Have you had the experience of booking a hotel room and showed up to find that the hotel was dumpy? This is all too common and can ruin your vacation entirely. Read on to learn how to locate a good hotel at a great price.
Consider taking advantage of room service during your stay. This will cost you a little extra, but you can stay comfortable in your room while enjoying you eats.
To help you make a good choice, you should check out hotel review websites like TripAdvisor online. Online review websites will allow you to see previous guests’ experiences at the hotels you are considering. Consider what they say to help you make your decision.
There are things to consider as you search for a hotel. Amenities like free WiFi, on-site restaurant, continental breakfast and free Wi-Fi or local calls. Try locating a tip that checks off as much of your wish list as possible.
Inspect the room before unpacking your bags. Is the room free of mildew and mold and clean? Do you see any mold or mildew? Are linens and towels in the room? If you find obvious problems, make the front desk aware immediately so they can take care of it or move you to a room that meets your needs.
Use travel websites, like Expedia and Priceline to find great hotel deals. Are you a member of a certain hotel’s membership program? If so, make sure you put this information into the travel site. You might also have other discounts from a membership in the AARP or AAA.
Plan your trip as far in advance for the best rates. Many hotels offer discounts if you book more than a few months in advance. You can expect savings up to fifty percent off at some very exclusive hotels.
Don’t make the assumption that all hotels will be pet friendly.
If you belong to any organizations, find out if they get any discount from certain hotel chains. Many of these places will give you cheaper hotel prices. Many people don’t remember these discounts, which can save them 10% or more. That can save a lot of money, especially if you are staying for multiple nights. That’s almost an extra free night throughout an entire week.
There are some things you should do in advance if you’re going to be traveling with a pet. Be sure that this hotel really does allow pets. Be sure to have plenty of plastic bags with you so you can pick up your pet’s waste.
If you want to get your daily runs in while on vacation, make sure you pack exercise clothes and a GPS watch.
When thinking about selecting a hotel, there are quite a few salient points to consider. Price is one factor, however you may also need your hotel to be close to a particular destination. Amenities, such as a gym, room service, or free Wi-Fi, might be of importance to you. Look for a hotel that gives you a lot of the things you are looking for.
Join a loyalty program to get deals on business trips. These programs allow you to collect points that can translate into some major perks when you’re vacationing.
It can prove rather frustrating for you check in to your children to arrive at a hotel expecting a pool and/or other activities only to find out it’s closed.
Take advantage of tools provided online when searching for a hotel. These websites can help you get great deals quickly. They also let you see what full price is, so you know you are saving money. They also help you decide the dates for your vacation and the activities you’ll want to partake of.
Start looking in the hotel bathroom if you need to make sure there are no bed bugs in a hotel. This is the few places you won’t see any. It is a convenient place for pets or children to wait for a couple minutes as well.
Ask if there is smoking or non. If you are not a smoker, you might not want to go to a hotel with smoking rooms. Smokers don’t always respect the fact that the room they are not supposed to smoke in.
Prior to making a hotel reservation, check for deals online. You might not learn from the person on the phone that you can actually get great discounts over the Internet, instead. You have to look for the discounts. Check out websites such as Jetsetter, RueLaLaTravel, and SniqueAway.
Be sure you know what the hotel smoking policy is if you smoke. Many have rooms designated for smokers. Ask to see if any of these are a smoker. Some hotels charge large penalties if they find that smoking occured in a room not designated for it, so make sure you understand and follow the hotel’s smoking policy.

You should be aware whether or not the hotel’s policy concerning pets. These hotels sometimes have odors sinking into the carpet and linens have absorbed them. Some hotels are pet-friendly and don’t charge for it, other do not. The fee charged may not be adequate to cover totally or partially the cost of the extra cleaning involved.
Inspect your room before unpacking your bags. Is it without mildew and mold? Do the toilet, sink and shower work properly? Make sure you have the linens, bath supplies and towels that you will need. If you see any issues, be sure to tell the front desk. This way, they can fix the problems or switch rooms for you.
Some hotels have a limited number of them. Talk about these things when you reserve your room.
Avoid sleeping under the hotel bedspread.The bedspread usually isn’t washed between bookings. It could have acquired a lot of germs. Just make sure you remove it from the bed to have peace of mind.
Know the hotel’s check-in time. Many people show up before check-in time only to find out their room isn’t ready. If you find you will be arriving early, call the hotel in advance and find out if you will be allowed in.
Do not take the hotel’s linens with hotel towels or sheets.
You can get a decent room rate if you don’t book during the off season. This is the highest time that hotel rates are at their highest. You should get a discount is much better price.
If you need to travel with your pet, you need to make three advance preparations. You want to ensure you’ve chosen a pet-friendly hotel. Gather plastic grocery bags so you are able to clean up any pet messes. Ask for a corner room so that your pets’ noise doesn’t bother anyone else.
You can often get a free upgrade. You have a better chance of this if you arrive right at the precise check-in time. Often your room has not yet been cleaned, so the front desk may offer an upgraded room for no charge.
Some hotels rooms offer good views than others. If you don’t have to pay more to get a good view, request for a room with a great view. A good view can take your stay more pleasant. It never hurts to ask if there are rooms with better view is available.
If you belong to the AAA, see what kinds of discounts the hotel offers. You may not know that your membership to the auto club includes discounts on hotels. You can save 5%, 10% or more at quality hotels throughout the country. It really is a savings that adds up over time.
Never pay the full advertised price at hotels. Call the hotel you want to stay at and ask for a better deal. You can find great discounts on the various travel sites.
Book your hotel travel during special occasions. Hotels sometimes offer freebies to guests when they know you are celebrating a milestone birthday or anniversary. They might give you free champagne or some other goodie.
In order to avoid an unwanted expense on the hotel bill, inquire about any hotel transfer fees prior to booking them. A transfer can sometimes come with a substantial hidden cost. You can increase the amount you save by simply finding this information out in advance.
Check out online websites such as Expedia or Travelocity to help you find good deals. You may have to place a bid, and some may just provide you with a star rating and price without giving you the name of the hotel.
It is customary to tip your housekeeper when you leave a hotel. You can justify not tipping other services as the bill usually includes these extras, but the room service maid should be tipped. You probably were a little sloppier than you generally are at home anyway, so be sure to leave something for the maid.
Membership programs offered by hotel chains help members who travel a lot get the best rooms during their stay. You will build up points with that hotel for added benefits. It works a lot like frequent flier miles do for airlines.
Having read the advice presented here, you can find an affordable hotel room. When you know how to look for a hotel reservation deal, it’s quite easy. Always remember the tips that have been presented here.
