When planning a trip, you need to pay attention to certain things. You have to decide where to go and how to get there. Additionally, you must plan for accommodations and that’s not always easy. The following tips should help you make an informed choice.
Check for online reviews before making any reservations. Reviews allow you to read about recent experiences at a hotel. The information provided by patrons of the hotel will help you make a good choice of where to stay.
Prior to reserving a room at a hotel, look on the Internet for reviews. One great site is TripAdvisor. Here you can get first-hand reports of the experience people had staying at different hotels. Find out what actual customers say about the hotel and it can help you avoid a costly mistake.
Use websites like Orbitz and Expedia for great prices. Input your loyalty info when you are looking for rates online. You may also be eligible for other discounts through any memberships you have with organizations such as AAA and AARP.
You can find a lot of great deals on hotels if you go online and check out some of the travel sites out there. As you check your rates, don’t forget to include that you’re a loyalty program member. Also, you might be able to get some discounts offered by organizations that you might be a part of like AAA or AARP.
Room service can be a great way to have a private, comfortable meal. It might cost a little extra, but it’s definitely worth the bill. Nothing is more enjoyable than having food delivered to your room while you’re in your PJ’s.
Would you like to enjoy the comfort of enjoying an incredible evening meal with your loved one without having to dress up and leave your room? If so, consider using room service. The cost will be a bit higher, but not having to dress up and go out will be worth it.
Use your hotel room’s safe to keep your valuables secure. Putting your valuable jewelry and electronic items in the hotel safe allows you to feel secure as you enjoy your vacation.
Figuring out which hotel you want to book isn’t an easy process. Of course price is a big deal, but a hotel close to where you are head is a big consideration. Amenities such as complimentary WiFi, free local calls, complimentary breakfast, a gym and pool and a convenient restaurant are also important considerations. Look for the hotel that gives as many of the extra you desire as possible.
Double-check your organizational memberships. Do they offer hotel discounts? Some of these discounts can be pretty substantial, but many people don’t take advantage of them. If your stay will be for multiple nights, these discounts can save you lots of money. If you stay for a week, these discounts will almost add up for a free night.
Check your room when you arrive. Is the room clean and free from mildew or mold? Do the sink, shower and toilet work properly? Do you have an adequate number of towels? If you see any issues, be sure to tell the front desk. This way, they can fix the problems or switch rooms for you.
Be clear about check-in time at the hotel you have booked. If you don’t know when you can check in, you may find your room is not ready when you arrive at your hotel. If you might be arriving before the check-in time, ask the hotel whether it’s okay to come.
Find out the exact time for check-in and check-out. Many people show up before check-in time only to find out their room isn’t ready. If you think you will arrive before check in time, call the hotel and ask if you can come.
If you belong to AAA, see what kinds of discounts the hotel offers. You might be surprised to learn that your membership to the auto club also includes discounts on hotels. You can save 5 percent or more on your hotel stay just by showing your membership card. This can add up on a long trip.
There are three things you must do before bringing your pet along on your vacation. Find out if the hotel will allow pets first. You should bring some plastic bags and cleaning supplies to keep the room clean behind your pet. Ask for a corner room since this can reduce the number of guests disturbed by a noisy pet.
It may be wise to look into loyalty programs that your favorite hotels offer. They offer rewards to guests who book the same hotel chain frequently. You can score things like complimentary upgrades, later check-out options and even free nights once you accumulate enough loyalty program points.
Do you travel a lot? Consider using a hotel loyalty program. They give people benefits if they go to that chain often. You might earn a free upgrade, late checkout time, or other great perks.
If you often frequent the same hotel chains, look into their frequent stay membership programs. Like the programs for frequent flyer, these programs the hotel offer give you points whenever you stay with them. They can amount to show tickets, free nights, spa deals, hotel restaurants discounts and much more.
The price of a hotel room is often a mix of many factors. Availability dictates the prices of hotel rooms. If possible, book your room no more than 24 hours in advance. You can often get the best price if you do it this way. An empty room will earn the hotel no money; so, they generally slash the price.
You may wish to consider a “green” vacation if the environment is one of your concerns. There are several green hotels around. Some of the newer hotels are built in a way that they get certified green. Eco-friendly strategies are also now commonly adopted by many older hotels. Check online or ask a travel agent for help.
To make sure you don’t have an unexpected expense, ask about how much hotel transfers will cost. If the rooms are cheap, the transfer could ruin the deal. Inquire before you book, so you aren’t hit with an unexpected price increase.
Consider joining a membership program if you travel often. This allows you to get more points with each stay that you can convert into free rooms and other benefits on your next family vacation.
A membership in AAA can make booking a hotel easier when you travel. Not only do AAA members get hotel discounts at many chains that are well worth the AAA membership, but you can find it a lot easier to find a rental car where you go. It is definitely worth looking into.
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 that is the case, you should ask for one of those rooms. If you smoke in a room designated as non-smoking, a big penalty can come along with it.
Don’t call long distance in your hotel room. Try using the Internet instead to stay in touch. Many hotels now offer Skype connections via Wi-Fi. This will help you converse with those back home without racking up a lofty bill.
Find out what the policy on pets is. If you don’t like pets or are allergic, you want to avoid pet-friendly hotels. Hotels that allow pets typically have rooms that have a pet odor in them. One hotel may charge guests an arm and a leg to bring their pet, while others don’t. The fee might be too low to cover the extra cleaning costs.
Make sure that your family enjoys their stay by calling ahead to ensure the hotel’s swimming pool is working, There is nothing worse than arriving at your destination anxiously looking forward to splashing around in the pool, only to find that it is closed.
Be aware that you can’t normally check-in early at your hotel. You need to plan appropriately to avoid waiting in the lobby all day. Hotels need to get a room cleaned up before you get to check into it. Check with the front desk if you arrive early, but do not be angry if they can’t get you in early.
Moking Rooms
When making your reservation, make sure to specify if you need a rollaway or a crib. Most hotels only have so many of these items to go around, and some hotels may not have any at all. Also, you may face extra charges for the use of these items. Ask about this before you finalize your reservations, to make sure your needs are fully met.
Figure out if you want a hotel you can or cannot smoke in. 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. Although certain hotels that allow smoking will provide guests with non-smoking rooms, smoke will still be in the air. Smokers don’t always respect the fact that the room they are renting is a non-smoking room. If you are a non-smoker, be sure to request a non-smoking room in a non-smoking area of the hotel or you can find a hotel that is completely smoke free.
Don’t drink the water! When you get checked in you might feel thirsty and a little tired. Opening the bottle in the mini-fridge is tempting. The hotel knows your cravings and has priced that bottle of water sky high. A number hotels offer free bottles of water in their gyms. An even better option is to pack your own bottled water for when you arrive.
After reading this, you now know how to choose the ideal hotel room at a great price. Everything will work out well when you are aware of what to look out for. With sound travel plans in place, your stay is sure to be enjoyable. Enjoy the tips and you’ll have plenty of good stories when you return.
Bundle your flight and your accommodations for greater savings. Travel sites typically offers savings to people who book more than one service at the same time. Always compare the prices from multiple hotels to make sure you’re getting the best deal.
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