Finding the perfect hotel can either make or break an entire vacation. If your hotel is costly, it will consume money you could be using to enjoy your vacation. Use this article to find the best value.
You can find good deals on hotel rooms using online travel sites. Join the loyalty program for any hotel chain that you love and believe you’ll stay with often. Also, as an added bonus, you may get discounts from other companies such as AAA or AARP.
Before you choose a hotel and make reservations, check online review sites, such as TripAdvisor. These sites will allow you to see previous guests’ experiences at the hotels you are considering. This can help you choose which hotel to stay at.
To keep your electronics safe when you are out of the hotel room, use the safe that you’ll find in your closet. You can use it to store your tablet and other expensive items to keep them secure.
Compare prices at websites like Orbitz and Expedia to ensure that you receive the best available rate. If you are a part of a loyalty program, make note of that. Also, you might be able to get some discounts offered by organizations that you might be a part of like AAA or AARP.
Check with the organizations that you are a member with. Do they offer hotel discounts? People frequently forget these discounts are available, and they can be 10 percent or more. If you are planning to stay a few nights, this can really add up. If you stay for a week, these discounts will almost add up for a free night.
Consider taking advantage of room service when the urge strikes for a late-night snack with your special someone. Sure, it might cost a bit more, but it is completely worth it to be able to kick back and relax, while your food comes to you.
Search for the best deals in hotels online before making reservations. Often, the only way to learn about discounts is to look online. This is why you should always do your research well online to find these hidden discounts. Look at websites such as RueLaLaTravel, Jetsetter, and SniqueAway.
Look for a closet safe in your hotel room, and use it for any expensive electronics you may have brought with you. Place all electronics there along with important documents, such as your passport or plane tickets.
Check out your room ahead of unpacking. Is the room clean and free from mildew or mold? Do the sink, shower, and toilet all work properly? Are there enough linens and towels? If you spot any problems, make the front desk aware immediately so they can take care of it or move you to a room that meets your needs.
Check the organizations that you’re a member of. There are times when an organization will give you great deals on the price of hotels. These discounts can be as much as 10 percent or even more. This can add up to big savings, even more so if you will be staying for many nights. This can also net you a free hotel night.
Know when check-in time is. If you don’t know you may end up waiting a long time. If you might arrive prior to check-in time, try calling the hotel and seeing if the room is available.
Checking online is the best way to find a good price and get the information that you need about hotels. The reservation clerk won’t offer these details to you over the phone. For this reason, making a proactive search is advisable. Look to websites like RueLaLaTravel or Jetsetter for more help.
If you want to get a low rate at your hotel, start planning early for your vacation. If you can book a couple of months early, a lot of locations will give you a steeper discount. That saves you 50 percent or more frequently!
There are three things to do ahead of time if you want to bring your pet to a hotel with you. First, you’ll need to find out if a hotel is even pet-friendly. Be sure to have plenty of plastic bags on hand to make pet cleanup easy. Reserving a room near the end of a hallway will keep other guests from being disturbed by your pet.
Don’t assume your hotel is pet-friendly. Call the hotel to verify, even if it says so on the website. Always ask about what exactly a pet-friendly policy entails, as there could still be limits on breeds and sizes.
If you travel a lot, you should consider joining hotel loyalty programs. A loyalty program offers many benefits. 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 want to have a massage with your partner on your vacation, make sure that you schedule an appointment with a masseuse as early as possible. Resorts that have masseurs often have very fully booked massage schedules, so it is important to plan ahead.
Sign up for frequent guest programs at hotels. Similar to frequent flyer programs, hotels have programs that add points on to your account each time you stay with them. They will get you discounts on the hotel restaurants, spa deals, and just a number of great stuff.
If you want to keep your regular running routine, pack your GPS and running clothes. Enjoy a morning jog each day while on vacation. Running down city streets or country roads can give you a fresh view of the place you are visiting.
Environmentalists can now enjoy a green vacation. Fortunately, there are many green hotels available nowadays. Many new hotels are constructed to meet green standards, earning green certification. Old hotels will change their practices to be more green. Speak with a travel agent to see if they can help you pick out hotels that care about the environment.
