What hotel you stay in could make or break your whole experience. With the high cost of staying in a hotel, it’s crucial you are aware of what to search for when booking a room. The tips below will help you book a great hotel.
Use travel websites, like Expedia and Priceline to find great hotel deals. Always remember to give your loyalty program information to the clerk when you book your room or search for prices. You may also be eligible for deals that are offered to members of certain organizations, like AAA or AARP.
Do some research on travel websites before you book any hotel. Here, you can read what people had to say about their hotel stay. Consider what they say to help you make your decision.
The Internet is a great place to research hotels. These websites will help you find good deals quickly. They can provide you with an idea of the average rate charged by each hotel, so you will have a good idea as to whether or not the deal you are being offered is good. Finally, they can assist you in deciding when to vacation and what to do once you arrive at your destination.
If you belong to any organizations, check with them for travel deals. Many organizations provide hotel discounts for members. People often forget that they are eligible for these discounts, which may be for 10 percent or more off of your stay. If you are planning to stay a few nights, this can really add up. It can add up to equal a free night!
Be sure to look at your room before unpacking your suitcase. Is the room free of mildew and mold and clean? Are all bathroom fixtures in proper working order? Make sure you have the linens, bath supplies and towels that you will need. If you notice any problems, report them immediately. If your issues are not resolved, ask to move to another room.
When thinking about the type of hotel you would like to stay at, there are plenty of options to consider. You must consider price of course, and you might want to be close to a specific location within the city you’re staying. Amenities like a swimming pool, a gym, free local calls or breakfast, and other amenities may be things that you prefer. Find a hotel room that includes all of the features that you demand. There’s sure to be one out there.
Know when check-in time is. Some people forget to find out what time they are allowed in their room; they show up at the hotel only to find their room is not yet ready. If you can’t help your arrival time being early, you can ask for an early check-in but it might cost a bit extra.
Check out the search tools offered by online travel sites. These kinds of websites allow you to locate great deals fast. They will also let you know what people pay on average when they go to that hotel. This lets you figure out if the deal you’re getting is a good one. The websites can also help you decide the best time to take a trip and where you can eat, shop or sight-see.
Although many hotels have certain rooms that allow pets, never assume your hotel will without researching ahead of time. Ask the hotel if pets are allowed, no matter what their site says. Be certain you understand all rules pertaining to pets. Some hotels only allow certain types, sizes and breeds.
Never book a hotel room before seeking out online deals. Many times, the person you book your room with will not tell you that you can get a discount online. This is why you should always do your research well online to find these hidden discounts. Look to websites like RueLaLaTravel or Jetsetter for more help.
Taking a pet on a trip requires some extra responsibility. Ascertain that your hotel is really pet friendly. Remember to bring bags so that you can pick up your pet’s waste when you travel. If you can arrange a corner room, there will be less likelihood of your pet disturbing other guests.
Check your hotel room prior to unpacking. Is the room clean? Do you see any mold or mildew? 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.
If you would like to treat your partner to a massage, be sure to make the appointment far in advance. Frequently, the best massage people will be booked by name. This means that if you book early, you’ll have a better experience.
Plan your trip as far in advance as you can to ensure best rates. Most hotels have serious discounts for early booking customers. You can save up to 50 percent, even on elite hotel chains.
Join a membership program if you travel frequently. These points can translate into some major perks when you’re vacationing.
One of the best bonuses of a AAA membership is great discounts on booking a hotel. You may be surprised that your auto club membership includes hotel discounts, but it does. You could save 5% or even 10% on some rooms. When you stay for multiple nights, the savings really add up.
Try to avoid long distance calling in hotel rooms. Use the Internet, instead. Skype connections are available in many hotels these days using Wi-Fi. This can be a much cheaper option than calling from a hotel room and getting hit with lots of fees.
Sign up for frequent guest programs at hotels. These are similar to frequent flyer programs. They allow you to accrue points during your hotel stay. Use them for discounts, entertainment tickets and other things.
If you’re traveling with kids, be sure that you check on the pools to ensure they’re open and in service. There is nothing worse than getting to a hotel with kids to find the pool is closed.
Inquire about the price of a transfer before you place a booking. A transfer can sometimes come with a substantial hidden cost. Be sure and inquire about this beforehand so that you get your savings.
It may come as a shock to you, but most hotels don’t allow you to check-in early. Plan accordingly or you will find yourself waiting a long time to access your room. It is usually necessary for hotels to service your room prior to allowing you to check in. If you can’t avoid being early, ask the front desk to make an exception, but be prepared if they can’t accommodate you.
Membership programs offered by hotel chains help members who travel a lot get the best rooms during their stay. Each hotel stay can accrue points towards vacation perks.
If you will have children during your hotel stay that need a crib, you must bring this up when you are booking the room. Many hotels have a limited number of these, so it is important to mention this at booking. They may charge extra for this. Talk about these when reserving your room so you aren’t hit with unexpected expenses.
To make reserving a hotel easy, use AAA. People who are AAA members receive discounts at many hotel chains. In addition, having a AAA membership will make it easier to get a rental car when it’s needed. Many car rental agencies add perks, such as a child car seat at no charge, for AAA members.
No matter how clean your hotel seems, never use the hotel bedspread for sleeping. The bedspread isn’t washed often, while the sheets are. This means you might find that the bedspread is carrying germs and bacteria. Just remove it from the bed.
If you are going to inspect if your hotel room has bed bugs, then start looking in the bathroom. Bedbugs are rarely seen in this room. It makes a safe place to keep your luggage when looking for bedbugs elsewhere in the room. It is usually a convenient place for young children to sit for a moment too.
Know what the hotel’s policy is for overbooking. Hotels sometimes overbook, which means you discover that your reservation is unavailable. The hotel will then send or “walk” you to another hotel. Getting there early can usually prevent this, but if you do get “walked,” make sure your accommodations are not being downgraded in any way.
Look into the smoking policies in the hotel you are considering. If you are a non-smoker, you might want to stay at a non-smoking hotel. Even if you book a non-smoking room, smoke can enter your room through air vents. Smokers don’t always respect the fact that the room they are renting is a non-smoking room. If you don’t want to smell like cigarettes after leaving your hotel room, you might want to look for a non-smoking hotel.
Stay away from the bottled water! Sure, you might be a little thirsty after checking into your new room. Opening the bottle in the mini-fridge is tempting. The hotel knows this, and charges high prices because of it. Check if the gym offers free water. The best idea, however, is to bring your own.
Do you smoke? If so, it is important that you are aware of a hotel’s smoking policy in advance. Many have designated rooms for smokers. If so, you should avail yourself of this option. 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.
Don’t steal the hotel linens when you leave, no matter how tempting and comfortable they are. They might be lovely, but you will be charged for them. If you find you really like these items, then ask the hotel if you could purchase them instead.
In conclusion, doing your research will help you land a wonderful hotel at a wonderful price. You’ve got to learn what to be looking for and when you should be booking. So keep the above suggestions in mind so you ensure you find the perfect hotel that will fit all your needs.
When traveling, booking your flight and hotel together will save you money. Online sites allow for bundles which lead to great discounts. To get the most from this service, compare rates of several different hotels and airlines.
About The Author
