A hotel room can make your trip a dream, or it can turn your vacation into a long nightmare. Considering the costs of hotels, it is important that you know what to look for (and what to avoid) when you are making a reservation. The following tips will ensure that the process is less of a headache for you.
Prior to booking a hotel, refer to TripAdvisor and similar online travel review sites. This lets you know what others’ experiences have been like. Patron reviews can give you valuable information that will help you make a good choice.
To get the very best prices for the hotels that you’d like to visit, use travel sites online like Orbitz and Expedia. Join the loyalty program for any hotel chain that you love and believe you’ll stay with often. Also, as an added bonus, you may get discounts from other companies such as AAA or AARP.
If you are hungry when you get to your hotel and do not want to leave, consider ordering room service. Even though this will cost a bit more, the convenience and comfort are worth it.
Know your check-in time in advance. Some people fail to check when they will be able to access their rooms. They arrive at the hotel but find that their room isn’t ready yet. Call the hotel if you are early and find out if your room is ready.
If you’re interested in the massage services of a hotel you intend to stay at, reserve your appointment ahead of time. That’s because the highest quality masseurs and masseuses are typically booked way in advance due to their good name. Therefore, by planning in advance, you can ensure you have the best possible experience during your massage.
See if you can get a hotel discount through AAA if you are a member. You could also get a surprise that you have an auto club membership that gives you hotel discounts. It’s possible you could save 5 percent or higher on hotels across the United States. This can add up on a long trip.
If you are a person who travels often, it is a good idea to sign up for hotel loyalty programs. This type of program provides discounts and benefits for frequent visitors. You can get a free upgrade, restaurant gift certificates or even a free stay!
Green Hotels
People who care about the environment may be more comfortable staying in a hotel that is eco-friendly. Fortunately, there are many green hotels to choose from today. Some of the newer hotels are certified green. Also, older hotels often make several changes to become eco-friendly. Ask your booking agent about green hotels.
The amount you pay for the hotel room is determined by when you book it. Rooms in hotels are often priced based on their availability. Whenever you can, don’t book your hotel room until the last 24 hours. This gives you the best prices in reserving hotel rooms. They’ll lower the price to fill the room.
In order to avoid an unwanted expense on the hotel bill, inquire about any hotel transfer fees prior to booking them. If the room is the bargain, then an expensive transfer can ruin the whole savings. Inquiring about this in advance will maximize any savings.
Join the hotel’s membership program if you frequently stay there on business trips. This allows you to earn point you can redeem for vacation freebies for you and your family.
If you are traveling with children, be sure the hotels you book have clean swimming pools that are up and running. There are few things as frustrating as showing up to a hotel, with your kids chomping at the bit to get in the pool, only to have it closed for repairs.
If you want to inspect a hotel room for bed bugs, start with the bathroom. This is where you won’t find them. You can leave your bags there while you investigate the remainder of the room for bedbugs. It’s safe for pets and kids too.
Make sure to ask up front if the hotel allows smoking or does not. If you are a nonsmoker, you may want to avoid hotels that offer smoking rooms. You may be able to ask for a non-smoking room, however smoke can still travel through the air, settling on your clothing. Sometimes, smokers book rooms that are non-smoking and smoke anyway. Think about staying at a hotel that is totally nonsmoking if you don’t want to stink when you check out.
Reviews whether or not the hotel allows pets. If you fear pets or have allergies it may be best to make reservations at hotels that have a strict no pets policy. Hotels that allow pets typically have rooms that have a pet odor in them. Extra fees are sometimes imposed by hotels for guests who bring pets, but sometimes the fee is not too high. Depending on what the hotel is like, you might have to pay an extra cleaning fee.
Do not check out prior to your agreed upon departure date if you can avoid it. Some hotels charge early departure fees. Once you have confirmed your reservation, understand that the room is reserved for you, and the hotel loses money if you leave early. They will charge a departure fee so they get back what they lose.
Understand your rights when it comes to hotels “walking” you. Sometimes hotels are going to overbook and then your room that you reserved won’t be there. This means that you’re going to have to go somewhere else. If you can’t avoid this, then make sure you are getting a room that is still worth the value that you have already paid.
As you can now see, preparation is key to finding a great deal on a great hotel. You need to what you should be looking for and when the best time is to book. Keep these tricks and tips in mind and a great hotel is going to be in your future.