Do you need to book a hotel soon? Are you seeking good advice on getting the best value in accommodations? If you answered yes, then this piece is for you. The following article has some great information on what you need to do to book a great hotel.
Check for online reviews before making any reservations. This lets you know what others’ experiences have been like. What patrons have to say about the hotels you are considering can help you make the best decision about where to stay.
Online travel sites like Expedia or Orbitz can help you get the best price for rooms at the hotel you would like to stay at. If you have a hotel loyalty program your a part of, be sure you enter this information while looking through rates. If you have a membership in any other organization, put that down as well.
Hotel Search Websites
Make use of the various hotel search websites on the Internet. These websites can help you quickly find great deals. Hotel search websites also let you see the regular rates of hotels, so you can compare and see whether a supposed deal is really a good one. Finally, you can also use these to help you learn what there is to do when you get to your destination.
Be sure you inspect the room you are given at check in before you start unpacking. Is the room free of mildew and mold and clean? Do the sink, shower and toilet work properly? Do you have an adequate number of 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.
Be clear about check-in time at the hotel you have booked. You don’t want to arrive early only to find out your room isn’t ready yet. If you might be arriving before the check-in time, ask the hotel whether it’s okay to come.
Never make the assumption that all hotels allows pets in your room. You should call ahead to double check, even if it was stated on the website that this is a pet friendly hotel. Ask what pet-friendly means at the establishment. There may be some restrictions.
If you need to have a pet stay with you in your hotel room, do a few things ahead of time. Find out if the hotel allows pets. Take some bags to clean after your pet. If you can arrange a corner room, there will be less likelihood of your pet disturbing other guests.
If the hotel you stay at offers a couples massage, it is very important that you make an appointment well ahead of time. Frequently, the best massage people will be booked by name. This means that if you book early, you’ll have a better experience.
Be sure to consult AAA to help you make excellent plans for your entire vacation. It may surprise you that AAA gives hotel discounts, but most of them do. You can save 5 percent or more motels and hotels in the US. This can add up on a long trip.
If you go out to travel quite a bit, it’s good to get signed up for a hotel’s loyalty program. They offer perks to folks who frequent their hotel. Enjoy late check out, bonus upgrades and free nights with the loyalty paints you have earned.
If there’s a hotel chain you stay at often, check out their membership programs for frequent guests. Similar to how you earn points from frequent flyer programs, hotels offer you similar rewards for your stay. These points can add up to hotel restaurant discounts, spa deals, free nights and much more.
If you are a frequent business traveler, establishments like Marriott and Choice Hotels offer attractive membership programs. Every stay in a particular hotel chain where you are a member will add points to your total, which can later be used on free rooms or amenities that usually cost you.
You don’t want to make too many long distance calls while you’re staying in a hotel room. Try using the Internet, instead. Many hotels now offer Skype connections via Wi-Fi. This saves you a ton of money.
If you are traveling with children, be sure the hotels you book have clean swimming pools that are up and running. 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.
If you are inspecting a room for bed bugs, then the bathroom is the best place to start. This is where you won’t find them. That means your luggage will be safe there while you check out the other areas of the room. It is also the safest place for children and pets, too.
Before making a hotel reservation, learn the hotel’s policy on smoking. If you are not a smoker, you might want to avoid hotels with smoking rooms. Even in a non-smoking room, the smoke from other rooms is in the air and might infiltrate your clothing. Sometimes, smokers rent and smoke in non-smoking rooms. 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.
When seeking reservations, don’t forget to ask for a crib or cot if you need one. Not every hotel offers these items, and the ones that do only have limited quantities. Also, you may face extra charges for the use of these items. Talk about these when reserving your room so you aren’t hit with unexpected expenses.
For the sake of hygiene, avoid the bedspread provided by the hotel. Although hotels will wash the sheets that lie underneath the bedspread, the bedspread itself is not typically washed. For this reason, there’s no telling what might be on that bedspread. Therefore, as soon as you walk into your room, take the bedspread off the bed.
As you can see, it is essential to do some research before you book a hotel room. The tips above will help you on your way. Make sure you use the information provided or you’ll miss out on a great opportunity.