Having the right hotel room can make or break your stay. Hotel rooms are a large expense, and you spend a lot of the time in the room, so you want to make sure you shop wisely. The following tips will ensure that the process is less of a headache for you.
Use online travel sites, such as Expedia and Orbitz, to find the best prices at the hotels you want to stay at. Are you a member of a certain hotel’s membership program? If so, make sure you put this information into the travel site. You may also qualify for discounts from other organizations you belong to such as AAA or AARP.
Use online travel sites, such as Expedia and Orbitz, to find the best prices at the hotels you want to stay at. Input your loyalty info when you are looking for rates online. You may also be able to get good discounts due to AAA or AARP membership.
Check out the search tools offered by online travel sites. These websites can help you quickly find the best value. They can also allow you to look at the average rates of a hotel. Finally, they can assist you in deciding when to vacation and what to do once you arrive at your destination.
Room service is great for late meals. This will cost you a little extra, but the convenience it provides is worth it.
Prior to making a hotel reservation, do some research online in order to discover the best deals. Often, the reservations clerk will not advise you that a better deal is available online. That’s why it’s always your duty to search the web for better deals whenever you are booking a hotel room. Use websites such as Jetsetter, SniqueAway or RueLaLaTravel.
Checking online is the best way to find a good price and get the information that you need about hotels. The hotel representative is unlikely to inform you there are better deals online. That’s why doing a bit of research pays off, so you are aware of discounts and specials. Check websites like Hotwire.com, Kayak.com and Priceline.com for great discounts.
When get to your hotel, inspect the room before unpacking. Is the room clean and devoid of issues like mildew and mold? Check the toilet, the shower, and the sink to make sure they are clean and function properly. Are you given the linens and towels that you’re going to need? If you see that there are problems with your room, let the people at the front desk know right away so they can get things taken care of. Or, they can move you to another room.
Never make the assumption that all hotels allows pets in your room. Call ahead to their service desk and make sure, even if their website listing says they are. Be sure you know what pet-friendly means because there could be specific restrictions on sizes or certain breeds of dogs.
Know when check-in time is. Some people neglect asking what the check-in time is and get to the hotel when their room is still not ready. If you anticipate arriving early, check with the hotel to find out if your room will be ready.
Always book early for that special couples massage for you and your loved one. 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.
Plan your trip as far in advance as you can to ensure best rates. There are quite a few hotels that will reward booking your room a few months in advance with nice discounts. This can save you as much as 40 percent off of the cost of your hotel.
If you are always staying at the same chain, find out about the programs they offer to frequent guests. Similar to how you earn points from frequent flyer programs, hotels offer you similar rewards for your stay. In time you may even get to stay there for free!
Don’t think every hotel is pet-friendly. Even if the website says they are pet-friendly, always call in advance to verify. Get the term “pet-friendly” defined, as well. The hotel may not allow large dogs or certain types of pets.
You should always find out how much hotel transfers will cost before you book a room. If you are getting a very low price on the room, it is especially important that you ask about any hidden fees that might be tacked onto your bill. You can increase the amount you save by simply finding this information out in advance.
Book massages as early as possible. The best massage therapists are well-known at resorts, so planning early is the best way to create a good experience.
If you wish to get a lot out of a hotel stay, especially if you’re traveling for your business, get a membership program and join it like what the Marriott or Choice Hotels offers. This allows you to earn points each time you book a room. You can use these points to purchase perks in the future.
Are you a member of the AAA? If so, find out about membership discounts at hotels. Are you aware that the auto club you belong to may offer you excellent hotel discounts? You can save more than five percent on hotels all over the country. It’s a savings that really adds up over the nights.
Call ahead of arrival to see if the pool is open to keep the family happy. You don’t want to get there, only to disappoint your children when you find out the pool is closed.
Bring your running clothes with you on your trip. Head out early in the morning after donning your running gear. Whether you are running on roads or city streets, you will gain more knowledge about the city you are visiting while you run.
The bathroom is the first place to go when checking for bed bugs in your hotel room. This is probably not where you will find bedbugs. That means that the bathroom is a great place to keep your bags while you check the rest of your accommodations for bedbugs. It is also the safest place for children and pets, too.
