Some life circumstances necessitate a hotel stay. If you don’t do the research, you might wind up staying in a hotel that you hate. You have come to the right place. This article will give you some great tips and advice so that you are sure to have an enjoyable stay.
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. You may also be eligible for deals that are offered to members of certain organizations, like AAA or AARP.
Be sure to read online review websites prior to booking a hotel. These provide you with first-hand information about people’s recent experiences at each hotel. What people say about their experiences at the hotels you’re thinking of booking can aid you in coming to the right decision.
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. Room service can be expensive, but the luxury of being able to lounge about in your room in your jammies can make it worthwhile.
Keep your electronics secure by using the hotel safe located in your hotel room. Anything of value can be securely locked in the safe, then you won’t have to worry about your valuables while out enjoying yourself for the day.
Find out if any organization to which you belong offers good discounts. Many organizations provide hotel discounts for members. A lot of people don’t use these discounts, and you may save 10% or even more. This is a good discount that only gets better the longer you stay in a hotel. It can add up to almost a free hotel night!
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 might arrive prior to check-in time, try calling the hotel and seeing if the room is available.
Figuring out which hotel you want to book isn’t an easy process. Price is always important, of course, but you might also want to find a hotel near a certain attraction or business. Amenities like a swimming pool, a gym, free local calls or breakfast, and other amenities may be things that you prefer. So decide on the amenities that mean the most to you and start looking.
For the best hotel rates, plan your trip weeks or months ahead of time. Some hotels have great discounts when you book a couple of months 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.
Take advantage of online hotel searching tools. Any of those types of sites will help you get a great discount. You can see the average price of the rooms, and you can check to see how those rates stack up to the rates you’re being offered now. You can also use them to explore the area around the hotel for recreation.
If your pet is coming to a hotel with you, there are a few things you need to do in preparation. Ascertain that your hotel is really pet friendly. In addition, you will need numerous plastic bags and cleaning supplies so that you can make sure you clean up any messes your pet makes. If you can arrange a corner room, there will be less likelihood of your pet disturbing other guests.
Plan your trip as far in advance as you can to ensure best rates. Some hotels have great discounts when you book a couple of months in advance. Even high end hotels can offer you a substantial savings this way.
If you book accommodations often, hotel loyalty programs are good to participate in. There are many benefits you may be able to get. Some of the useful things that you can earn are extra upgrades, free nights, and late check-outs.
If you are traveling with a pet, it is best to find a pet friendly hotel ahead of time. Even if the website says they are pet-friendly, always call in advance to verify. 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.
Do you use the same hotels on a regular basis? If so, check out their membership programs for frequent guests. These are similar to frequent flyer programs, offering points each time you stay at a particular chain. These points add up to restaurant discounts, free nights, tickets to a show, spa treatments, and more.
If you are a member of AAA, ask about a hotel discount. Many people are surprised to see hotel discounts included with their auto club membership. You may be able to save upwards of five percent at hotels nationwide. This is a savings that can really add up over several nights.
Do you care about your environment? If so, a “green” hotel may be for you. There are several green hotels around. Some new hotels are built to green standards and are certified green. Eco-friendly strategies are also now commonly adopted by many older hotels. Talk to your travel agent about what you want to do and let them seek out a few appropriate hotels.
If preserving the environment is of interest to you, you can chose a “green” vacation. Green hotels can feature specialized recycling programs, may only use recyclable products and use environmentally friendly cleaning supplies. Many new hotels are constructed to meet green standards, earning green certification. Older hotels can’t always do this, but instead choose to adhere to certain green practices. 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. Availability dictates the prices of hotel rooms. 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 will usually ensure that you receive the best available price. Hotels don’t like to have vacancies so they often provide better prices.
Find out about hotel transfer costs prior to booking a room to avoid hefty fees. It is not uncommon to find that greatly discounted bookings may have a hidden cost for the transfer. If you know this upfront, you can save more money.
Don’t make long distance calls on your hotel phone. Using the Internet is a better option. A lot of hotels have free Wi-Fi that you can use to connect with people. But the Internet is infinitely useful while traveling so it is usually worth it.
Sign up for AAA if you wish to get better hotel arrangements while you travel. AAA members can receive great hotel discounts as well as locate a rental car much more easily. Some places provide free car seats too.
If you are traveling with children, be sure the hotels you book have clean swimming pools that are up and running. Nothing is worse than having excited kids who find out they cannot go to the pool.
Don’t call long distance in your hotel room. Instead, use the Internet. You will probably find that your hotel has Wi-Fi and Skype. This can be a much cheaper option than calling from a hotel room and getting hit with lots of fees.
Understand the smoking rules in your hotel, especially if you smoke. Some have smoking rooms. So if you are a smoker, be sure to ask for one of those rooms. If you smoke in a room designated as non-smoking, a big penalty can come along with it.
Ask if your possible hotel reservation is either smoking or non. If you are a non-smoker, you will enjoy a non-smoking room more. Nonetheless, if there are smokers in the hotel, you may have problems with odors. Even if a room is designated as nonsmoking, sometimes people smoke in there anyway. If you don’t want to smell like cigarettes after leaving your hotel room, you might want to look for a non-smoking hotel.
It is usually not possible to check into your hotel early. Therefore, don’t show up hours in advance, or you may be sitting around waiting for a while. The room has to be cleaned ahead of your check in. You can request an early check-in ahead of time, but it may cost more.
If you need a crib, ask for it as you reserve the room. These items are not available at all hotels. When they are available, they are often in limited supply. Also, you may get charged extra for these types of things. Talk about your needs when you reserve a spot so you don’t get surprised with something you won’t like.
Don’t give into the temptation to take hotel linens home. If hotel staff notice that these items are missing, you may be billed for them. It is sometimes possible to buy linens or pillows from the hotel if you want them so badly.
Never actually check out before the departure date unless it’s an emergency. If you do, you may be charged a fee for early departure. When a hotel room is something you book, they are taking it away from other people and will lose some money if you leave early. They have to at least get something for the loss, thus an early departure charge.
You can get some money saved if you book a flight and hotel at the same time. There are numerous travel websites that give a fair deal when you book the hotel with a rental car or flight. To get the best deal, compare the rates between several airlines and hotels.
Avoid sleeping under the bedspread. The top bedspread usually isn’t cleaned as often as the sheets or blankets underneath. This can make it full of bacteria, germs, and other unknown elements. Just take that blanket off the bed.
In order to pay the lowest rate possible, don’t travel during the peak season. Rates are at their peak then. Instead, book your room in the off-peak time of year, when hotels are desperate to fill their rooms. This puts you in a position with leverage, which helps you get a better deal for the room in question.
Understand your rights when it comes to hotels “walking” you. This refers to hotels overbooking their hotel rooms; therefore, the hotel room that you booked may not be available when you check in. This means that they will direct you to another hotel. Avoid this if possible, but if must go to another hotel, make sure you get a comparable or better room and the travel to there paid for.
You will probably have to visit a hotel many times in your life. If you don’t research properly, you may find yourself in a dreadful hotel. Use this article to help you become a seasoned shopper of hotel rooms. The hotel room you pick can make or break a trip.
Don’t drink the bottled water you’ll find in your hotel room. You may be thirsty and tired. The mini fridge is calling your name. Hotels take advantage of guests by charging ridiculous amounts for bottled water. Check if the gym offers free water. Pack a couple bottles of water.
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