You will probably be staying at a hotel at one time or another. For both business and pleasure, it’s important to understand what you should seek in a good hotel. The following information will give you the best tips for booking a room and enjoying your stay.
Consider your organizational memberships. Some of them may provide discounts on hotel stays. People often forget about these discounts, which can be 10% or more. This is especially useful if you plan to book a longer stay. It can add up to equal a free night!
Do some research on travel websites before you book any hotel. Here you can get first-hand reports of the experience people had staying at different hotels. This can help you choose which hotel to stay at.
To get the best hotel rooms, use a website online that will help with this. These sites can help you get good deals. They also let you see what full price is, so you know you are saving money. You can also use them to explore the area around the hotel for recreation.
Keep your electronics secure by using the hotel safe located in your hotel room. Place all electronics there along with important documents, such as your passport or plane tickets.
To get the lowest price on accommodations, plan your trip in advance. If you can book early, you may get a huge discount. This can save you as much as 40 percent off of the cost of your hotel.
Utilize the Internet when searching for a hotel. These websites will help you find good deals quickly. In addition, these websites will provide a comparison of different hotel prices, which will allow you to find the best possible deals. The websites can also help you decide the best time to take a trip and where you can eat, shop or sight-see.
Don’t assume your hotel is pet-friendly. Call the hotel in advance to ensure the hotel is pet friendly. Make sure they specify what pet-friendly means since there may be certain restrictions on pet sizes and breeds that are allowed on the property.
Be clear about check-in time at the hotel you have booked. If you don’t check, the room may not be ready when you arrive. If you find you will be arriving early, call the hotel in advance and find out if you will be allowed in.
Always book early for that special couples massage for you and your loved one. The best professionals are often in high demand, so get in while you can.
Plan your trip as far in advance as possible. A lot of places will give you a discount if you’re going to book about a month or so in advance. You may even be able to cut the price down by half!
Do you travel on a periodic basis? If so, consider joining your hotel’s loyalty program. They provide rewards to those who stay with them often. It is possible to earn perks such as free stays, extended check out times and other upgrades.
Don’t make the assumption that all hotels will welcome your pet. Call the hotel to verify, even if it says so on the website. Also, find out if there are any size or breed restrictions.
If you are an environmentally conscious traveler, you should look into “green” hotels. Luckily, there are a lot of green hotels out there in this day and age. Some of the newer hotels were built with green standards in mind. Some hotels that aren’t that new will pick out some ways to be more eco-friendly so they can show they care. A travel agent or similar source can help you find hotels that are considered ‘green’.
If you wish to include amenities such as massage while staying at a hotel, be sure to make your reservations in advance. Experience a truly special moment with a top masseur or masseuse by asking for your appointment well in advance.
In order to avoid an unwanted expense on the hotel bill, inquire about any hotel transfer fees prior to booking them. Hidden transfer costs can really make a room not worth it. Asking about this ahead of time helps you maximize your savings.
Join a frequent customer program if you stay at the same hotel chain a lot. These programs usually work by letting you rack up points. They add up to free nights, discounts at hotel restaurants, show tickets, spa deals and a whole lot more.
Get a membership to AAA to make booking hotel arrangements a breeze when you travel. People who are AAA members receive discounts at many hotel chains. In addition, having a AAA membership will make it easier to get a rental car when it’s needed. Parents with young children will appreciate the complimentary car set offered in some locations.
Green Hotels
Try not to make any long-distance calls from your hotel room. Make use of the Internet, instead. With a Wi-Fi connection, you can use Skype for your calls. But the Internet is infinitely useful while traveling so it is usually worth it.
If you care quite a bit about your environment, consider taking a “green” vacation. Fortunately, there are many green hotels to choose from today. Certain hotels provide green rooms, and in fact, some are even certified as green hotels. Some of the older hotels do implement green practices to be sure they are eco-friendly. Request the help of the travel agent in identifying hotels that are environmentally friendly.
If you are traveling with kids, make sure the hotel you book has a working pool. Nothing is quite as frustrating as arriving at a hotel with children clamoring to jump in the pool only to find that it is closed.
