Everyone needs to book a hotel room at some point. Whether you are traveling for business or personal reasons, it is essential that you know what kind of hotel to look for. The following tips can be very useful to you.
Find great hotel room prices by checking out travel websites like Orbitz and Expedia. Always remember to give your loyalty program information to the clerk when you book your room or search for prices. Find out if you can get a discount for being an AAA or AARP member, too.
When thinking about the type of hotel you would like to stay at, there are plenty of options to consider. Price is one consideration, but you may also want a hotel that is close to a certain destination. Other amenities that people look for are a gym, pool, free local phone calls, free Wi-Fi, and free breakfast. Try to get yourself a hotel with what you need in it when possible.
Room service can be a great way to have a private, comfortable meal. The cost will be a bit higher, but not having to dress up and go out will be worth it.
Use online search tools for hotels. You can use such websites to discover great deals with ease and speed. They will also let you know what people pay on average when they go to that hotel. This lets you figure out if the deal you’re getting is a good one. They also can help with figuring out when the ideal time to go on vacation is and what you can do once you are there.
Use online hotel search tools. These websites will help you find good deals quickly. They display the average rates of hotels so that you can see if the deal you are getting is good. They can also give you information on nearby attractions, too.
Know when you are able to check in and get your room. You don’t want to arrive early only to find out your room isn’t ready yet. If you think you will arrive before check in time, call the hotel and ask if you can come.
Inspect the room before unpacking. Is the room mildew-free and otherwise clean? Are the showers, sinks, toilets, etc. properly functioning? Do you have an adequate number of towels? If you notice a problem, be sure to inform the front desk right away to have these problems resolved.
Plan your trip in advance for the best rates. If you can book a couple of months early, a lot of locations will give you a steeper discount. You might only pay half price for premium hotels.
Know when check-in time is. If you don’t know you may end up waiting a long time. If you anticipate arriving early, check with the hotel to find out if your room will be ready.
Not every hotel allows pets. Call before you book so that you know for sure. In addition, get specifics with regard to the pet policy, because only particular breeds or sizes of pets may be permitted at the hotel.
In order to get the best prices for hotel stays, you will want to plan your trip several weeks or months beforehand. Some hotels have great discounts when you book a couple of months in advance. You can expect savings up to fifty percent if you book months in advance.
If you want to arrange for a couples massage at your hotel, be sure to book the appointment right away. Frequently, the most skilled massage specialists at the best hotels are reserved by name, so when you plan ahead, you can get the best.
If you are concerned about the environment, you may want to take a “green” vacation. Fortunately, there are many green hotels to choose from today. Some new buildings are certified as green. Some of the older hotels do implement green practices to be sure they are eco-friendly. Talk to your travel agent about what you want to do and let them seek out a few appropriate hotels.
If you want to get your daily runs in while on vacation, make sure to bring your running gear with you. Go for a jog every morning. No matter if you’re on city streets or down some roads, you can easily learn new things about a city doing this.
You should always find out how much hotel transfers will cost before you book a room. Hidden transfer costs can really make a room not worth it. If you know this upfront, you can save more money.
Sign up for frequent guest programs at hotels. You should be able to earn points every time you are visiting one of the hotels. With enough points you can get free rooms in the future. They may also offer discounts for shows, restaurants and other things.
Joining certain clubs that let you accrue points can help you reap major benefits from your regular hotel stays. When you stay at a hotel, you get points you can use later on.
Vacation “green” if you are worried about the environment. There are a lot of eco-friendly hotels out there. Some new buildings are certified as green. Some older inns just select one or more of several eco-friendly strategies to show environmental awareness. Ask your travel agent to help you identify environmentally friendly hotels.
You don’t want to make too many long distance calls while you’re staying in a hotel room. Use the Internet, instead. You will probably find that your hotel has Wi-Fi and Skype. You can stay connected with people back home by using this instead of making expensive long distance calls from your hotel phone.
Get a membership to AAA to make booking hotel arrangements a breeze when you travel. Your AAA membership will pay for itself right away in hotel and car rental discounts and availability. Parents of younger children are likely to enjoy the free car seat provided in many locations.
