Having the right hotel room can make or break your stay. Since it is so expensive, choosing the right hotel is a must. These tips will help you find the best value.
Consider taking advantage of room service when the urge strikes for a late-night snack with your special someone. Even though this will cost a bit more, the convenience and comfort are worth it.
Get room service if you don’t want to leave. It may cost more, but it’s convenient when you don’t feel like leaving.
Check with the organizations that you are a member with. Some of them may provide discounts on hotel stays. The discounts could be 10% or even higher! You end up with an even bigger savings if your hotel stay is going to be for multiple nights. This can also net you a free hotel night.
Don’t book a hotel room without looking for online deals. Many times, the reservation specialist won’t tell you of discounts when you call to book your room. It is your responsibility to find any available discounts. Check out websites like SniqueAway, Jetsetter, or RueLaLaTravel.
You can use online travel sites to find great hotels. These websites can help you quickly find the best value. Hotel search websites also let you see the regular rates of hotels, so you can compare and see whether a supposed deal is really a good one. Finally, they can assist you in deciding when to vacation and what to do once you arrive at your destination.
Part of trip planning is knowing what time check-in is at your hotel. You don’t want to arrive early only to find out your room isn’t ready yet. If you anticipate arriving before check-in time, make a call to the hotel and inquire if you can arrive early.
Look for deals online. It’s not uncommon for a hotel employee to not mention to you that it is possible to receive a great discount online. This is why you should look for discounts yourself. Look to websites like RueLaLaTravel or Jetsetter for more help.
Months Ahead
Don’t make the mistake of thinking all hotels will accept pets. Call the hotel in advance to ensure the hotel is pet friendly. Find out what their rules on pets are also, as they may not let large pets or certain breeds stay with them.
For the best hotel rates, plan your trip weeks or months ahead of time. It’s not uncommon for a hotel to offer a discount if a room is booked a couple of months ahead of time. That saves you 50 percent or more frequently!
If you want to take your pet along on a trip, take care of three tasks before you leave. Confirm that pets are allowed in the room you are staying. Take some bags to clean after your pet. Ask for a corner room since this can reduce the number of guests disturbed by a noisy pet.
You don’t want to assume that the hotel you will be staying in is considered pet friendly. Call them ahead of time to see if they are even if the website they’re on says yes. Also ask exactly what they mean by pet-friendly, as there might be restrictions on certain breeds and sizes of pet that they allow on their premises.
If you wish to include amenities such as massage while staying at a hotel, be sure to make your reservations in advance. The best massage therapists are well-known at resorts, so planning early is the best way to create a good experience.
There are three things to do ahead of time if you want to bring your pet to a hotel with you. Find out if the hotel you have selected is pet-friendly. Take some bags to clean after your pet. Also, request a room away from other guests so that your pet does not bother them.
If you tend to return to the same family of hotels for your vacation, consider joining their membership reward programs. Just like with a frequent flyer mile program, you can get points for staying a hotel. With enough points you can get free rooms in the future. They may also offer discounts for shows, restaurants and other things.
Hotel Discounts
To make sure you don’t have an unexpected expense, ask about how much hotel transfers will cost. Particularly if you are getting a discount, the fee associated with the transfer may be high. You save the most money when you ask about this beforehand.
If you have a AAA membership, look into hotel discounts included. Are you aware that the auto club you belong to may offer you excellent hotel discounts? You can save up to an additional five percent at certain hotels throughout the country. Those discounts add up to great savings, especially if you will be having an extended stay.
If you do a great deal of traveling, consider joining hotel chain loyalty programs. You will build up points with that hotel for added benefits. It works a lot like frequent flier miles do for airlines.
If you want to keep up your running regimen on the road, make sure that your packing list includes lots of running clothes and a GPS watch. Enjoy a morning jog each day while on vacation. It will give you a perspective that you’ll never get while riding in a car.
Being a AAA member has many advantages when it comes to booking a hotel room. Hotel and rental car discounts are available to AAA members. Also, if you require a car seat, the rental company may provide you with one if you are a member of AAA.
Environmentalists can now enjoy a green vacation. The number of “green” hotels is steadily growing. Some of the newer hotels are built in a way that they get certified green. Many older hotels will still be environmentally aware by utilizing some eco-friendly practices. Speak with a travel agent to see if they can help you pick out hotels that care about the environment.