The cost of your hotel will vary depending on when you make your reservation. The prices are based partly on availability. Try to book a specific room at least 24 hours ahead of time, but it’s even better if you book weeks ahead of schedule. This can net you a great deal. A room that’s empty won’t help the hotel, so generally they will get the price lowered.
The bathroom is the first place to go when checking for bed bugs in your hotel room. You probably won’t find any bedbugs in the bathroom. That makes the bathroom the safest place to keep the luggage while you look through the remainder of the accommodations. It is also the safest place for children and pets, too.
Membership programs offered by hotel chains help members who travel a lot get the best rooms during their stay. You will build up points with that hotel for added benefits. It works a lot like frequent flier miles do for airlines.
Check to see if your prospective hotel is non-smoking or smoking. If you are not a smoker, you might want to choose a hotel that does not have smoking rooms. You could still get a non-smoking room, but smoke can flow through the air and settle on your clothes. In addition, some smokers will rent out non-smoking rooms and smoke in them. Think about staying at a hotel that is totally nonsmoking if you don’t want to stink when you check out.
Get a AAA membership to facilitate the process of booking a hotel when you travel. AAA members not only get discounts at many hotel chains, it will also make it much easier to rent a car. Many car rental agencies add perks, such as a child car seat at no charge, for AAA members.
If you’re going to need to get a crib or a rollaway, you need to let the people at the hotel know before you arrive. Not all hotels supply these items, and those that do have limited quantities. Additionally, there may be an extra fee for these items. You should discuss this with the hotel agent prior to booking so that you do not have an unexpected charge to your bill.
Start looking in the bathroom when checking for bed bugs in a hotel. You probably won’t find any bedbugs in the bathroom. So, that means it’s the best place to stash your luggage and other belongings as you inspect the remainder of your suite. It’s also safer to the pets and kids you may have.
Never actually check out before the departure date unless it’s an emergency. The hotel could impose a fee if you check out early. Once you have confirmed your reservation, understand that the room is reserved for you, and the hotel loses money if you leave early. So, they may charge you a fee for early departure to replace the loss in revenue.
Be sure you know what the hotel smoking policy is if you smoke cigarettes. Many hotels have rooms designated for smokers. If your selected hotel does, ask for one. Some hotels will levy a large fine if they can determine that you smoked in a room where smoking was not allowed, so make sure you understand and follow the hotel’s smoking policy.
Be aware of your options in case a hotel “walks” you. Occasionally, a hotel overbooks and your booked room is unavailable. When this happens, the hotel directs you to another property, “walking” you. If you cannot avoid this situation, you need to be booked at a comparable hotel or upgraded room for your troubles.
If you are going to use a crib or even a rollaway bed, make sure you mention this at the time your reservation is made. Some hotels don’t offer these amenities at all. Certain hotels will even charge a fee for these things. Discuss your needs at the time of booking.
Don’t open the bottled water! Once you check-in and start to unwind, you will probably feel very thirsty. You may get tempted to open a bottle of water that is in the hotel’s mini-fridge. Hotels take advantage of guests by charging ridiculous amounts for bottled water. Sometimes the hotel gym offers bottled water for free. It’s better to simply bring your own bottled water.
Be aware of your options in case a hotel “walks” you. This refers to hotels overbooking their hotel rooms; therefore, the hotel room that you booked may not be available when you check in. The hotel “walks” you to a new hotel nearby. Avoid having this happen if you can, but if you’re going to a different hotel, be sure that the deal is better than the place you were trying to get.
Don’t think that you should steal the hotel’s property. If you do take any items, the housekeeping staff is sure to notice, and you may receive a bill from the hotel. It’s better to ask the hotel management if you can buy new ones of your own.
From time to time, you will need to reserve a hotel room. Regardless of the reason why, research is necessary. With the tips from this article, you will be sure to find a great hotel at a good price.
In order to pay the lowest rate possible, don’t travel during the peak season. It is during this time when rates are more. Hotels are looking to increase occupancy during off-season months and this is the ideal time to book a room. You will have a better chance in getting a good rate.
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