear of long distance calls while in a hotel. Use the Internet, instead. You will probably find that your hotel has Wi-Fi and Skype. Use these types of services to keep in contact with loved ones back home instead of having exorbitant charges added to your bill from the costly phone calls.
You should be aware that early hotel check ins are not always possible. So, you may have to sit for a while in the lobby or find a way to occupy yourself until checking in if you are going to be arriving early. The rooms can’t be readied and cleaned until the prior guests are gone, so this means that check-in time is usually around 2 p.m. or 3 p.m. Having said that, don’t hesitate to ask the front desk about checking in if you do arrive early; however, you shouldn’t expect to be able to do this. The best thing you can do is arrive on time.
If you are searching a hotel for bed bugs, you should check the bathroom first. This is the last room they are likely to be. It makes a safe place to keep your luggage when looking for bedbugs elsewhere in the room. It is usually a convenient place for young children to sit for a moment too.
If you are going to need a rollaway or a crib, make sure that the hotel knows this in the reservation process. These items are not available at all hotels. When they are available, they are often in limited supply. They may charge extra for this. Talk about these when reserving your room so you aren’t hit with unexpected expenses.
Checking in early may not be available. Plan your time accordingly unless you want to wait in the lobby for hours. Usually, hotels have your room cleaned prior to check-in time. If you are early, don’t expect miracles.
If possible, don’t check out earlier than intended. Many hotels will charge a fee for early departure. Booking that room means it wasn’t available when others were reserving. That is why you are charged a fee.
If your requirements include a roll-away bed or a crib, you should call ahead to reserve them. Not every hotel will have these items available, and the ones that do only have limited quantities. Sometimes, there are also extra charges for items like these. You can always discuss the possibilities with the hotel clerk or manager on the phone before you book your room.
Know what the hotel’s policy is for overbooking. Occasionally a hotel will be overbooked, and the room you reserved will not be available. In this case the hotel has to send you to a different hotel. This is inconvenient, and try to avoid it if possible. If you must go elsewhere, make sure transportation is paid and you get a better room than you originally booked.
Never check out earlier than your scheduled departure unless it is absolutely necessary. The hotel might charge you an early departure fee. When you make your reservation, the hotel can’t offer the room to someone else, so they lose money if you leave early. They have to at least get something for the loss, thus an early departure charge.
After reading this article, you are now better able to discover great hotels with affordable prices. Just do some research and allow yourself to have some time to make the right choice. After you go over all of this information things will go well for you so you can get a great place when you go on a vacation.
If you are concerned about germs, you might want to take the bedspread off of the bed. While sheets and linens are always washed, the topmost bedspread may not be, depending on the hotel policy. That can mean it is full of germs, bacteria or who knows what else. So take it off the bed, fold it up and stash it in a corner of the room.
