Nearly everyone has experienced the nightmare of staying in a bad hotel. This can be expensive and unpleasant, so you need to avoid it if you can. So, read this article to learn how you can get the best value on the perfect hotel for you.
Before booking your hotel room, look to online review sites for in depth reviews from recent travelers. These websites have reviews and comments from people who have recent experience with their stay. What former guests have to say with regards to a hotel being considered can ensure you make an informed decision.
Before making reservations at a hotel, check the online review sites. Here, you can read what people had to say about their hotel stay. Factor former guests’ reviews into your final decision.
Make use of the room safe to ensure the safety of your electronics when you are not in your room. Putting your valuable jewelry and electronic items in the hotel safe allows you to feel secure as you enjoy your vacation.
Online travel sites like Orbitz and Expedia can help you find the lowest rates on hotel rooms. If you are a member of a particular hotel’s loyalty program, remember to include that information when you are checking on rates. Additionally, there may be other price breaks for you through various organizations, like AAA or other exclusive clubs.
Check with any membership programs for deals. Many organizations provide hotel discounts for members. Some discounts can be over ten percent! This can add up to big savings, even more so if you will be staying for many nights. It can add up to almost a free hotel night!
When thinking about the type of hotel you would like to stay at, there are plenty of options to consider. Price is one thing you should consider, but when you get a hotel you may want it near a certain place. Other amenities, such as a swimming pool, an onsite restaurant and free continental breakfast are important to travelers. So decide on the amenities that mean the most to you and start looking.
Prior to emptying out your suitcase, carefully look over your room. Make sure there is no mold or mildew anywhere in the room. Do the sink, shower and toilet work properly? Are all the towels you’ll need present in the room? If you notice a problem, be sure to inform the front desk right away to have these problems resolved.
Take advantage of tools provided online when searching for a hotel. Any of those types of sites will help you get a great discount. They can also allow you to look at the average rates of a hotel. The websites can also help you decide the best time to take a trip and where you can eat, shop or sight-see.
Don’t assume your hotel is pet-friendly. Ask the hotel if pets are allowed, no matter what their site says. Verify exactly what is meant by “pet-friendly” since certain breeds and pets over a certain size may not be allowed.
To get a good price when you want a hotel room, get your trips planned quite a few weeks or so in advance. If you book one or two months in advance, you can often receive a discount. You might even be able to save up to 50 percent off at some very exclusive hotels.
Always book early for that special couples massage for you and your loved one. In order to get the best masseurs at these top hotels, you must plan early to ensure that you get a good experience.
There are some things you have to do before taking your pet on a trip. You want to ensure you’ve chosen a pet-friendly hotel. It is also a great idea to bring along some plastic bags to clean up when your pet makes a mess. Also, request a room away from other guests so that your pet does not bother them.
If you are a runner, be sure to bring your running clothes and shoes. For an early morning jog, get up and throw your gear on, and then head out the front door. It’ll let you explore the city in a new way.
Remember that hotel chains often provide loyalty programs offering excellent discounts. Like the programs for frequent flyer, these programs the hotel offer give you points whenever you stay with them. These points can quickly add up to many perks such as a free night, discounts at the hotel restaurants, spa deals and much, much more.
If you are always staying at the same chain, find out about the programs they offer to frequent guests. Like the programs for frequent flyer, these programs the hotel offer give you points whenever you stay with them. With enough points you can get free rooms in the future. They may also offer discounts for shows, restaurants and other things.
If you care about the environment, then you may be interested in taking a “green” vacation. It is fortunate for you that there are quite a lot of green hotels available. Many newer hotels are environmentally friendly. Some older hotels simply choose a variety of eco-friendly practices to be environmentally aware. Talk to your travel agent about what you want to do and let them seek out a few appropriate hotels.
If you are an environmentally conscious traveler, you should look into “green” hotels. The number of “green” hotels is steadily growing. Some of the newer hotels are certified green. Older hotels might change practices to be more green. Talk to your travel agent if you prefer to stay at this type of hotel.