In hotel rooms, avoid calling long distance if possible. Instead, you should try 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. This will help you converse with those back home without racking up a lofty bill.
Inquire about hotel transfer costs before before booking. This is especially important if you run across an unbelievable deal. Asking these things before anything happens will allow you to save more.
If you’re a smoker, then make sure you get a hotel with a smoking room. If you’re someone who doesn’t like cigarette smoke, you may want to find a different hotel. You may be able to ask for a non-smoking room, however smoke can still travel through the air, settling on your clothing. Sometimes, smokers rent non-smoking rooms and smoke in them. Choose a non-smoking hotel to a smoke smell on your clothes.
Allow Smoking
If you smoke, it is important to know what the hotel’s smoking policy is before you book your room. Many hotels have rooms designated for smokers. Ask for those rooms if you are a smoker. Some hotels charge large penalties if they find that smoking occured in a room not designated for it, so make sure you follow the hotel’s smoking rules.
Determine whether or not the hotel you are considering allows smoking or not. If you are a non-smoker, then you should probably stay away from hotels that allow smoking. 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. There are even cases where people are smoking in non-smoking rooms before you arrive. By choosing a hotel that does not allow smoking, you can completely avoid the smell of cigarettes.
Checking in early may not be available. Plan your time accordingly unless you want to wait in the lobby for hours. The room needs to be cleaned after the last guest leaves. If you happen to show up early just ask if your room was prepared early, but they’re most likely going to say no.
Always know the hotel smoking policy wherever you stay if you personally smoke. Many have designated rooms for smokers. If this applies to the hotel of your choice, request that type of room specifically. A few hotels will charge you in the event that they discover you’ve been smoking in their rooms where it’s prohibited, so abide by the smoking rules.
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. Your hotel may not have these things or may have only a few, so it is smart to reserve in advance. Certain hotels will even charge a fee for these things. Discuss these needs when making your reservation to avoid any unpleasant surprises.
Look into a hotel’s pet restrictions. If you have an allergy, or you just don’t like dogs, it may not be in your best interest to book a hotel that lets guests bring their pets. The smells tend to stick around. Some hotels charge extra fees for pets, but some do not charge much. Depending on what hotel you choose, the fee charged might or might not cover any extra cleaning required.
You have rights in the event where a hotel needs to “walk” you. Sometimes hotels are going to overbook and then your room that you reserved won’t be there. The hotel will then “walk” you, or direct you to a different hotel. You should try to avoid this; however, if this is necessary, ensure you are provided with the same quality room or better at the same price you would have paid.
You should be aware that early hotel check ins are not always possible. 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. Usually, hotels have your room cleaned prior to check-in time. If you can’t avoid being early, ask the front desk to make an exception, but be prepared if they can’t accommodate you.
Don’t open the bottled water! Sure, you might be a little thirsty after checking into your new room. As a result, you likely want to purchase that bottle of water you see sitting on the counter. Hotels take advantage of guests by charging ridiculous amounts for bottled water. Some hotels offer free bottles of water in their gyms. What would be best is if you just packed your own bottles.
Early Departure
Don’t take anything from the room when you depart. It seems like a common thing people try to get away with, but the hotel will know when you do this and may charge you later for the missing items. If you like them that much, check out the gift shop for new ones.
Do not check out prior to your agreed upon departure date if you can avoid it. You may be charged a fee if you do. A booked hotel room is taken off the market, meaning your early departure would cost them money. So, they may charge you a fee for early departure to replace the loss in revenue.
If you want lower hotel room rates, try to avoid booking in the middle of peak tourist seasons. Rates are at their peak then. Go for the off season instead, as hotels will want to make a deal to sell their rooms. This will give you a better chance of actually getting a discounted rate.
Now you should understand that some preparation goes a long way when it comes to booking hotels. When you make your reservation, you need to be familiar with what to expect. Remember what you have read and then go from there!
If you are looking for an upgrade, try scoring one without having to pay a dime. Arrive right at your check-in time. Your room may not be ready, so the hotel could offer to switch you to something more expensive as a result.
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