The best hotel stay is one where you feel like a respected guest. This should be true even if you choose not to spend a ton on hotel accommodations. So, now it’s time to learn some great tips concerning how to choose the right hotels.
Find great hotel room prices by checking out travel websites like Orbitz and Expedia. Are you a member of a certain hotel’s membership program? If so, make sure you put this information into the travel site. You may also qualify for discounts from other organizations you belong to such as AAA or AARP.
Room service is great for late meals. You will probably pay more for this meal, but for the convenience of having it delivered to your room, it is worth it.
Take advantage of the safe you have in your room, especially if you have electronics with you. Put all of your valuables and small electronics into the safe, such as your jewelry and iPad. They’ll be safe in there and you can leave the hotel room without worry.
Search online tools for hotels. Use these websites to your advantage! Hotel search websites also let you see the regular rates of hotels, so you can compare and see whether a supposed deal is really a good one. You can also find out about local amenities and things offered by the hotels.
Check your room when you arrive. Is the room clean? Do you see any mold or mildew? Are the toilet, shower and sink functioning properly? Are there enough of the right linens? If you have any problem with the room, report it immediatlely to have it fixed as soon as possible.
Ask the hotel about their check-in time.. If you don’t know you may end up waiting a long time. If you will be arriving early, call and ask if this is okay.
Plan your trip as far in advance as possible. There are quite a few hotels that will reward booking your room a few months in advance with nice discounts. You may even be able to cut the price down by half!
Never make the assumption that all hotels allows pets in your room. Call before you book so that you know for sure. Also ask exactly what they mean by pet-friendly, as there might be restrictions on certain breeds and sizes of pet that they allow on their premises.
If you like running and frequently stay in hotel rooms, be sure and pack up a GPS watch, along with your favorite running clothes. You can still enjoy your early morning jog while on vacation if you have your gear and the right room booked. It will give you a perspective that you’ll never get while riding in a car.
If there’s a hotel chain you stay at often, check out their membership programs for frequent guests. Similar to how you earn points from frequent flyer programs, hotels offer you similar rewards for your stay. You can exchange these points for discounts and freebies at the hotel and its restaurant. You may also be able to use them on local amenities.
A membership in AAA can make booking a hotel easier when you travel. People who are AAA members receive discounts at many hotel chains. In addition, having a AAA membership will make it easier to get a rental car when it’s needed. Parents of younger children are likely to enjoy the free car seat provided in many locations.
Start looking in the bathroom when checking for bed bugs in a hotel. This is the last room they are likely to be. That is what makes it the best place to start. You can store your luggage there and search the rest of your room for those bedbugs. Kids and pets can safely wait there too.
Always ask about the hotel’s smoking policy if you smoke. A lot of places have specific rooms just for people who smoke. So if you are a smoker, be sure to ask for one of those rooms. If they find you have smoked in a non-smoking area, they may charge you a fine.
Whenever possible, do not check out prior to the scheduled date of your departure. This could result in a charge for early departure. The room is not marketed by the hotel and you will have to make up that lost revenue. You may end paying for a day you don’t use the room. This means that they must compensate for that loss with a fee for early departure.
No matter how clean your hotel seems, never use the hotel bedspread for sleeping. The top bedspread usually isn’t cleaned as often as the sheets or blankets underneath. As a result, the bedspread will likely contain all kinds of germs and bacteria. Just remove it from the bed.
You know your rights if a hotel attempts to take advantage of you. If your hotel overbooks, your room may not be available when you get there. The hotel will attempt to foist you off on another hotel. Try to avoid this if you can, but if not, make sure that you are given a room that is equal to or better than the one you booked. They should also provide you with transportation to get to the other hotel.
Don’t be tempted to open bottled water! Sure, you might be a little thirsty after checking into your new room. The mini fridge is calling your name. Hotels are aware of this, that bottle of water will be much more expensive than if you bought it elsewhere. Some hotels offer free bottles of water in their gyms. However, to be safe, you should pack some water bottles yourself.
It is important that you are knowledgeable on the hotel booking process in order to avoid disappointment in your hotel visits. The information that you read here will help you to find the perfect hotel room. The right room is out there for you, and you just have to know what you’re doing.