You must think of many different details when planning a vacation. You need to get transportation and pick just the right destination. You also have to consider where you’ll be staying while you are on vacation. This article will give some great tips that will be useful for this.
Before making reservations at a hotel, check the online review sites. These reviews can give you a customer’s perspective of the hotel you are planning on staying at. Find out what actual customers say about the hotel and it can help you avoid a costly mistake.
Check for online reviews before making any reservations. Reviews allow you to read about recent experiences at a hotel. These reviews can aid you in your decision about whether to book the hotel.
What groups are you a member of? Many of them offer hotel discounts to members. It is easy to forget about the discounts. That can save a lot of money, especially if you are staying for multiple nights. It may equate to one whole free night.
Use travel websites, like Expedia and Priceline to find great hotel deals. As you check your rates, don’t forget to include that you’re a loyalty program member. Additionally, there may be other price breaks for you through various organizations, like AAA or other exclusive clubs.
When picking a hotel, there is a lot to think about. Price is one consideration, but you may also want a hotel that is close to a certain destination. Other amenities that people look for are a gym, pool, free local phone calls, free Wi-Fi, and free breakfast. Try to find a hotel that offers as many of your desired amenities as possible.
Use the closet safe to protect your electronics. You can stash your expensive electronics and jewelry in the safe and go about your day without worry.
Prior to making a hotel reservation, do some research online in order to discover the best deals. Many times, the reservation specialist won’t tell you of discounts when you call to book your room. This is why you should always do your research well online to find these hidden discounts. Check out websites like SniqueAway, Jetsetter, or RueLaLaTravel.
Check the organizations that you’re a member of. There are times when an organization will give you great deals on the price of hotels. Discounts of 10% or more are often available, and people sometimes forget that they are eligible to claim them. This is especially useful if you plan to book a longer stay. This can rack up a free night over the entire course of a whole week.
Prior to emptying out your suitcase, carefully look over your room. Is the room clean? Check the shower, toilet and sink to ensure they work properly. Count how many linens and towels you were given and make sure there are enough for everyone traveling with you. If any issues are immediately prevalent, call the front desk that instant so they can address them or move you to another room.
To get the best prices on hotel rooms, start your trip planning weeks, or even longer in advance. A lot of places will give you a discount if you’re going to book about a month or so in advance. This can save you as much as 40 percent off of the cost of your hotel.
Know your check-in time in advance. If you show up too early for check-in, then your room may not be ready for you yet. Call the front desk to find out if it is alright for you to arrive before check-in.
If you need to travel with your pet, you need to make three advance preparations. Make sure the hotel is actually pet-friendly. Also, bring a lot of plastic sacks like ones from the grocery store so you can get your pet’s messes cleaned up. Be kind to other hotel guests by requesting a room that is as far away from other guests as possible, so they won’t be disturbed by any noise your pet may make.
In order to save money on hotel stays, book far in advance. If you chose to book a month or even two ahead of your arrival date, you can get great discounts. This way, you can save as much as 50 percent even with the most elite brands.
For members of AAA, hotels offer discounts that are exclusive to members. It may come as a surprise to find that an auto club membership offers hotel discounts, but that is the case. You can save 5 percent or more on your hotel stay just by showing your membership card. The more nights you stay, the more you will save.
Don’t assume a hotel is pet-friendly. Call the hotel to verify, even if it says so on the website. Get the term “pet-friendly” defined, as well. The hotel may not allow large dogs or certain types of pets.
If preserving the environment is of interest to you, you can chose a “green” vacation. These are much more common today than they were in the past. Certain hotels provide green rooms, and in fact, some are even certified as green hotels. Many older hotels are environmentally aware and have eco-friendly measures in place. Check online or ask a travel agent for help.
If you want to arrange for a couples massage at your hotel, be sure to book the appointment right away. The best masseuses are booked well in advance.
The time you book the room will change how much you’ll pay. The prices are based partly on availability. If at all possible, do not book your room more than one day in advance. This can get you a seriously discounted rate. A room that’s empty loses money for the hotel; so, they usually cut the price.
One of the best bonuses of a AAA membership is great discounts on booking a hotel. Many people are surprised to see hotel discounts included with their auto club membership. You can save more than five percent on hotels all over the country. These savings really add up.
