You don’t want to avoid being taken advantage of when booking a hotel. Whether you are paying too much or the place is just lousy, having a poor hotel experience can leave a bad taste on anyone’s tongue. The following information will help you bypass some of the most common pitfalls with hotels so that your stay is a great one.
Prior to choosing and reserving a hotel room, check review sites online like TripAdvisor or Expedia. 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.
Check online hotel reviews before making any reservations. These provide you with first-hand information from people that have stayed at each hotel. What people say about their experiences at the hotels you’re thinking of booking can aid you make an informed decision.
There are quite a few things you need to think over when you’re about to stay at a hotel. Price is one thing you should consider, but when you get a hotel you may want it near a certain place. You may want free WiFi access, a convenient location, free long distance or a nice pool or gym. Seek out hotels that offer amenities that appeal to you.
Find great hotel room prices by checking out travel sites like Orbitz and Expedia.If you are a member of the hotel’s loyalty program, make sure you input that data when checking out rates. You may also be able to get good discounts from other organizations you belong to such as AAA or AARP membership.
Never book a hotel room before seeking out online deals. Usually, when you try to book a room over the phone, the clerk will not let you know that there is a better deal online. This leaves the job of finding discounts entirely up to you. Websites like TripAdvisor, Expedia, and Jetsetter always have promising bargains for certain hotels that you won’t find anywhere else for a better price.
Consider taking advantage of room service if you want a special someone. Room service can be expensive, it is nice to be able to order a meal in the middle of the night if you so choose.
You don’t want to assume that the hotel you will be staying in is considered pet friendly. Be sure to ask even if the website says it’s ok to bring a pet. Be certain you understand all rules pertaining to pets. Some hotels only allow certain types, sizes and breeds.
You can stash your expensive electronics and jewelry in the hotel safe.
For people who are frequent travelers, consider signing up for some loyalty programs with your favorite hotels. There are many benefits you may be able to get. These programs can assure you niceties such as the best prices, room upgrades, and special perks such as free meals or late checkouts.
Check with the organizations you belong to. Some organizations will offer you discounts on hotel prices. People don’t always remember to check out these discounts, and they can be 10 percent or more. It can add up to equal a free hotel night!
If you want to work on saving the environment, a green vacation is something to look into. Luckily, many hotels are around these days for you to choose from. Some of the newer hotels are certified green. Some older inns just select one or more of several eco-friendly strategies to show environmental awareness. Ask your travel agent to help you identify environmentally friendly hotels.
There are things you should consider when booking a hotel. Amenities such as complimentary WiFi, a gym, free local calls or breakfast, and other amenities may be things that you prefer. Try locating a tip that checks off as much of your desired amenities as possible.
To avoid major expenses on your final hotel bill, be sure to ask the sales representative about the price of hotel transfers first. If you are getting a very low price on the room, it is especially important that you ask about any hidden fees that might be tacked onto your bill. You should inquire about this before booking the hotel room.
Check your room ahead of unpacking. Is it clean and free of mold or mildew? Are linens and towels in the room? If any issues are immediately prevalent, report them to the front desk immediately so that they can be taken care of or you can be moved to a different room.
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. These points can translate into some major perks when you’re vacationing.
Never assume that all hotels allows pets in your room.
Be careful not to make long distance phone calls on the hotel phone. Use your cell phone or the Internet. Many hotels will give you complimentary Skype connections on their Wi-Fi. Use these types of services to keep in contact with loved ones back home instead of having exorbitant charges added to your bill from the costly phone calls.
If you are a member of 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 may be lurking. You could save five percent or more on certain hotels. It’s a way to save money that can add up over the nights.
Check to see if your prospective hotel is non-smoking or smoking. If you’re not a smoker, it may be wise to stay away from rooms that are for smoking. You may be able to get a non smoking rooms still, but you can get smoke in the air which will stick to you. Sometimes, smokers rent non-smoking rooms and smoke in them. Choose a non-smoking hotel to avoid the stench.
Spa Deals
Understand the smoking rules in your hotel, especially if you smoke. A lot of hotels have rooms designated for smokers. If this is the case, then you shouldn’t be shy when asking for this type of room. Certain hotels will charge you a steep fee if you get caught smoking in a room that is non-smoking. Be sure to follow the rules of the hotel.
If you stay at the same chain of hotels often, find out about the programs they offer to frequent guests. These programs give you rack up points. They can amount to show tickets, discounts at hotel restaurants, spa deals, spa deals and a whole lot more.
Find out what the policy on pets is. If you’re allergic to pets or fear them, then you may want to avoid hotels that allow pets. They may have a hidden smell that the hotel tries to mask with a strong fragrance, which is also an irritant. Most hotels charge a pet fee; however, sometimes this is negligible. Some hotels use the paid fees to clean the hotel more thoroughly.
If you want avoid bad hotel stays, consider this article’s advice. By knowing what to look out for and how to spot a great deal, you will have a better experience. Hotel stays when traveling are for rest and relaxation, not stress.
When seeking reservations, don’t forget to ask for a crib or cot if you need one. Such items usually have a limited amount of such extras. In addition, there is sometimes an extra charge for these items. Talk about these things when you make your reservations.
