There are quite a few hotels in the US, from the fanciest resorts to little motels on the roadside that aren’t all that modern. A nice hotel room really adds to your trip, but a terrible one can ruin your vacation. So, to find the best hotel for your needs, continue reading.
Prior to making reservations, research hotels on sites like TripAdvisor. Reviews allow you to read about recent experiences at a hotel. What others say will help you make a wise decision.
Online travel websites can offer you a great deal on hotels with lots of choices, all on the same website. If you belong to a hotel’s loyalty program, be sure to input that information when checking rates. You can also get additional discounts from any organization you are apart of, such as the AAA or the AARP.
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. Although you will probably have to spend more money to do this, it’s usually worth the cost because you have the luxury of receiving excellent food without having to leave your hotel room.
When leaving your hotel room, keep any electronics you have secure by putting them in the room’s safe. Putting these items in the safe ensures that you can go out and have fun, not worrying about what you’ve left in the room.
Make use of the room safe to ensure the safety of your electronics when you are not in your room. You should put any expensive items in the hotel safe.
If you belong to any organizations, find out if they get any discount from certain hotel chains. Many organizations provide hotel discounts for members. Some of these discounts can be pretty substantial, but many people don’t take advantage of them. When you’re staying for more than one night, this can add up to a decent savings. It can add up to almost a free hotel night!
Make use of the various hotel search websites on the Internet. 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. 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 help you determine when you’d like to travel and what you’d like to do when you’re there.
Check the Internet for the best deals before you book a hotel room during your next trip. Often, the person booking your room won’t tell you about discounts available online. That’s why it’s always your duty to search the web for better deals whenever you are booking a hotel room. Look at websites such as RueLaLaTravel, Jetsetter, and SniqueAway.
Search for hotel deals online. Many times, the reservation specialist won’t tell you of discounts when you call to book your room. This is why you should look for discounts yourself. RueLaLaTravel, SniqueAway and Jetsetter are all good Internet sites to check with.
If you want to have a massage with your partner on your vacation, make sure that you schedule an appointment with a masseuse as early as possible. The best practitioners go fast, so make your reservation early and book by name where possible.
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 all work properly? Does your room feature the linens and towels you require? If you notice any problems, report them immediately. If your issues are not resolved, ask to move to another room.
Check your AAA membership for a hotel discount. It might be surprising to learn that some auto club memberships include hotel discounts. You can save 5 percent or more on your hotel stay just by showing your membership card. This can add up in time!
Be clear about check-in time at the hotel you have booked. If you show up too early for check-in, then your room may not be ready for you yet. Call the hotel if you are early and find out if your room is ready.
If you care about the environment, then you may be interested in taking a “green” vacation. Many hotels offer environmentally friendly standards today. Many new hotels are certified as green hotels. Some hotels that aren’t that new will pick out some ways to be more eco-friendly so they can show they care. Ask around for hotels that are friendly to the environment.
If you’re interested in the massage services of a hotel you intend to stay at, reserve your appointment ahead of time. Usually, the best massage therapists are booked well in advance at top resorts. If you plan early, you will have the best experience possible.
In order to avoid an unwanted expense on the hotel bill, inquire about any hotel transfer fees prior to booking them. If the rooms are cheap, the transfer could ruin the deal. You will save more by asking about such a thing in advance.
If you are an avid jogger, a GPS watch is a great investment so you can always find your way back to your hotel. Also, don’t forget your exercise clothes! When you wake up and feel like a jog, simply toss on your gear and head out. Even if you have to run down roads or the streets in the city, you can learn a lot more about the city when you get finished.
If you want to save money, and you stay at the same place a lot, consider signing up for the hotel’s version of a frequent guest program. When you stay at a hotel, you get points you can use later on.
If you travel frequently, it is wise to enroll in hotel loyalty programs. They offer perks to folks who frequent their hotel. Enjoy late check out, bonus upgrades and free nights with the loyalty paints you have earned.
To make reserving a hotel easy, use AAA. Your AAA membership will pay for itself right away in hotel and car rental discounts and availability. Some places provide free car seats too.
If you often stay at the same hotel chain, check to see if they offer membership to frequent stay programs. Similar to frequent flyer programs, hotels have programs that add points on to your account each time you stay with them. They can amount to show tickets, free nights, spa deals, hotel restaurants discounts and much more.
The bathroom is the first place to go when checking for bed bugs in your hotel room. You probably won’t find any in there. So, that means it’s the best place to stash your luggage and other belongings as you inspect the remainder of your suite. Put kids and pets in there, too.
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.
Cigarette Smoke
Try to avoid long distance calling in hotel rooms. Instead, use 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 this type of thing to get with people you know while you’re in your hotel room so you can save quite a bit of money.
Make sure to ask up front if the hotel you’ll be staying in allows smoking or does not. If you’re someone who doesn’t like cigarette smoke, you may want to find a different hotel. You may rent a non-smoking room, however, the smoke from the smoking rooms can still be present in the air and make your clothes smell like it. Smokers also sometimes smoke in rooms that you are not supposed to smoke in. Too avoid exposure to the smell of cigarette smoke, it may be best to stay at a non-smoking hotel.
When you feel the need to check the room in your hotel for signs of bed bugs, begin in the bathroom. This is the least likely place for bedbugs to be. This makes the perfect location to place your belongings while you inspect your hotel room for bedbugs. It’s safe for pets and kids too.
Check to see if the hotel allows pets. If you are allergic to animals, you should probably avoid staying in hotels that allow people to bring their pets. They may have a hidden smell that the hotel tries to mask with a strong fragrance, which is also an irritant. You may get charged extra for having a pet, but a lot of places don’t charge all that much. The fee may cover totally or partially the cost of the extra cleaning involved.
Check to see if your prospective hotel is non-smoking or smoking. If you are a non-smoker, you might want to stay away from hotels that offer smoking rooms. Even non-smoking rooms can have smoke billow in from next door. There are even cases where people are smoking in non-smoking rooms before you arrive. If you don’t want to smell like cigarettes after leaving your hotel room, you might want to look for a non-smoking hotel.
If you require a rollaway bed or crib at your hotel, let the person know when making a reservation. Not every hotel will give you this sort of thing, and the ones that do are in limited quantities. Also, you may face extra charges for the use of these items. Therefore, when booking a hotel room, make sure you ask about these things so that you are prepared.
Know whether or not smoking is allowed in your room. Many have designated rooms for smokers. If that is the case, you should ask for one of those rooms. You may be charged hefty fees if there is evidence that you have smoked in a that is designated as non-smoking.
Most customers skip on the research step and eventually purchase the first hotel reservation that they stumble upon. But this can really end up backfiring. Use the tips here to find the best deals on great rooms.
It’s not often possible to check in to a hotel room early. So, you may have to sit for a while in the lobby or find a way to occupy yourself until checking in if you are going to be arriving early. The room needs to be cleaned after the last guest leaves. Having said that, don’t hesitate to ask the front desk about checking in if you do arrive early; however, you shouldn’t expect to be able to do this. The best thing you can do is arrive on time.
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