It can be difficult to book a good hotel room because of all the choices you must make. Therefore, it is important to research this well before your trip. Figure out how much you would like to spend, which amenities you need, and begin to plan. Remember the following advice as you conduct your search.
Prior to making reservations, research hotels on sites like TripAdvisor. These sites will allow you to see previous guests’ experiences at the hotels you are considering. What patrons have to say about the hotels you are considering can help you make the best decision about where to stay.
Do some research on travel websites before you book any hotel. Reviews allow you to read about recent experiences at a hotel. Reading other people’s reviews of the hotels you’re considering can really help you decide which one to choose.
Use travel websites, like Expedia and Priceline to find great hotel deals. If you are a member of a hotel loyalty program, make sure to indicate this when searching for rates. Don’t neglect to check for other discounts in which you may qualify, including AAA and AARP.
Look at organizations you’re part of for discounts. Some of these organizations will offer you discounts on hotel prices. People frequently forget these discounts are available, and they can be 10 percent or more. These discounts can save you quite a bit of cash, particularly if your stay involves several nights. If you are staying for a week, you can pay for a whole night’s lodging with these discounts.
To enjoy a late-night meal with that special someone without having to leave the comfort of your hotel room, think about ordering some 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.
Take advantage of online hotel searching tools. These websites can help you get great deals quickly. They also let you see what full price is, so you know you are saving money. They also help you decide the dates for your vacation and the activities you’ll want to partake of.
Many things must be considered when choosing the right hotel. You should look at the price, but you should also look at the location that is most convenient for what you want to do. Other amenities that people look for are a gym, pool, free local phone calls, free Wi-Fi, and free breakfast. Find a hotel room that includes all of the features that you demand. There’s sure to be one out there.
Before you book a hotel, look for deals online. Often, the only way to learn about discounts is to look online. It is your responsibility to scour the Internet for these savings. Check out websites like SniqueAway, Jetsetter, or RueLaLaTravel.
Don’t think that all hotels will be pet friendly. Call them ahead of time to see if they are even if the website they’re on says yes. Get the term “pet-friendly” defined, as well. The hotel may not allow large dogs or certain types of pets.
When you get to your hotel room, look over the room before unpacking. It should be free of any mildew or mold. Do the sink, shower and toilet work properly? Does your room feature the linens and towels you require? If you notice a problem, be sure to inform the front desk right away to have these problems resolved.
If you’re taking your pet with you, do these things in advance. Check to see if the hotel actually permits pets. Bring along lots of plastic bags for clean ups. Be kind to other hotel guests by requesting a room that is as far away from other guests as possible, so they won’t be disturbed by any noise your pet may make.
Find out the exact time for check-in and check-out. If you show up too early, you may find yourself sitting around the lobby, waiting for your room to be 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.
Be sure to consult AAA to help you make excellent plans for your entire vacation. Many people are surprised to see hotel discounts included with their auto club membership. You can save five percent or more on certain hotels. These savings really add up.
Loyalty Programs
If you are a runner, be sure to bring your running clothes and shoes. Go for a run when you wake up in the morning. 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 travel a lot, you should consider joining hotel loyalty programs. Loyalty programs provide frequent guests benefits for booking with them on a regular basis. You might earn a free upgrade, late checkout time, or other great perks.
It is wise to join a hotel loyalty program if you travel frequently. They have benefits for those who frequently stay at a hotel. There are many rewards given when you accumulate loyalty points such as free stays, free upgrades and later than usual check out times.
If you often stay at the same hotel chain, check to see if they offer membership to frequent stay programs. These hotel programs give you points for each stay. They will get you discounts on the hotel restaurants, spa deals, and just a number of great stuff.
If you often stay at a certain type of hotel, ask about the “frequent stay” program. Similar to how you earn points from frequent flyer programs, hotels offer you similar rewards for your stay. You can accumulate points that you can redeem for free hotel stays, discounts at restaurants, and all types of entertainment.