If you go to the same hotel often, see if they have frequent stay programs you can become a member of. You should be able to earn points every time you are visiting one of the hotels. These points can add up to hotel restaurant discounts, spa deals, free nights and much more.
Look into the smoking policies in the hotel you are considering. If you are not a smoker, you probably want to avoid staying in a smoking room. While it is possible to book a nonsmoking room, you can still be affected by the smoke from other areas. Sometimes a smoker will get a non smoking room and still smoke in it. Think about staying at a hotel that is totally nonsmoking if you don’t want to stink when you check out.
Think about going on a “green” vacation. There are plenty of “green” hotels that take the environment into consideration. Some of the newer hotels were built with green standards in mind. Hotels that have been around for a while may employ a variety of eco-friendly practices. Finding hotels that are environmentally friendly can be as easy as asking your favorite travel agent.
Be aware that it is normally not possible to check into a hotel early. Make sure you plan around your check-in time, or you will be forced to sit in a lobby to wait for your room. It is usually necessary for hotels to service your room prior to allowing you to check in. Should you arrive early, ask at the desk if it is possible to check in, but do not be surprised if they say no.
The cost of your hotel room largely depends on the dates on which you plan to stay there. Rooms prices are based on their availability. Don’t book a room more than a day in advance. This will usually ensure that you receive the best available price. This is because the hotel will want to book rooms that are currently empty.
When your hotel attempts to “walk” you, don’t stand for it! Sometimes hotels are going to overbook and then your room that you reserved won’t be there. In this case the hotel has to send you to a different hotel. Try not to let this happen to you, but if it is unavoidable, be sure that that you are getting a room that is at least as good as the one that you paid for.
Maximize your hotel stays with membership programs like the ones that Marriott or Choice Hotels offer. When you do, you get points every time you stay at a hotel.
Do not open the bottled water in your hotel room. After you check-in you may feel tired and thirsty. The bottled water inside the mini fridge may tempt you. Hotels know this very well, and that bottled water is exponentially more expensive than it should be. Sometimes the hotel gym offers bottled water for free. Pack a couple bottles of water.
If you are bringing your kids along for the trip, then it’s a good idea to call a hotel in advance and make sure they have working pools. Nothing is worse than having excited kids who find out they cannot go to the pool.
Do not take any of the hotel’s linens with you when you leave. If housekeeping notices that you’ve taken towels or linens, you may be billed for those items. If you really love those linens or pillows, find out if you can purchase them from the hotel.
Start looking in the bathroom when checking for bed bugs in a hotel. This room is usually free from bugs. That makes it the perfect place to store your luggage while you inspect the rest of the premises for bedbugs. Kids and pets can safely wait there too.
When traveling, booking your flight and hotel together will save you money. Often travel websites provide greater discounts for package deals. For best results, do a rate comparison of various carriers and hotels.
If you smoke, be aware of the hotel policy with regard to smoking. Some have smoking rooms. So be sure to request one of these rooms. If you stay in a room that doesn’t allow smoking and the hotel staff discover evidence of you smoking in this room, then you could be charged a large penalty. Therefore, it is important that you always follow the hotel’s rules when it comes to smoking.
Try your best to score a free upgrade during your hotel stay. Arrive right at your check-in time. If your room isn’t clean yet, you may be offered an upgrade.
If you need an extra bed or crib, make sure you discuss this when making your reservation. Some hotels may not have one, so you want to know this upfront. Hotels also charge extra for these items, sometimes. You should discuss this with the hotel agent prior to booking so that you do not have an unexpected charge to your bill.
Now you should understand that some preparation goes a long way when it comes to booking hotels. You’ve got to learn what to be looking for and when you should be booking. Keep the aforementioned tips in mind to ensure you find the perfect hotel.
When your hotel attempts to “walk” you, don’t stand for it! Occasionally a hotel will be overbooked, and the room you reserved will not be available. This is known as “walking” a customer. If you can’t avoid this make sure the room you get there is better or comparable and that they pay for the travel there.
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