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. You save the most money when you ask about this beforehand.
The cost of your hotel room largely depends on the dates on which you plan to stay there. The prices are based partly on availability. Try to always book your hotel room only a day in advance. This is the best way to get the best prices. If the hotel never rents the room they’ll get zero dollars for it, so most of the time they will give you a steep discount on it.
For those frequent travelers, it may be better to build loyalty and perks by joining the membership club of your favorite hotel. Then you can accrue points, get extra perks, and save money.
Become a AAA member if you want to make arranging hotel accommodations a bit simpler. The discounts at many hotel chains and deals on car rentals can more than pay for the AAA membership fees. People that have young kids will get a car seat for free in a lot of different places.
Call ahead of arrival to see if the pool is open to keep the family happy. Your kids and you will be very frustrated if the pool at your hotel is closed because of repairs when you arrive.
Never use the hotel phone for long distance calls. Make use of the Internet, instead. A lot of hotels offer wi-fi, making it possible for you to use Skype. 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.
Moking Rooms
Look into a hotel’s pet restrictions. If you have pet allergies or the noise from pets bothers you, you might want to avoid these hotels. The smells tend to stick around. Most hotels charge a pet fee; however, sometimes this is negligible. Some hotels use the paid fees to clean the hotel more thoroughly.
Check if a hotel you’re looking to stay at is non-smoking or smoking. If you aren’t a smoker, then you want to avoid smoking rooms and maybe even smoking hotels in general, but most hotel chains do have smoking and non-smoking rooms. Even non-smoking rooms can have smoke billow in from next door. In addition, previous travelers could have smoked in the room, even if it is a non-smoking room. Request a non-smoking room if you do not want to smell like cigarettes.
If you are particular about cleanliness, you probably shouldn’t use the hotel bedspread. While the staff may have washed the sheets prior to your stay, the comforter is not always washed. This bedspread could be a source of germs. Remove it from the bed before you use it.
Learn about the smoking policies if you smoke. Some hotels offer smoking rooms. Ask to see if any of these are available. 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.
Understand your rights when it comes to hotels “walking” you. Sometimes a hotel will overbook and you will find the room you booked is not available. In these situations, the hotel may try to book you at another hotel, or “walk” you. If you can’t avoid this make sure the room you get there is better or comparable and that they pay for the travel there.
When reserving your room, be sure to ask for a roll-away bed or crib if you will be in need of these extra sleeping accommodations. Hotels don’t typically have a lot of these, so be sure to ask in advance. Sometimes, there is an additional charge for these items. Talk about your needs when you reserve a spot so you don’t get surprised with something you won’t like.
Don’t take anything from the room when you depart. You will find yourself receiving a nice bill in the mail later. If you really have to have the stuff, see if the hotel will sell it to you.
Do not drink the bottled water in your room. After traveling and checking in, you might be feeling tired and/or thirsty. Finding a cold bottle of water in the little refrigerator may present a temptation. Hotels take advantage of guests by charging ridiculous amounts for bottled water. Sometimes it is possible to get bottled water at no cost in the hotel gym. An even better option is to pack your own bottled water for when you arrive.
To get the best hotel rate, do not book at the height of the tourist 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 will get you a real bargain.
Bad Hotel
You may be able to score a free upgrade. An easy way to get this to happen is to show up on time for when you’re supposed to be checking in. Sometimes, your room is not yet clean, which means they offer an upgraded room for free.
Nobody wants to stay at a bad hotel. A greatly discounted price is no bargain if your hotel is a mess. A bad hotel can turn any getaway into a nightmare. So finding the right hotel at a price within your budget is a vital part of having a great trip. You can probably now find a really great deal too!
You can help ensure your stay is pleasant by tipping appropriately. You don’t have to necessarily tip for room service, that is usually already added to the bill, but the maid service workers are customarily tipped by you. This keeps the staff happy, which in turn will help you to have a more pleasant stay.
About The Author