Do you care about your environment? If so, a “green” hotel may be for you. There are a lot of eco-friendly hotels out there. There are plenty of hotels built today with strong environmental standards. Some older hotels simply choose a variety of eco-friendly practices to be environmentally aware. Request the help of the travel agent in identifying hotels that are environmentally friendly.
Going green is a growing trend so it is no surprise that hotels are going green as well. It is fortunate for you that there are quite a lot of green hotels available. Green certification is something some of the newly built hotels are quite proud of promoting. Some older hotels simply choose a variety of eco-friendly practices to be environmentally aware. Speak with a travel agent to see if they can help you pick out hotels that care about the environment.
The cost of your hotel room largely depends on the dates on which you plan to stay there. Hotel rooms are priced based on how many are available. Try booking your hotel room within 24 hours of your stay. This is the best way to get the best prices. Hotels are often happy to slash prices on impending vacancies since they will get nothing if they can’t book the room.
Being a member of AAA can save you money on hotels. AAA members receive excellent discounts on hotels, car rentals and other attractions. Some places provide free car seats too.
Inquire about the price of a transfer before you place a booking. If you’re getting what appears to be a nice deal on the room, these types of hidden charges can sometimes surface. Ask about this beforehand to save more.
You don’t want to make too many long distance calls while you’re staying in a hotel room. Using the Internet is a better option. Hotels usually have Wi-Fi, so you can call using Skype. 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.
Join a membership program if you travel frequently. Each hotel stay can accrue points towards vacation perks.
When checking your hotel accommodations for bed bugs, begin in the bathroom. This room is usually free from bugs. This is why you should keep your luggage in there while you go on a search for bedbugs. It is also a safe spot for your pets and kids.
Aaa Membership
Make sure to ask up front if the hotel you’ll be staying in allows smoking or does not. If you do not smoke, you might not want to go to a hotel with smoking rooms. 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. Sometimes, smokers book rooms that are non-smoking and smoke anyway. If you just can’t stand the smell of stale smoke, look for a hotel that doesn’t allow it at all.
Get a AAA membership to facilitate the process of booking a hotel when you travel. Your AAA membership will pay for itself right away in hotel and car rental discounts and availability. At some locations they even offer free car seats.
If it all possible, never check out before your scheduled departure date. Hotels often charge early departure fees. A booked hotel room is taken off the market, meaning your early departure would cost them money. This is why they usually charge you an fee for early departure.
Call the hotel before you arrive to make sure the swimming pool is in working order. It can prove rather frustrating when you check in to your room with the kids screaming “pool” only to find out it’s closed.
Some people choose not to use the bedspreads provided by the hotel staff for hygienic reasons. Although hotels will wash the sheets that lie underneath the bedspread, the bedspread itself is not typically washed. That can mean it is full of germs, bacteria or who knows what else. Just make sure you remove the bedspread.
If you are worried about bed bugs, start your inspection in the bathroom. This is probably not where you will find bedbugs. That means you can store your luggage here as you inspect. It is a safe place for pets and kids to stay.
Be aware of your rights in the event that a hotel attempts to “walk” you. Hotels sometimes overbook, which means you discover that your reservation is unavailable. That means the hotel will send you to another establishment, or “walk” you. 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.
Understand the smoking rules in your hotel, especially if you smoke. Most hotels have designated smoking rooms. If that is the case, you should ask for one of those rooms. There are hotels that will charge you quite a bit if they find out that you were lighting up in the room that wasn’t for smoking. This is why you should stick to the rules.
Don’t drink the bottled water you’ll find in your hotel room. When you arrive at your hotel, you might be very thirsty. Opening the bottle in the mini-fridge is tempting. Hotels take advantage of guests by charging ridiculous amounts for bottled water. You might be able to get free bottled water in the hotel gym. Better still, pack a few bottles of your own.
As you can tell, you can ensure booking a good hotel room by following the correct tips. So keep the advice from above in mind and start planning your next trip. You are likely to have a comfortable stay and pay a price you are happy with.
Save money by booking your flight and hotel together. Many travel websites offer significant saving for those who book a hotel and either a flight or rental car from them. To maximize this service, be sure to compare the rates of different airlines and hotels.
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