You should know as much about hotels as possible. The reason being that a hotel can usually be costly. So be sure that it’s money that is well spent by choosing the best option for you. Read on to be a savvy hotel shopper.
Room service is great for late meals. Even though this will cost a bit more, the convenience and comfort are worth it.
Prior to making reservations, research hotels on sites like TripAdvisor. This lets you know what others’ experiences have been like. What people say about their experiences at the hotels you’re thinking of booking can aid you in coming to the right decision.
Check with any membership programs for deals. Many of these places will give you cheaper hotel prices. People often forget about these discounts, which can be 10% or more. If your stay will be for multiple nights, these discounts can save you lots of money. If you stay for a week, these discounts will almost add up for a free night.
If you want a meal at night, it is much more comfortable to enjoy room service. You will probably pay more for this meal, but for the convenience of having it delivered to your room, it is worth it.
The Internet is a great place to research hotels. There are a lot of websites that have great deals and other useful tools to help you comparison shop to find the right hotel at the right price. Hotel search websites also let you see the regular rates of hotels, so you can compare and see whether a supposed deal is really a good one. They can also give you information on nearby attractions, too.
Look for a closet safe in your hotel room, and use it for any expensive electronics you may have brought with you. You should put any expensive items in the hotel safe.
Checking online is the best way to find a good price and get the information that you need about hotels. Usually, when you try to book a room over the phone, the clerk will not let you know that there is a better deal online. You will have to learn how to find these great discounts yourself. Use popular websites such as Jetsetter, SniqueAway, or RueLalaTravel.
Consider the benefits of any organization memberships you have. Many of them offer hotel discounts to members. You may save ten percent or more. They can save you plenty of money, especially for prolonged stays. After a week has gone by it will add up to a free night almost!
Once you get to your hotel, do not unpack until you check the room. Is it clean? Are all bathroom fixtures in proper working order? Make sure you have the linens, bath supplies and towels that you will need. This quick check can keep you from discovering a problem later, after you have unpacked and all other good rooms are taken. Tell the front desk immediately.
There are a number of things to consider when deciding which hotel to stay at. Price is always important, of course, but you might also want to find a hotel near a certain attraction or business. A gym, pool, free breakfast, free wireless Internet, free local calls, and all kinds of other things may be important. Look for the hotel that gives as many of the extra you desire as possible.
Part of trip planning is knowing what time check-in is at your hotel. If you don’t know when you can check in, you may find your room is not ready when you arrive at your hotel. Ask for an early check-in time if absolutely necessary.
Be sure you inspect the room you are given at check in before you start unpacking. Is it without mildew and mold? Check the shower, toilet and sink to ensure they work properly. Are there enough of the right linens? If you see any issues, be sure to tell the front desk. This way, they can fix the problems or switch rooms for you.
In order to get the best prices for hotel stays, you will want to plan your trip several weeks or months beforehand. Quite a few locations will give discounts if you choose to book a room a month or more in advance. Doing this could save you up to 50 percent off your room, and this holds true with the more elite brands as well.
Make certain you know when your check-in time is. Many people show up before check-in time only to find out their room isn’t ready. 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’d like to bring Fido on your next trip, you must make some advance plans. Make sure it’s a pet-friendly hotel. Pack a supply of plastic grocery bags with you – you will need to clean up any pet waste. When you go to make the hotel reservation, see if there is room on the end that would prevent the other guests from hearing a noisy pet.
Hotel Reservation
Vacation “green” if you are worried about the environment. Many hotels offer environmentally friendly standards today. Many newer hotels are environmentally friendly. Some older hotels simply choose a variety of eco-friendly practices to be environmentally aware. Ask your travel agent to help you identify environmentally friendly hotels.
If you plan on taking a family pet with you to a hotel reservation, do three things in advance. First, inquire as to whether the hotel really is a pet-friendly place. Make sure you bring along plenty of plastic bags to dispose of any pet waste. When you go to make the hotel reservation, see if there is room on the end that would prevent the other guests from hearing a noisy pet.
Be sure you know the cost associated with hotel transfers when booking a room. It is not uncommon to find that greatly discounted bookings may have a hidden cost for the transfer. You can increase the amount you save by simply finding this information out in advance.
Always book early for that special couples massage for you and your loved one. Many top masseuses book by name, so plan as early as possible.
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. When you do, you get points every time you stay at a hotel.
If you go out to travel quite a bit, it’s good to get signed up for a hotel’s loyalty program. These programs provide benefits to guests who book the same hotel regularly. Some of the useful things that you can earn are extra upgrades, free nights, and late check-outs.
Be aware of the pet policy of the hotel. If you’re scared of pets or have allergies, you may not want to stay in a pet friendly hotel. Hotel floors and linens can glean unpleasant odors from pets. Most hotels charge a pet fee; however, sometimes this is negligible. Depending on what the hotel is like, you might have to pay an extra cleaning fee.
Discuss what a hotel transfer will cost you prior to actually booking anything. 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. Asking about this ahead of time helps you maximize your savings.
You should know that you generally aren’t going to be able to do an early check-in at a hotel. Plan your time accordingly unless you want to wait in the lobby for hours. Most hotels clean and prepare rooms at a certain time, so that they are ready for check-in. If you should happen to get there early, ask at the desk about early check-in, but your request may not be granted.
Maximize your hotel stays with membership programs like the ones that Marriott or Choice Hotels offer. When you do that, you accumulate points for every stay, and that can add up to free nights or vacation discounts.
If it all possible, never check out before your scheduled departure date. You may be charged a fee if you do. Booking a hotel room means the hotel is going to take that specific room off of their market. If you wind up leaving early, then they’ll be losing money for every day that you don’t stay. This is why they usually charge you an fee for early departure.
Get an AAA membership for hotel perks when you travel. Not only will AAA members receive discounts for a lot of hotel chains that make it worth getting into, you may also find rental cars more easily than those without the membership. Many car rental agencies add perks, such as a child car seat at no charge, for AAA members.
If you find your reserved room is not available, you do have rights. Hotels routinely overbook, which means that you could find that there is no room available for you when you arrive at the hotel. The hotel will then send or “walk” you to another 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.
Making a long distance call from a hotel room should be avoided. Use the Internet, instead. You’ll often find hotels have free Wi-Fi, which allows for Skype calling long distance numbers for free. 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 steal hotel linens. This may be tempting, but it’s easy for the hotel to find out and bill you for the items. If you like them that much, check out the gift shop for new ones.
If you are planning on staying in a hotel room with your children, make sure you call the hotel in advance to ensure they provide a working pool or some other fun activities for your children to do. There aren’t many things that are as frustrating as going to your hotel with kids that really want to swim only to see that it has been closed.
Save money by booking your flight and hotel at the same time. Travel sites typically offers savings to people who book more than one service at the same time. Be sure and compare the rates on different sites, as some will offer better deals than others.
You now know some tips to help you when you’re trying to book the best hotel room. Reread this if you are not sure that you have absorbed all of the information. Use these tips to ensure you get the hotel you deserve.
To get the best hotel rate, do not book at the height of the tourist season. This is when rates are highest. Instead you should try booking a room when it’s not peak season as this is when a hotel wants more visitors. You should get a much better price.
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