Practically everyone has a story to tell about a bad hotel experience. Nobody wants to make expensive mistakes like that twice. These tips will make sure you get a perfect value.
Online travel websites can offer you a great deal on hotels with lots of choices, all on the same website. If you are a member of a hotel loyalty program, make sure to indicate this when searching for rates. You might also be entitled to additional discounts through your other organizations, such as AAA or AARP.
To keep your electronics safe when you are out of the hotel room, use the safe that you’ll find in your closet. You can place your small, expensive items such as your iPad in the safe, so you can enjoy your day knowing they are safe and secure.
Take a look into organizations you are part of. Some may offer discounts on hotels. You may save ten percent or more. If you are planning to stay a few nights, this can really add up. Over the course of a week it’s nearly a free night!
Always check for online deals prior to booking your hotel room. The hotel representative is unlikely to inform you there are better deals online. So you should always search on your own for discounts prior to booking. There are many travel websites that offer discounts.
Be sure you inspect the room you are given at check in before you start unpacking. Is it without mildew and mold? Are the toilet, shower and sink functioning properly? Do you have enough towels and linens? If you notice a problem, be sure to inform the front desk right away to have these problems resolved.
Make certain you know when your check-in time is. If you don’t check, the room may not be ready when you arrive. If you might arrive prior to check-in time, try calling the hotel and seeing if the room is available.
Plan your trip in advance for the best rates. If you book one or two months in advance, you can often receive a discount. You can save up to 50 percent, even on elite hotel chains.
If your pet is coming to a hotel with you, there are a few things you need to do in preparation. First, ensure that the hotel actually allows pets. Also, bring a lot of plastic sacks like ones from the grocery store so you can get your pet’s messes cleaned up. Reserving a room near the end of a hallway will keep other guests from being disturbed by your pet.
If you’re interested in the massage services of a hotel you intend to stay at, reserve your appointment ahead of time. The best professionals are often in high demand, so get in while you can.
It may be wise to look into loyalty programs that your favorite hotels offer. This type of program provides discounts and benefits for frequent visitors. You will be able to earn stuff like a free upgrade, an allowance to check out late, and even free stays when you get enough points.
Be sure to avoid hotel transfer fees by asking about them in advance. Particularly when the room price is a big deal, the hidden fee of transfer often can be the difference. You save the most money when you ask about this beforehand.
Consider joining a membership program if you travel often. This allows you to get more points with each stay that you can convert into free rooms and other benefits on your next family vacation.
When traveling with children, check with the hotel ahead of time to ascertain that the pool is usable. There are few things as frustrating as showing up to a hotel, with your kids chomping at the bit to get in the pool, only to have it closed for repairs.
See if the hotel is non-smoking or smoking. If you are a non-smoker, you may not want to stay in a smoking room. However, even with non-smoking rooms, there’s no telling if the guy next door is smoking. Even if a room is designated as nonsmoking, sometimes people smoke in there anyway. If you don’t want to smell like cigarettes, consider staying at a hotel that’s non-smoking.
If you are a smoker, know the smoking policy for the hotel in which you are staying. Many have designated nonsmoking rooms. Ask to see if any of these are available. There are hotels that will charge you quite a bit if they find out that you were lighting up in the room that wasn’t for smoking. This is why you should stick to the rules.
Extra Cleaning
You should be aware whether or not the hotel allows pets. If you fear pets or have allergies to them, it may be best to make reservations at hotels that have a strict no pets policy. These hotels sometimes have odors because the carpet and linens have absorbed them. Some hotels only allow pets in certain rooms and charge more for the room because they do extra cleaning to ensure it is up to standards after each guest. The fee might be too low to cover the extra cleaning costs.
Staying at a bad hotel can be a real nightmare. Even a hotel at a cheap price can’t help soothe a horrible experience. Your trip is going to go bad no matter what. So you should use the above suggestions to help you find the best hotel. So find the hotel that appeals to you and call then to start talking about special deals and discounts.