If preserving the environment is of interest to you, you can chose a “green” vacation. Fortunately, there are many green hotels available nowadays. Newer hotels are often certified green and designed and built using green 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.
Being a member of AAA can save you money on hotels. Members of AAA will get additional hotel discounts up to five percent, but you’ll also get discounts on rental cars as well. You might even get a free car seat if you have kids.
Join a membership program if you travel frequently. Every stay in a particular hotel chain where you are a member will add points to your total, which can later be used on free rooms or amenities that usually cost you.
Be careful not to make long distance phone calls on the hotel phone. Try using the Internet, instead. Hotels usually have Wi-Fi, so you can call using Skype. You will be able to stay in touch with family and friends while you are away without the additional expense of costly phone calls.
When you travel, go through AAA to find hotel accommodations easier.` A membership with AAA not only provides you with hotel discounts but a guaranteed piece of mind when trying to rent a vehicle. In addition, free car seats are usually provided, which parents are certain to enjoy.
If you’re traveling with kids, be sure that you check on the pools to ensure they’re open and in service. It is extremely frustrating for you and your children to arrive at a hotel expecting a pool and/or other activities only to discover that there are none.
Be careful not to make long distance phone calls on the hotel phone. Instead, use the Internet. A lot of hotels offer wi-fi, making it possible for you to use Skype. You can still call family members, friends, and colleagues from your room without racking up tons of costly charges.
Make sure to ask up front if the hotel allows smoking or does not. If you don’t smoke, you may wish to avoid those that have smoking rooms. Even if you book a non-smoking room, smoke can enter your room through air vents. Sometimes, smokers rent and smoke in non-smoking rooms. Choose a non-smoking hotel to a smoke smell on your clothes.
If you smoke, be aware of the hotel policy with regard to smoking. There are sometimes rooms designated for people who smoke. If that is the case, you should ask for one of those rooms. If you stay in a room that doesn’t allow smoking and the hotel staff discover evidence of you smoking in this room, then you could be charged a large penalty. Therefore, it is important that you always follow the hotel’s rules when it comes to smoking.
If you smoke, be aware of the hotel policy with regard to smoking. Many hotels set aside certain rooms or wings for smoking guests. If they do, ask for this type of room. Some hotels fine guests if they find that they smoked in a designated non-smoking room. This means that you must be sure to obey the hotel’s smoking rules.
You should be aware that early hotel check ins are not always possible. Plan to get there at the right time if you don’t want to wait. The room needs to be cleaned after the last guest leaves. You can request an early check-in ahead of time, but it may cost more.
Early Departure
If possible, do not check out earlier than your scheduled departure day. The hotel might charge you an early departure fee. 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. So, they may charge you a fee for early departure to replace the loss in revenue.
It you’re able to, try not to check out until it’s time for you to depart. Some hotels charge a fee for early departure. Upon reserving a hotel room, you tie up that room in the hotel. This means that your early departure results in the hotel losing money. This is why they usually charge you an fee for early departure.
No matter how clean your hotel seems, never use the hotel bedspread for sleeping. Although hotels will wash the sheets that lie underneath the bedspread, the bedspread itself is not typically washed. This bedspread could be a source of germs. Just take that blanket off the bed.
If you are concerned about germs, you might want to take the bedspread off of the bed. Sheets are generally washed after guests leave the room, but the bedspread typically isn’t. This means they may be a hotbed of germs. Just remove it from the bed.
Don’t drink the bottled water you’ll find in your hotel room. After checking in you may be thirsty and tired. 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’s better to simply bring your own bottled water.
By booking a bad hotel, you are depriving yourself of the fun and excitement that comes from staying in a good hotel. In addition, you are depriving yourself of money you need for other travel necessities. Use the advice you learned here to find the right hotel room so you can sleep peacefully on your vacation. Refer back to this information when you are working on your travel plans.
If you’re on the road and need a hotel to stay in, ask others for hotel advice or check into a tourist center to look for brochures. This will help you call ahead and reserve the room that’s right for you.
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