Booking a hotel room can be overwhelming if you do not know what you are doing. This is why researching beforehand is essential. Figure out how much you want to spend and what amenities are important to you. This info will help you book a great hotel.
Prior to choosing and reserving a hotel room, check review sites online like TripAdvisor or Expedia. These reviews can give you a customer’s perspective of the hotel you are planning on staying at. What people say about a hotel can help you figure out where you should be staying.
Room service can make your stay more enjoyable. The cost will be a bit higher, but not having to dress up and go out will be worth it.
In order to save money on hotel stays, book far in advance. Quite a few locations will give discounts if you choose to book a room a month or more in advance. Doing this could save you up to 50 percent off your room, and this holds true with the more elite brands as well.
Don’t make the mistake of thinking all hotels will accept pets. Always call to ask, even if it says pet-friendly online. Always ask about what exactly a pet-friendly policy entails, as there could still be limits on breeds and sizes.
Check your AAA membership for a hotel discount. It may be surprising that auto clubs members receive hotel deals, but they do. You can save 5 percent or more motels and hotels in the US. This can add up in time!
If you go out to travel quite a bit, it’s good to get signed up for a hotel’s loyalty program. Loyalty programs provide frequent guests benefits for booking with them on a regular basis. Some of the useful things that you can earn are extra upgrades, free nights, and late check-outs.
The timing of your room booking often determines the price you pay. The prices are based partly on availability. When possible, you can often get a good price if you book a room at the very last minute. This is the best way to get the best prices. An empty room will earn the hotel no money; so, they generally slash the price.
To make reserving a hotel easy, use AAA. AAA members get good hotel discounts and can also find good car rental rates much more easily. Those with youngsters will be grateful for the free car seats.
When traveling with children, check with the hotel ahead of time to ascertain that the pool is usable. It is extremely frustrating for you and your children to arrive at a hotel expecting a pool and/or other activities only to discover that there are none.
Determine whether or not the hotel you are considering allows smoking or not. If you are not a smoker, you might want to avoid hotels with 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. In addition, previous travelers could have smoked in the room, even if it is a non-smoking room. 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.
One should always be aware of the hotel’s policy on pets. If you are allergic to animals, you should probably avoid staying in hotels that allow people to bring their pets. These hotels could have weird odors because of smells getting into the linens and the floor. You may get charged extra for having a pet, but a lot of places don’t charge all that much. The fee may cover totally or partially the cost of the extra cleaning involved.
You should know that it is not usually possible to check into your hotel early. If you are going to arrive early, plan on doing something to fill your time. The room must be cleaned and prepared so the next guest can check in. You can request an early check-in ahead of time, but it may cost more.
If you’re going to need special sleeping arrangements at a hotel, such as a roll- away or baby bed, specify this as you make reservations. Some hotels don’t offer these amenities at all. Also, you may get charged extra for these types of things. Talk about these issues as you reserve your room.
Early Departure
Whenever possible, do not check out prior to the scheduled date of your departure. If you do, you may be charged a fee for early departure. A booked hotel room is taken off the market, meaning your early departure would cost them money. They have to at least get something for the loss, thus an early departure charge.
If you find your reserved room is not available, you do have rights. Sometimes a hotel will overbook and you will find the room you booked is not available. The hotel will attempt to foist you off on another hotel. Avoid this if you can, but if you must go someplace else, make sure the room you get is comparable to the one you booked, and you are paid to travel there.
As shown above, there are many ways to ensure you get the right hotel room at a price that fits your budget. Use these tips to your advantage. You’ll end up with a comfortable hotel room at a good price.