You will probably need to stay at a hotel during your life. Whether you are traveling for business or pleasure, it’s important to understand how to book a hotel. These tips will help.
Before making reservations at a hotel, check the online review sites. You will be able to see the most recent reviews. These reviews can aid you in your decision about whether to book the hotel.
Use Orbitz or Expedia to find a great deal. If you are a member of the hotel’s loyalty program, don’t forget to add that information as you check rates. You can also get additional discounts from any organization you are apart of, such as the AAA or the AARP.
If you wish to keep things safe in a hotel, use the hotel’s safe that’s in the closet of your room. Your iPad, watch, and other smaller, expensive items can be placed into the safe, then you can rest assured at their safety as you head out for a fun-filled day.
The Internet is a great place to research hotels. They allow you to quickly locate great discounts. Being able to comparison shop helps you find the best value, while getting the amenities that are important to you. Finally, you can also use these to help you learn what there is to do when you get to your destination.
Prior to making a hotel reservation, check for deals online. Sometimes, the person at the hotel desk might forget to mention a discount for booking online. You will have to learn how to find these great discounts yourself. Websites like Orbitz, Travelocity and Hotels.com usually have some great discounts.
In order to get the best prices for hotel stays, you will want to plan your trip several weeks or months beforehand. A lot of hotel locations offer discounts for reservations a month or more in advance. This way, you can save as much as 50 percent even with the most elite brands.
Never assume that all hotels are pet-friendly. Call before you book so that you know for sure. A hotel may be pet-friendly, but still has restrictions against certain breeds or animals. Find out ahead of time if your pet is acceptable.
If you tend to return to the same family of hotels for your vacation, consider joining their membership reward programs. Just like frequent flyer mile programs, these hotel programs offer you points for your stay. These points can add up to hotel restaurant discounts, spa deals, free nights and much more.
Joining certain clubs that let you accrue points can help you reap major benefits from your regular hotel stays. These programs allow you to collect points that can be applied toward further travels.
Sign up for AAA if you wish to get better hotel arrangements while you travel. AAA offers their members good discounts on hotels, car rental and other aspects of travel. Parents of small children will probably like the car seat that’s provided for free in a lot of locations.
In hotel rooms, avoid calling long distance if possible. Make use of the Internet, instead. A lot of hotels offer wi-fi, making it possible for you to use Skype. You can still call family members, friends, and colleagues from your room without racking up tons of costly charges.
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 having to tell your excited kids they cannot swim.
If you are going to inspect if your hotel room has bed bugs, then start looking in the bathroom. Bedbugs are least likely to live here. That makes the bathroom the safest place to keep the luggage while you look through the remainder of the accommodations. Kids and pets can stay there as well.
Be sure you understand the pet policy of the hotel. If you have an allergy, or you just don’t like dogs, it may not be in your best interest to book a hotel that lets guests bring their pets. These hotels may also have an odor due to the smells sinking in the floor and linens. Some hotels charge a nominal fee for pets, while others charge substantially more. The fee may cover totally or partially the cost of the extra cleaning involved.
Be aware that it is normally not possible to check into a hotel early. Plan to arrive at the proper check-in time so you don’t find yourself wandering around the hotel’s lobby for hours. The room has to be cleaned ahead of your check in. Check with the front desk if you arrive early, but do not be angry if they can’t get you in early.
For the sake of hygiene, avoid the bedspread provided by the hotel. Sheets and blankets are washed regularly, while bedspreads usually aren’t. That can make it rife with germs and bacteria and who knows what. For your health’s sake, remove the bedspread.
Booking the right hotel room is a skill almost everyone needs at some point in their life. Whether you are staying for business or pleasure, it’s important you do your homework. Use the tips you learn here and do a more research at specific hotel sites. Getting the right room can make your travel plans more enjoyable.