If you are like most people, you want any stay away from home to be comfortable, affordable and hassle-free. Unfortunately, if you choose the wrong hotel, you could wind up paying a lot of money for a fairly unpleasant experience. Keep reading for some advice on choosing a great hotel.
Online travel websites can offer you a great deal on hotels with lots of choices, all on the same website. If you are a part of a loyalty program, make note of that. Additionally, there may be other price breaks for you through various organizations, like AAA or other exclusive clubs.
The organizations that you are a member of might be of help. Some organizations will receive discounts for different reasons from different hotels. These discounts can be as much as 10 percent or even more. This can help you to save some cash, especially if you’re going to be staying for a few nights. It can add up to equal a free night!
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. Amenities like a swimming pool, a gym, free local calls or breakfast, and other amenities may be things that you prefer. You want to secure a room at a hotel that provides the things you desire.
Many things must be considered when choosing the right hotel. Price is important but a shabby, dirty hotel room is no bargain at any price. You may want free WiFi access, a convenient location, free long distance or a nice pool or gym. Try to get yourself a hotel with what you need in it when possible.
Use online search tools for hotels. These sites can help you get good deals. They can also allow you to look at the average rates of a hotel. 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.
Take advantage of tools provided online when searching for a hotel. You will typically find websites that provide deals on certain hotel chains. 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. They might even offer some decent entertainment venues that you should experience while you’re in the local area.
Part of trip planning is knowing what time check-in is at your hotel. If you show up too early, you may find yourself sitting around the lobby, waiting for your room to be ready. Therefore, if you anticipate arriving early, call the hotel in advance and see if it is possible to check in early.
Always see if you can find deals online when you’re thinking of getting a hotel room. The reservation clerk won’t offer these details to you over the phone. For this reason, making a proactive search is advisable. Use websites such as Jetsetter, SniqueAway or RueLaLaTravel.
Don’t make the assumption that all hotels will welcome your pet. Call before you book so that you know for sure. A hotel may be pet-friendly, but still has restrictions against certain breeds or animals. Find out ahead of time if your pet is acceptable.
Find out the exact time for check-in and check-out. If you show up too early for check-in, then your room may not be ready for you yet. Call the front desk to find out if it is alright for you to arrive before check-in.
Take your GPS watch with you on vacation and some running clothes. Just because you’re on vacation doesn’t mean you should skip on your daily running regimen. Simply set an alarm or get a wake up call and take an early morning run. Even if you’re running down the city streets of roads, it will give you a new perspective of the city that you’re visiting.
Never assume that all hotels are pet-friendly. Be sure to call in advance and find out about their policies, regardless of website info. Also, ask what their definition of pet-friendly is, as there may still be restrictions on size or breed of pet allowed at the hotel.
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. With enough points you can get free rooms in the future. They may also offer discounts for shows, restaurants and other things.
If you want a nice massage for you and your loved one, book that as early as possible. Resorts that have masseurs often have very fully booked massage schedules, so it is important to plan ahead.
If you are an environmentally conscious traveler, you should look into “green” hotels. Fortunately, there are many green hotels to choose from today. Certain hotels provide green rooms, and in fact, some are even certified as green hotels. Other older hotels will just provide green options for you. You can ask a travel agent to pinpoint eco-friendly hotels, thus making sure your vacation doesn’t hurt the environment.
The price you pay at a hotel often depends on the time frame in which you reserve the room. The prices are based partly on availability. If possible, try to book your room 24 hours or less in advance. This will net you the best price when it comes to hotel rooms. Empty rooms don’t make money, so hotels slash prices to fill the building.
You should always find out how much hotel transfers will cost before you book a room. Hotel transfer costs can be extremely large, especially in hotels that appear to offer an incredible deal on their room rates. You should inquire about this before booking the hotel room.
To avoid major expenses on your final hotel bill, be sure to ask the sales representative about the price of hotel transfers first. Particularly if you are getting a discount, the fee associated with the transfer may be high. Getting this information ahead of time will maximize your savings.
Maximize your hotel stays with membership programs like the ones that Marriott or Choice Hotels offer. You will build up points with that hotel for added benefits. It works a lot like frequent flier miles do for airlines.
If you wish to get a lot out of a hotel stay, especially if you’re traveling for your business, get a membership program and join it like what the Marriott or Choice Hotels offers. Then you can accrue points, get extra perks, and save money.
Try not to make any long-distance calls from your hotel room. Using the Internet is a better option. Many hotels now offer Skype connections via Wi-Fi. Use these to keep up with loved ones or colleagues back home from the comfort of your hotel room instead of racking up costly phone calls from the nightstand.
Being a member of AAA makes travel very easy. Hotel and rental car discounts are available to AAA members. Those who have small children will be pleased to find car seats available for free.
If you wish to see if a hotel room has bed bugs, check out the bathroom. This is probably not where you will find bedbugs. So, that means it’s the best place to stash your luggage and other belongings as you inspect the remainder of your suite. It can be a temporary haven for children and pets.
Always ask about the hotel’s smoking policy if you smoke. There are sometimes rooms designated for people who smoke. If so, you should avail yourself of this option. If they find you have smoked in a non-smoking area, they may charge you a fine.
Determine whether or not the hotel you are considering allows smoking or not. If you do not smoke, you might not want to go to a hotel with smoking rooms. 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 and smoke in non-smoking rooms. If you don’t want to smell like cigarettes after leaving your hotel room, you might want to look for a non-smoking hotel.
Be aware of the pet policy of the hotel. If you dislike or have allergies to pets, steer clear of hotels that allow pets. The hotels may have the smell of pet odors on the linens and floor. Depending on the hotel, you may be expected to pay extra for keeping a pet, but it isn’t usually a large sum. It does take extra effort and expense to take care of pets issues and some hotels do not take the time necessary.
Check to see if the hotel allows pets. You may wish to stay away from hotels that permit pets if you have allergies or you fear certain animals. These hotels could have weird odors because of smells getting into the linens and the floor. Some hotels are pet-friendly and don’t charge for it, while other hotels will add a hefty fee for keeping a pet. If the hotel you are staying at does not incorporate much of an extra fee, the cleaning service might not be up to par.
Know what the hotel’s policy is for overbooking. Hotels sometimes over-book, and this can leave you without a room. The hotel “walks” you to a new hotel nearby. Avoid this if you can, but if you must go someplace else, make sure the room you get is comparable to the one you booked, and you are paid to travel there.
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. They may not have any available. Certain hotels will even charge a fee for these things. Talk about these when reserving your room so you aren’t hit with unexpected expenses.
Resist the temptation to indulge in your hotel’s bottled water! You may be thirsty and tired when you arrive. You might feel the urge to untwist the cap on the bottled water sitting in the mini-fridge. Hotels are aware of this; therefore, their bottled water prices are very expensive. You might be able to get bottled water in the hotel gym. It is best to simply bring your own bottled water.
Don’t pilfer the hotel towels or linens. Keeping linens, a robe or some similar item will likely not go unnoticed. You will be issued a bill for the items taken. It’s better to ask the hotel management if you can buy new ones of your own.
It is important that you are knowledgeable on the hotel booking process in order to avoid disappointment in your hotel visits. These tips will ensure that you’re on the right track. The perfect hotel room awaits you; it’s simply a case of knowing what to look for.
Booking your flight and hotel at the same time may save some travel expenses. Travel sites typically offers savings to people who book more than one service at the same time. To maximize this service, be sure to compare the rates of different airlines and hotels.
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