It is not easy to plan a vacation. In addition to picking a place to visit and other specifics, you may also need to find a hotel to stay in. Staying at the wrong hotel can ruin a long anticipated getaway. Use the information in this article to book your room the best way.
Find great prices at online travel sites like Orbitz and Expedia. Always remember to give your loyalty program information to the clerk when you book your room or search for prices. You can also get additional discounts from any organization you are apart of, such as the AAA or the AARP.
Check online reviews before booking a room. Here, you can read what people had to say about their hotel stay. What people say about a hotel can help you figure out where you should be staying.
Room service is one of the best parts about a hotel. How else could you possibly enjoy a midnight snack without leaving your bed? Although you’ll probably pay more, it is worth being able to comfortably dine in the room while in pajamas.
To get the best hotel rooms, use a website online that will help with this. These kinds of websites allow you to locate great deals fast. Not only will they show the best deals, but they’ll also include extra information about the rooms, floor plans, and even reviews from other customers. Finally, they can assist you in deciding when to vacation and what to do once you arrive at your destination.
Make use of the room safe to ensure the safety of your electronics when you are not in your room. You can put your iPad, GPS watch, and other small, costly items into the safe, and then head out for the day with peace of mind about their security.
When you arrive at your hotel, thoroughly inspect your room before unpacking. Is the room clean? Does everything work? Is the room adequately stocked with towels and linens? If you spot any problems, make the front desk aware immediately so they can take care of it or move you to a room that meets your needs.
Checking online is the best way to find a good price and get the information that you need about hotels. Many times, the reservation specialist won’t tell you of discounts when you call to book your room. So you should always search on your own for discounts prior to booking. Use popular websites such as Jetsetter, SniqueAway, or RueLalaTravel.
Know the hotel’s check-in time. Many people forget the time, then they show up early and the room isn’t ready yet. If you might be arriving before the check-in time, ask the hotel whether it’s okay to come.
When get to your hotel, inspect the room before unpacking. It should be free of any mildew or mold. Do the sink, shower and toilet work properly? Do you have an adequate number of towels? If you quickly note any problems, let the person at the front desk know so they can help you sort it out or give you a better room.
If you want to get a low rate at your hotel, start planning early for your vacation. If you chose to book a month or even two ahead of your arrival date, you can get great discounts. You might only pay half price for premium hotels.
To get the best prices on hotel rooms, start your trip planning weeks, or even longer in advance. There are quite a few hotels that will reward booking your room a few months in advance with nice discounts. That saves you 50 percent or more frequently!
There are three things you must do before bringing your pet along on your vacation. First, you’ll need to find out if a hotel is even pet-friendly. Make sure you bring along plenty of plastic bags to dispose of any pet waste. And, ask if your room can away from guests.
Do not make the assumption that your pets are welcome at all hotels. Call ahead to their service desk and make sure, even if their website listing says they are. Find out what their rules on pets are also, as they may not let large pets or certain breeds stay with them.
AAA members get an extra discount at certain hotel chains. It may surprise you that AAA gives hotel discounts, but most of them do. It will let you save 5% or so on hotels that are around the nation. It’s a savings that really adds up over the nights.
If you plan on taking a family pet with you to a hotel reservation, do three things in advance. Be sure that this hotel will be friendly to pets. Also, bring a lot of plastic sacks like ones from the grocery store so you can get your pet’s messes cleaned up. Reserving a room near the end of a hallway will keep other guests from being disturbed by your pet.
To keep your running regimen up while you are traveling, pack your GPS watch and plenty of running clothes. When you wake up in the morning, throw on your gear and head out for a morning jog. Even if your route takes you through the street of a city, at least you will get a glimpse of the area you are visiting.
If you want a couples massage, book early. Experience a truly special moment with a top masseur or masseuse by asking for your appointment well in advance.
It is wise to join a hotel loyalty program if you travel frequently. This type of program provides discounts and benefits for frequent visitors. The rewards can include free room upgrades, free meals and movie or show tickets tickets. The points can add up.
If you have a AAA membership, it may qualify you for a hotel discount. Are you aware that the auto club you belong to may offer you excellent hotel discounts? It can save you 5% or more on hotels all around the nation. These savings really add up.
Membership Programs
To keep your running regimen up while you are traveling, pack your GPS watch and plenty of running clothes. Enjoy a morning jog each day while on vacation. Spending time on the road with your own two feet will give you a perspective that you’ll never get while riding in a car.
In order to enhance your hotel visits, especially when traveling for work, you should consider joining membership programs that hotels provide. Examples include membership programs provided by Marriott or Choice Hotels. This allows you to earn points each time you book a room. You can use these points to purchase perks in the future.
It may be wise to look into loyalty programs that your favorite hotels offer. There are many benefits you may be able to get. Enjoy late check out, bonus upgrades and free nights with the loyalty paints you have earned.
Steer clear of long distance calls while in a hotel. Using the Internet is a better option. With a Wi-Fi connection, you can use Skype for your calls. This can be a much cheaper option than calling from a hotel room and getting hit with lots of fees.
People who care about the environment may be more comfortable staying in a hotel that is eco-friendly. The number of “green” hotels is steadily growing. There are plenty of hotels built today with strong environmental standards. Other older hotels will just provide green options for you. Talk with a travel agent to find green hotels.
If you want to ensure happy kids while traveling, call the hotel ahead of time to check that the pools are open and in working order. You don’t want to get there, only to disappoint your children when you find out the pool is closed.
The price you are charged for your hotel room is partly dependent upon when you make the reservations. The prices are based partly on availability. If it’s possible, your room should be booked around a day in advance or more. This gives you the best prices in reserving hotel rooms. This is because the hotel will want to book rooms that are currently empty.
If you are inspecting a room for bed bugs, then the bathroom is the best place to start. You probably won’t find any in there. When you determine there are not any in there, set your bags down and inspect the remainder of the premises. Kids and pets can safely wait there too.
Try not to make long distance calls from your hotel room. Use your cell phone or the Internet. Most hotels offer Wi-Fi, but you will probably need their password and may have to pay a fee to use this service. 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.
Moking Rooms
If you are worried about bed bugs, start your inspection in the bathroom. You probably won’t find any bedbugs in the bathroom. When you determine there are not any in there, set your bags down and inspect the remainder of the premises. It is also a safe spot for your pets and kids.
Check to see if your prospective hotel is non-smoking or smoking. If you are a non-smoker, you will enjoy a non-smoking room more. Although certain hotels that allow smoking will provide guests with non-smoking rooms, smoke will still be in the air. Sometimes, smokers rent and smoke in non-smoking rooms. If you don’t want to stink like a cigarette when you are leaving a non smoking hotel may be a good choice.
Find out if the hotel you want is smoking or non-smoking. If you are not a smoker, you probably want to avoid staying 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. Sometimes, smokers book rooms that are non-smoking and smoke anyway. To avoid cigarette odors entirely, opt for a non-smoking hotel.
In this way, your enjoyment of your vacation will not be marred by bad accommodations. Do your homework and make plans appropriately. If you know what you’re doing when booking a room, you’re going to have more choices available to you. You don’t want your vacation to be ruined simply because of the hotel. Remember the tips here next time you plan for a vacation.
Keep in mind that hotel check-ins are usually very strict; therefore, you probably won’t be able to check-in early. Plan your trip right or you might end up waiting in a hotel lobby. The hotels need a chance to clean up your room prior to check in. If you arrive earlier than your check-in time, you can always ask the front desk and see if they can let you in.
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