In hotel rooms, avoid calling long distance if possible. Instead, use the Internet. Skype connections are available in many hotels these days using Wi-Fi. You can stay connected with people back home by using this instead of making expensive long distance calls from your hotel phone.
Be sure to follow your fitness regimen while staying in a hotel by packing your workout clothes and any other equipment you may need. For an early morning jog, get up and throw your gear on, and then head out the front door. Even if you stick to city streets, you will gain a better perspective on your destination city before you leave.
Find out if the hotel you’re staying at has a functioning pool for the kids. It will be a huge disappointment if you arrive at the hotel with the kids ready to swim and they are not able to do so.
If you book accommodations often, hotel loyalty programs are good to participate in. There are many benefits you may be able to get. You will be able to earn stuff like a free upgrade, an allowance to check out late, and even free stays when you get enough points.
The bathroom is the first place to go when checking for bed bugs in your hotel room. The bathroom is not a common place where bedbugs would be. So, that means it’s the best place to stash your luggage and other belongings as you inspect the remainder of your suite. It is a safe place for pets and kids to stay.
If you tend to return to the same family of hotels for your vacation, consider joining their membership reward programs. Similar to frequent flyer programs with an airline company, hotel programs will typically give you points for each visit. Over time, these points can really add up, allowing you to enjoy numerous upgrades, spa visits, restaurant discounts, and even free nights at the hotel.
Reviews whether or not the hotel allows pets. If you’re terrified pets or are allergic to them, it may be best to make reservations at hotels that have a strict no pets policy. These hotels might also suffer from odors sinking into the floor and bed linens. Some hotels charge a nominal fee for pets, while others charge substantially more. It might not be adequate to the cost of cleaning demands.
Timing matters when booking a hotel room. Hotels price rooms based on availability. If it’s possible, your room should be booked around a day in advance or more. You’ll end up with a great deal this way. Empty rooms don’t earn a hotel any money, so they are willing to slash the price.
Unless it is an emergency, always stay for the total number of nights that you have booked. The hotel might charge you a fee for early departure. When a hotel room is something you book, they are taking it away from other people and will lose some money if you leave early. To earn back this money they will lose, they charge you an additional departure fee.
Do not make long distance calls from your hotel room. Utilize the Internet, instead. A lot of hotels have free Wi-Fi that you can use to connect with people. Take advantage of these options to keep in touch with family, friends and coworkers rather than incurring high costs by using the hotel’s phone system.
No matter how clean your hotel seems, never use the hotel bedspread for sleeping. The bedspread usually isn’t washed like the linens are. That can mean it is full of germs, bacteria or who knows what else. Remove the comforter from the bed.
Ascertain whether or not the hotel you plan to stay at allows smoking. If you don’t smoke, you may wish to avoid those that have smoking rooms. You may be able to ask for a non-smoking room, however smoke can still travel through the air, settling on your clothing. In addition, some smokers will rent out non-smoking rooms and smoke in them. If you just can’t stand the smell of stale smoke, look for a hotel that doesn’t allow it at all.
If a hotel is trying to “walk” you, then you’ll know what the rights are you have. Occasionally a hotel will be overbooked, and the room you reserved will not be available. The hotel will then “walk” you, or direct you to a different hotel. Avoid getting “walked” whenever you can, but if you have to switch hotels, be certain that your reservation there is equivalent or even an upgrade.
If you smoke, learn the smoking policy of the hotel where you are staying. Some hotels offer smoking rooms. If that is the case, you should ask for one of those rooms. Some hotels fine guests if they find that they smoked in a designated non-smoking room. This means that you must be sure to obey the hotel’s smoking rules.
You now can see how choosing the right hotel room is not too difficult. Now you are armed with the information you need to get the hotel that is perfect for you. The right room can make or break a vacation or trip away. When you return, you will have some wonderful stories for your friends.
If it’s possible, try not to check out before the departure date you had originally scheduled. The hotel could impose a fee if you check out early. You reserve a room when you book it, so if you leave early they lose money. They have to at least get something for the loss, thus an early departure charge.
About The Author
