You do not want to feel cheated by the hotel stay to leave you are staying at. Whether you’re charged too much money or the place isn’t what you expected, having a poor hotel experience can leave a bad taste on anyone’s tongue. The following information will help you bypass some of the most common pitfalls with hotels so that your stay is a great one.
You can find a lot of great deals on hotel rooms using online travel sites out there. If you’re a member of a loyalty program of a hotel, use that info when checking rates. You may also qualify for discounts due to AAA or AARP.
There are plenty of websites that offer reviews for local hotels, for example TripAdvisor. Use these websites to review a hotel before you make the actual reservation. This gives you first-hand accounts of people’s experiences in each hotel. What patrons have to say about the hotels you are considering can help you make the best decision about where to stay.
You can stash your expensive items in the hotel safe.
Free Local Calls
Use Orbitz or Expedia to find a great deal. If you have a hotel loyalty program your a part of, be sure you enter this information while looking through rates. Also, as an added bonus, you may get discounts from other companies such as AAA or AARP.
There are many different things to think about when choosing a hotel to stay in. Amenities such as complimentary WiFi, free local calls, free local calls or breakfast, and other amenities may be things that you prefer. Try to find a tip that checks off as much of your desired amenities as possible.
Check out your room when you arrive. Is the room clean? Do you see any mold or mold? Are you given the linens and towels? If you spot any 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.
The organizations that you are a member of might be of help. Many of these places will give you cheaper hotel prices. A lot of people don’t use these discounts, and you may save 10% or even more. If you are planning to stay a few nights, this can really add up. It can add up to equal a free night!
Don’t make the mistake of thinking all hotels will be pet friendly.
There are three different things you have to do in advance if you’re going to be traveling with a trip. Be sure that this hotel really does allow pets. Be sure to bring some bags on hand to make pet cleanup easy.
Take advantage of search tools online. Use these websites to your advantage! Not only will they show the best deals, but they’ll also include extra information about the rooms, floor plans, and even reviews from other customers. You can also find out about local amenities and things offered by the hotels.
Book massages as far ahead of time as possible to guarantee you get the perfect couples massage for you and your significant other.The best practitioners go fast, so get in while you can.
If you belong to AAA, look into hotel discounts included. You might be surprised to learn that your membership to the auto club includes discounts on hotels. You may save 5% or even more on your hotel stay just by showing your membership card. This can really add up on a long trip.
Always see if you can find deals online when you’re thinking of getting a hotel room. A lot of the time, when you book a room with someone, they’ll tell you there aren’t any online discounts. So you should always search on your own for discounts prior to booking. Look at Jetsetter, RueLaLaTravel or similar websites for discounts.
If you run regularly, make sure you pack exercise clothes and a GPS watch.
It is wise to join a hotel loyalty programs that your favorite hotels offer. They provide rewards to those who book the same hotel chain frequently. You can often earn free upgrades, an allowance to check out late, and even free stays when you get enough points.
Be sure to look at your room before unpacking your suitcase. Make sure there is no mold or mildew anywhere in the room. Does the plumbing work right? Make sure you have the linens, bath supplies and towels that you will need. Call the front desk if you find any issues; they can either fix the problem or give you a different room.
If there’s a hotel chain you stay at often, look into their frequent stay membership programs. These programs usually work by letting you points for each stay. These points can be traded in for restaurant discounts, discounts at the hotel restaurants, spa deals and much, much more.
The price for any give hotel will vary depending on when you book the room. Rooms in hotels are often priced based on availability. This will get you the very best hotel room.
Know when you are able to check in and get your room. Some people forget to find out what time they are allowed in their room; they show up at the hotel only to find their room is not yet ready. Call the front desk to find out if it is alright for you to arrive before check-in.
Join the hotel’s membership program to get deals on your stays. These programs allow you to collect points that can translate into some major perks when you’re vacationing.
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Think about these three things if you plan to bring a pet with you during your hotel stay. Check to see if the hotel actually permits pets. In addition, take along some plastic bags to pick up your pet’s mess. If you can arrange a corner room, there will be less likelihood of your pet disturbing other guests.
Don’t make any long distance calls on your hotel phone.Many hotels will give you complimentary Skype connections via Wi-Fi. You can stay in touch with people back home by using this instead of making expensive long distance calls from your room.
There is nothing worse than having to tell your excited kids that really want to swim only to see that it has been closed.
Do you travel on a periodic basis? If so, consider joining your hotel’s loyalty program. These are exceptional benefits reserved for customers who frequently use a particular chain of hotels. You can get a free upgrade, restaurant gift certificates or even a free stay!
Start looking in the bathroom when checking for bed bugs.This is where you won’t find bedbugs. It is usually a convenient place for pets or children to sit for a couple minutes as well.
Be sure you know what the hotel smoking policy is if you smoke. A lot of hotels have rooms just for people who smoke.Ask for those rooms if you are available. Some hotels charge a hefty penalty if they find any evidence that you were smoking in a non-smoking room, so make sure you understand and follow the hotel’s smoking policy.
If you stay in a particular hotel chain, ask about their membership program. Just like with a frequent flyer mile program, you can get points for staying a hotel. These points can quickly add up to many perks such as a free night, discounts at the hotel restaurants, spa deals and much, much more.
You should understand that you generally aren’t going to be able to do an early check-in at a hotel. Plan your time accordingly unless you might end up waiting in a hotel lobby. Hotels need the time to clean and prepare your room. If you do arrive early, ask at the front desk if you can possibly check in early, but be prepared if they can’t accommodate you.
You have rights in the event where a hotel attempts to take advantage of you.This will require that you have to go somewhere else.If you can’t avoid this, be sure that you get a better room and your travel is paid for.
If you are an environmentally conscious traveler, you should look into “green” hotels. There are several green hotels around. Some of the newer hotels are certified green. Older hotels may choose to take “green” standards seriously, which is a great thing. A good travel agent can help you find hotels that are environmentally friendly.
Do not open the bottled water! You are very likely to be tired and thirsty when you check in. You can be tempted to casually open that bottled water calling to you from the mini fridge. Hotels are well aware of their guests by charging ridiculous pricess for bottled water. Check the hotel gym instead; they may have free water. It’s better to simply pack your own bottled water.
You can get some money if you book a flight and hotel at the same time. Travel websites offer big savings to people who book more than one service at the same time.
The cost of your hotel room largely depends on the dates on which you plan to stay there. Hotels price rooms based on availability. If you can, make your reservation no earlier than 24 hours before you arrive. This will get you the best hotel rates. Empty rooms don’t earn a hotel any money, so they are willing to slash the price.
You can find reasonable upgrades without paying a dime. You can be sure of this by arriving on time. Often your room has not yet been cleaned, so the front desk may offer an upgraded room for no charge.
In order to make sure you avoid hotel stays that are distasteful, follow the advice that has been provided to you here. Once you understand what to look for and how to find a great deal, you can really enjoy yourself. Relax, unwind and enjoy!
Being a member of AAA makes travel very easy. Not only will AAA members receive discounts for a lot of hotel chains that make it worth getting into, you may also find rental cars more easily than those without the membership. You might even get a free car seat if you have kids.