Have you had the experience of booking a hotel only to discover that it’s a disaster? This is all too common and can really ruin a trip. The information below will help you find a great hotel at an affordable price.
Before you make reservations at a particular hotel, check its reviews on websites like TripAdvisor. These provide you with first-hand information about people’s recent experiences at each hotel. What others say will help you make a wise decision.
Check online reviews before making any reservations. This will give you know what others’ experiences in each hotel. What people say with regards to a hotel being considered can ensure you make an informed decision.
Be sure to put all valuables, such as jewelry and electronics, in the hotel safe. Valuables can be placed there with confidence, allowing you to enjoy your day without worries.
Find great hotel room prices at online travel websites like Orbitz and Expedia. If you are in a hotel loyalty program, don’t forget to add that information as you check rates. You may also qualify for discounts due to AAA or AARP.
Use hotel search tools online. These websites can help you get great deals quickly. On this type of site, you can find out the average and discounted rates of most hotels. Finally, they can assist you in deciding when to vacation and what to do once you arrive at your destination.
Consider ordering room service when the urge strikes for a late-night snack with your stay. While it may cost more, it will be worth it because you can stay in your room and take care of the cravings you’re having.
Search for hotel deals online. The hotel representative is unlikely to inform you there are better deals online. You have to look for the discounts. Check websites like Hotwire.com, Kayak.com and Priceline.com for great discounts.
You should put any expensive electronics and jewelry in the hotel safe.
Check your room when you arrive. Is the room clean? Do you see any mold or mildew? Are all bathroom fixtures in proper working order? Are there enough linens and towels? If there are any obvious problems, report them to the front desk immediately so that they can be taken care of or you can be moved to a different room.
Check the organizations that you are a member with. Some of these organizations will offer you discounts on certain hotels. People often forget that they are eligible for these discounts, and they can be 10 percent or more. It can add up to almost a free night!
When can you check in? If you don’t know when you can check in, you may find your room is not ready when you arrive at your hotel. Call the hotel desk and find out if your room has been prepared if you know that you’ll be arriving early.
Take advantage of tools provided online hotel searching tools. These kinds of websites allow you quickly find great deals fast.
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 can book a couple of months early, a lot of locations will give you a steeper discount. You may even be able to cut the price down by half!
Always look for deals online when you’re thinking of getting a hotel room. This is why it’s up to you should always do your research well online to find these hidden discounts. Check out websites such as Jetsetter, Jetsetter, and SniqueAway.
If you want to work on saving the environment, a green vacation is something to look into. There are several green hotels around. Green certification is something some of the newly built hotels are quite proud of promoting. Many older hotels are environmentally aware and have eco-friendly measures in place. Talk with a travel agent to find green hotels.
Know the hotel’s check-in times. Some people end up waiting for their room is still not ready. Call the front desk to find out if you think you’ll be early.
The price of a hotel room is often a mix of many factors. Availability sets pricing. If possible, don’t make your reservation more than a day in advance. This will get you the very best rate on your hotel room. Empty rooms don’t earn a hotel any money, so they are willing to slash the price.
Don’t think that all hotels will welcome your pet.
If you are traveling with children, be sure the hotels you book have clean swimming pools that are up and running. Your kids and you will be very frustrated if the pool at your hotel is closed because of repairs when you arrive.
If you are an AAA member, it may qualify you for a hotel discount. You may not know that your membership to the auto club also includes discounts on hotels. You could save 5% or even more on nationwide hotels. This is a savings that can really adds up when you are staying for many nights.
Start looking in the bathroom when checking for bed bugs in a hotel. The bathroom is not a common place where bedbugs would be. This is the best place to put your bags while you look around. It is a good place for pets or children to wait for a couple minutes as well.
If you want to get your daily runs in while on vacation, pack your GPS and running clothes.
Make sure to ask up front if the hotel allows smoking or does not. If you are not a smoker, you might want to choose a hotel that does not have smoking rooms. You could still get a non-smoking room, but smoke can flow through the air and settle on your clothes. Sometimes, smokers rent non-smoking rooms because that is all that is available, and then they smoke in them anyway. 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.
Free Nights
If you are going to need a rollaway bed or crib, specify this when booking your room. Many hotels have a limited number of these, so it is important to mention this at booking. Also, these things can cost extra. Talk about these when reserving your room so you aren’t hit with unexpected expenses.
If you tend to stay at the same hotel a lot, ask about the “frequent stay” program. These hotel programs give you points every time you stay there. They add up to free nights, free nights, show tickets, spa deals and a whole lot more.
You may wish to use a different blanket than the comforter that is in your hotel room. Most hotels only wash the sheets on the bed; however, the bedspread is normally not washed. As a result, the bedspread will likely contain all kinds of germs and bacteria. Just make sure you remove the bedspread.
If you care quite a bit about your environment, you should look into “green” hotels. The number of green hotels is steadily growing. Some new hotels were built to green standards and are certified green. Many older hotels will still be environmentally aware and have eco-friendly practices. Talk to your travel agent if you want to find hotels that are eco-friendly.
You have rights in the event where a hotel needs to “walk” you. Occasionally a hotel will be overbooked, and the room you reserved will not be available. This will require that you have to stay at a different hotel. Avoid having this happen if you can, but if you’re going to a different hotel, be sure that the deal is better than the place you were trying to get.
With these tips in hand, you have the power to get a nice hotel room at a good price. It is easy to find deals once you are aware of where to look. Just put in a little time and your travel plans can be a dream.
Don’t open the bottled water! You may be very thirsty upon arrival. This can tempt you to consume bottles of water from the mini-fridge. Hotels are aware of this, that bottle of water will be much more expensive than if you bought it elsewhere. Often, hotels offer complementary water in their workout facilities. If possible, bring your own bottled water.