Check in the bathroom first for bed bugs. This is the least likely place for bedbugs to be. Therefore, you can put your luggage here while you look over the remainder of the room. It is also a safe spot for your pets and kids.
Don’t make any long distance calls from your hotel room. Use the Internet, instead. You can access Skype with the Internet connection at your hotel. Use these connections to keep in touch instead of costly long distance calls.
If you smoke, it is important to know what the hotel’s smoking policy is before you book your room. Some hotels offer smoking rooms. If this is what you’re looking for, inquire about these rooms. Certain hotels will charge you a steep fee if you get caught smoking in a room that is non-smoking. Be sure to follow the rules of the hotel.
Check in the bathroom first for bed bugs. This is the last room they are likely to be. That means you can store your luggage here as you inspect. It is also the safest place for children and pets, too.
Ask for a roll away bed or crib when you are reserving your room, not when you arrive. Not every hotel will carry them, and the ones that do may not have enough to go around. Also, you may face extra charges for the use of these items. You can always discuss the possibilities with the hotel clerk or manager on the phone before you book your room.
Learn about the smoking policies if you smoke. A lot of places have specific rooms just for people who smoke. If that happens to be the case, then you need to ask for that type of room. Don’t smoke in a nonsmoking room, or you may be charged by the hotel for doing so.
Don’t let a hotel take advantage of you. There may be times when a hotel overbooks, leaving with no room. This is known as “walking” a customer. Try to avoid this scenario if you can, but if it becomes necessary to secure alternate accommodations, be sure that the room is at least comparable to the one at the hotel you booked, and get compensation for your travel expenses.
Find out how the hotel handles pets. If you don’t like pets or are allergic, you want to avoid pet-friendly hotels. These hotels may also have an odor due to the smells sinking in the floor and linens. One hotel may charge guests an arm and a leg to bring their pet, while others don’t. Depending on what hotel you choose, the fee charged might or might not cover any extra cleaning required.
When traveling, booking your flight and hotel together will save you money. Travel booking sites often provide significant discounts for combining your room and flight and perhaps even a rental car. To get the best deal, compare the rates between several airlines and hotels.
Ask for a roll away bed or crib when you are reserving your room, not when you arrive. The hotel may not have these items on hand. If they do, quantities may be limited. Sometimes, there are also extra charges for items like these. Talk about your needs when you reserve a spot so you don’t get surprised with something you won’t like.
If you’re trying to get into a hotel while you’re out and about, check out rest areas or gas stations to find tourist books which will have maps, prices, and great discounts. This will help you pick up the phone to make a simple call to book a hotel, rather than having to drive to many different ones to find what you want.
No matter how clean your hotel seems, never use the hotel bedspread for sleeping. The bedspread is one item that does not usually get washed between bookings. That can make it rife with germs and bacteria and who knows what. Remove the blanket and use one you brought from home to stay safe.
Tipping when appropriate will make your hotel stay more pleasant. Don’t tip room service as it’s already in the cost, but do tip your maid. Tipping when you should will ensure that you’re respected and appreciated.
Resist the temptation to indulge in your hotel’s bottled water! Once you check-in and start to unwind, you will probably feel very thirsty. As a result, you likely want to purchase that bottle of water you see sitting on the counter. Hotels are aware of this; therefore, their bottled water prices are very expensive. The gym in the hotel may have water for free. Or, to be sure you save money, you can just pack a few water bottles from home.
Remember that views can vary between different hotel rooms. Not all rooms with a good view cost extra, so if you can score a room for the same price with a nice view, then make sure you ask for it when you are booking. A small thing like this makes your experience better. It doesn’t hurt for you to ask if rooms are available that have better views.
As discussed here, everybody will need a hotel stay eventually. It isn’t that hard, but you could end paying too much or getting a sub-par room if you do it incorrectly. The previous article offered great tips for coming up with the right hotel, so implement those tips.
The price that the hotel advertises is usually not something you should pay. It is a rack rate, and you don’t need to pay it. Hotels generally think you’re going to barter with them anyways. Ask the hotel for a better deal. Assert yourself. A number of travel websites provide deep discounts.
About The Author
