There are many things to consider when planning a vacation. You must pick a destination and arrange for transportation. You also need to get your accommodations in order, but this can be hard when you don’t know too much about the hotels in an area. The following tips should help you make an informed choice.
Room service is one of the best parts about a hotel. How else could you possibly enjoy a midnight snack without leaving your bed? While it may cost a little extra, it is worth it if you can stay in your comfortable room as you satisfy your cravings.
Before making reservations at a hotel, check the online review sites. This lets you know what others’ experiences have been like. You can make a wise choice when you know what others think about a hotel.
Keep your electronics secure by using the hotel safe located in your hotel room. Valuables can be placed there with confidence, allowing you to enjoy your day without worries.
If you want a nice meal at night with your special someone, and you are too comfortable in your room to go out, order some food through room service. It may cost more, but it’s convenient when you don’t feel like leaving.
Figuring out which hotel you want to book isn’t an easy process. Of course price is a big deal, but a hotel close to where you are head is a big consideration. Other amenities, such as a swimming pool, an onsite restaurant and free continental breakfast are important to travelers. Try to get a room that fits your needs, then start shopping by price.
Look for a closet safe in your hotel room, and use it for any expensive electronics you may have brought with you. Place your iPad, GPS and other small electronics in the safe when you are not in your room.
Check out the search tools offered by online travel sites. These sites can help you get good deals. They also list the average cost of a hotel room, allowing you to ensure you are receiving an acceptable deal. On top of that, they can help you determine the cheapest destinations.
Check with the organizations that you are a member with. Some of these organizations will offer you discounts on hotel prices. People don’t always remember to check out these discounts, which can often be 10% and higher. This can lead to a great amount of money saved, especially for those spending multiple nights at the hotel. If you are staying for a week, you can pay for a whole night’s lodging with these discounts.
Know when you are able to check in and get your room. Many people show up before check-in time only to find out their room isn’t ready. Therefore, if you anticipate arriving early, call the hotel in advance and see if it is possible to check in early.
When thinking about the type of hotel you would like to stay at, there are plenty of options to consider. While price is obviously a factor, you may want to think about room size and amenities as well. You may or may not care about such amenities such as a gym, large pool, WiFi or a free breakfast buffet. Find a hotel room that includes all of the features that you demand. There’s sure to be one out there.
Plan your trip as far in advance as possible. If you can book a couple of months early, a lot of locations will give you a steeper discount. With elite brands, this can translate into savings of up to 50 percent.
Find out the exact time for check-in and check-out. If you don’t know when you can check in, you may find your room is not ready when you arrive at your hotel. If you can’t help your arrival time being early, you can ask for an early check-in but it might cost a bit extra.
If you’re going to be wanting a massage at your hotel, book it well in advance. The best massage therapists are well-known at resorts, so planning early is the best way to create a good experience.
In order to save money on hotel stays, book far in advance. Quite a few locations will give discounts if you choose to book a room a month or more in advance. You can expect savings up to fifty percent if you book months in advance.
Bring your running clothes with you on your trip. Enjoy a morning jog each day while on vacation. Even if you stick to city streets, you will gain a better perspective on your destination city before you leave.
If you’re interested in the massage services of a hotel you intend to stay at, reserve your appointment ahead of time. The best massage therapists are well-known at resorts, so planning early is the best way to create a good experience.
Frequent travelers can benefit from loyalty programs offered by many hotels. They give people benefits if they go to that chain often. There are many rewards given when you accumulate loyalty points such as free stays, free upgrades and later than usual check out times.
It is wise to join a hotel loyalty program if you travel frequently. Loyalty programs provide frequent guests benefits for booking with them on a regular basis. You can earn things like free upgrades, complimentary late check-out times and free stays if you accrue enough loyalty points.
If you often stay at the same hotel chain, check to see if they offer membership to frequent stay programs. Just like with a frequent flyer mile program, you can get points for staying a hotel. These points can be traded in for restaurant discounts, tickets to shows, free nights at the hotel, and much more.
If you stay at the same hotels all the time, check to see if they have a frequent-stay program. Just like frequent flyer mile programs, these hotel programs offer you points for your stay. These points can be used to earn free nights, discounts and more.
Inquire about the price of a transfer before you place a booking. Particularly if you are getting a discount, the fee associated with the transfer may be high. Asking about this beforehand will help to maximize your savings.
Hotel Transfer Costs
Try to avoid long distance calling in hotel rooms. Use the Internet, instead. Many hotels now offer Skype connections via Wi-Fi. Use these connections to keep in touch instead of costly long distance calls.
Find out about hotel transfer costs prior to booking a room to avoid hefty fees. Hotel transfer costs can be extremely large, especially in hotels that appear to offer an incredible deal on their room rates. Getting this information ahead of time will maximize your savings.
When checking your hotel accommodations for bed bugs, begin in the bathroom. This is the last room they are likely to be. That makes the bathroom the safest place to keep the luggage while you look through the remainder of the accommodations. Kids and pets can stay there as well.
Get an AAA membership for hotel perks when you travel. Members of AAA get discounts at lots of hotel chains which more than makes up the membership to AAA, plus it is easier to rent a car anywhere you go. Parents with young children will appreciate the complimentary car set offered in some locations.
Always let the hotel know if you need a crib for your stay at the hotel. Not every hotel will carry them, and the ones that do may not have enough to go around. Also, these things can cost extra. Avoid difficulties by making these arrangements in advance.
Don’t make long distance calls on your hotel phone. If you don’t have a cell phone or the Internet, buy a calling card to keep with you during your trip. Skype connections are available in many hotels these days using Wi-Fi. 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.
Don’t use the hotel bedspread if you can avoid it. The blankets and sheets under the bedspread are typically washed between guests, however the top cover is not. It could have acquired a lot of invisible germs and other things you want to avoid. For your health’s sake, remove the bedspread.
If you wish to have happy kids while you’re on the road, be sure you call a hotel to see if they have a working pool at the time. There is nothing worse than arriving at your destination anxiously looking forward to splashing around in the pool, only to find that it is closed.
You can find reasonable upgrades without paying an upgraded price. To help you get an upgrade, arrive at the front desk at check-in time. Many times the room you booked will not be clean yet, so they may offer you a better room for no additional charge.
You should know that it is not usually possible to check into your hotel early. Be sure to plan your arrival with that in mind, or you may be sitting in the lobby area for some time. The room must be cleaned and prepared so the next guest can check in. If you do arrive before the normal check-in, you can ask if it’s possible to do so early, but this should not be expected.
You can make it a lot better at your hotel if you tip at the appropriate time. You will probably remember to tip the person who brings you room service, but you may forget to tip your maid. Tipping when you should will ensure that you’re respected and appreciated.
As you can now see, choosing a good hotel is easy. Armed with this useful information you now know exactly what to look for. The right room can make or break a vacation or trip away. And, you’re going to have pleasant stories when you return home.
Some hotel rooms have excellent views, while others do not. When the price is the same regardless of the view, ask for a room with a great view. Little things like this can make your hotel stay more pleasant. It’s a simple thing to ask whether there are rooms available where the view is better.
About The Author
