You will probably need to book a hotel from time to time for various reasons. Whether you will be staying in one for personal reasons or business reasons, it is essential that you know what kind of hotel to look for. These tips will help you a better understanding of what to look for when shopping for a hotel.
Do some research on travel websites before you book any hotel. These websites have reviews and comments from people who have recent experience with their stay. What people say about a hotel can help you figure out where you should be staying.
You should put any expensive electronics and jewelry in the safe and go about your day without worry.
Find great prices at online travel sites like Orbitz and Expedia. 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 in on the organizations that you belong to. Many of these places will give you cheaper hotel discounts to members.People frequently forget these discounts are available, which can often be 10% and higher. It can add up to equal a free hotel night!
Consider ordering room service if you want a special meal without needing to go out. Room service can be expensive, but the luxury of being able to lounge about in your room in your jammies can make it worthwhile.
Always check for online deals before booking a hotel room. This is why it’s up to you to search for discounts yourself. Check out websites like SniqueAway, RueLaLaTravel, or RueLaLaTravel.
Know the hotel’s check-in time. Many people show up before check-in time only to find out their room isn’t ready. If you find you will be arriving early, call the hotel in advance and find out if you will be allowed in.
Plan your trip in advance as you can to ensure best rates. Many locations offer discounts if you are willing to book more than a few months in advance. You might even be able to save up to 50 percent if you book months in advance.
For the best hotel rates, plan your trip weeks or months ahead of time. If you can book a couple of months early, a lot of locations will give you a steeper discount. With elite brands, this can translate into savings of up to 50 percent.
Don’t think that all hotels will welcome your pet.
Always remember to pack running clothes and any thing else you need for exercising while on your trip. For an early morning jog, get up and throw your gear on, and then head out the front door. You’ll get plenty of good exercise and a better understanding of the city around you.
If you are a runner, continue your routine when traveling by bringing running clothes and your GPS.
If you stay in a particular hotel chain, ask about their membership program. They work a lot like frequent flier miles do with airlines. You earn points in a similar way. These points can be traded in for restaurant discounts, tickets to shows, free nights at the hotel, and much more.
If you stay at the same hotels all the time, ask about the “frequent stay” program. These hotel programs give you rack up points. These points can be traded in for restaurant discounts, tickets to shows, spa deals and much, much more.
If you must make a hotel transfer, find out about the fees. Particularly if you are getting a discount, the fee associated with the transfer may be high. Ask about this beforehand to save more.
Be sure to avoid hotel transfers when booking a room.Especially in situations where the price of the room represents a major deal, the price of your transfer can make a big difference. You will save more by asking about this beforehand.
To make reserving a hotel easy, use AAA. The discounts at many hotel chains and deals on car rentals can more than pay for the AAA membership fees. It’s great to know that you can count on both of these things.
Sign up for AAA if you wish to get better hotel arrangements when traveling. Parents of small children will appreciate the complimentary car set offered in some locations.
Know whether or not smoking is allowed in your room. Some hotels offer smoking rooms. If that happens to be the case, then you need to ask for that type of room. If you don’t, you can be hit with some major penalties for lighting up in a non-smoker’s room.
It can prove rather frustrating when you and your room with the kids screaming “pool” only to find out it’s closed.
In most cases, checking into a hotel room ahead of schedule isn’t possible. Make your plans accordingly if you do not want to spend hours waiting in the lobby. Hotels need to get a room cleaned up before you get to check into it. If you do happen to arrive early, check with the desk to see if you can check in, but don’t expect that request to be honored.
Ask if there is smoking or non. If you do not smoke, you might want to choose a hotel that does not have smoking rooms. Smokers also sometimes smoke in rooms that the room they are not supposed to smoke in.
For hygienic purposes, you may want to avoid using the bedspread that the hotel provides. Although the blankets and sheets are cleaned when guests check out, sometimes the bedspread on top will not be. This bedspread is where you would find the bacteria and germs. Remove it from the bed before you use it.
From time to time, you will need to reserve a hotel room. Before you make your reservation, you need to do some research first. The previous article offered great tips for coming up with the right hotel, so implement those tips.
Avoid the bottled water! After you check-in you may feel tired and thirsty. It is tempting to simply grab that refreshing bottle of water conveniently available in the mini-fridge. Hotels know this and charge more for bottled water. The gym in the hotel may have water for free. It is best to simply bring your own bottled water.
