You don’t want to feel taken advantage of at a hotel. A poor experience, whether because of the price or the actual hotel, can make you feel terrible. Rather than running into problems at a hotel, follow this article’s advice for a great stay.
Use online travel sites, such as Expedia and Orbitz, to find the best prices at the hotels you want to stay at. Join the loyalty program for any hotel chain that you love and believe you’ll stay with often. If you have a membership in any other organization, put that down as well.
Search for the best deals in hotels online before making reservations. Most of the time, people you speak with over the phone won’t mention any discounts possibly available to you. It is your responsibility to find any available discounts. Use websites such as Jetsetter, SniqueAway or RueLaLaTravel.
Know the hotel’s check-in time. Sometimes there are people that don’t know when the room will be ready and so they aren’t sure of what to do with the extra time they have since they can’t check in. If you anticipate arriving early, check with the hotel to find out if your room will be ready.
If you need to travel with your pet, you need to make three advance preparations. Make sure it’s a pet-friendly hotel. It is also a great idea to bring along some plastic bags to clean up when your pet makes a mess. When you go to make the hotel reservation, see if there is room on the end that would prevent the other guests from hearing a noisy pet.
To ensure that you and your special someone get the right couples massage during your stay, book your appointment as early ahead of time as you can. Often the best masseurs and masseuses at top resorts are booked by name, so if you do your planning early, you can make your experience sublime.
If you’re a member of the AAA, you should see what your hotel membership discount will be. You may be surprised that your auto club membership includes hotel discounts, but it does. You could save 5% or even 10% on some rooms. These savings really add up.
If you stay at the same hotels all the time, check to see if they have a frequent-stay program. These programs give you points every time you stay there. 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.
Be sure to avoid hotel transfer fees by asking about them in advance. Especially in situations where the price of the room represents a major deal, the hidden cost of the transfer can often make the difference. Asking about this ahead of time helps you maximize your savings.
Sign up as an AAA member to make hotel arrangements easier when you are traveling. Hotel and rental car discounts are available to AAA members. Parents with young children will appreciate the complimentary car set offered in some locations.
Check with the hotel to make sure the pools are ready to go if you are traveling with children. Showing up at your hotel and finding out the pool isn’t in working order can ruin an otherwise great trip.
If you smoke, learn the smoking policy of the hotel where you are staying. There are sometimes rooms designated for people who smoke. If this is the case, then you shouldn’t be shy when asking for this type of room. Smoking in a non-smoking room can be a big no-no and you may even be charged an extra cleaning fee.
Checking in early may not be available. Be sure you plan according to this rule unless you desire to sit in the lobby for quite some time. Hotels need the time to clean your room so it is ready for you to check in. If you arrive earlier than your check-in time, you can always ask the front desk and see if they can let you in.
If you are going to need a rollaway bed or crib, specify this when booking your room. Some hotels don’t offer these amenities at all. There can be extra charges for these items, as well. Avoid difficulties by making these arrangements in advance.
Avoid leaving your hotel before your scheduled date of departure. An early departure charge may be added to your bill if you leave sooner. If you check out too early, the hotel will lose money because they remove the room off the reservation list. This is why they have the departure fee, to get their money back that they would have otherwise lost.
The bedspread might not be the cleanest linen in the room. They generally will wash the blankets and sheets that are under the bedspread, but the main bedspread may not be washed. This means they may be a hotbed of germs. Just take that blanket off the bed.
Don’t be tempted to open bottled water! You may be very thirsty upon arrival. Opening the bottle in the mini-fridge is tempting. Hotels take advantage of their guests by charging ridiculous pricess for bottled water. Sometimes the gym at the hotel will provide free bottled water. It is best to simply bring your own bottled water.
Don’t steal the linens from the hotel. Housekeeping will generally notice when something like pillows, towels or washcloths are missing, which may lead to the hotel charging you for the missing items. If you just fall in love with the towels or pillows, ask if you can buy them directly from the front desk of the hotel.
Use these tips to avoid hotels that are not adequate. Looking out for yourself and choosing a good room based on the advice provided is going to help you fare better. You want to be able to relax and enjoy yourself at your hotel room.