Feeling like someone has taken advantage of you is never a good thing, especially when it comes to a hotel. Having a bad hotel stay, because it cost too much or the rooms were dirty, can really spoil a trip. The article below can help you bypass some of the most common pitfalls with hotels so that your stay is a great one.
Prior to booking your hotel room, search the Internet for deals. Sometimes, the person at the hotel desk might forget to mention a discount for booking online. This is why you should look for discounts yourself. Look at Jetsetter, Enrovia and Hotels.com.
Always check the room before you begin to unpack your belongings. Is it tidy and sanitary? Check the toilet, the shower, and the sink to make sure they are clean and function properly. Are linens and towels in ample supply? If you notice any problems, report them immediately. If your issues are not resolved, ask to move to another room.
If you want to find the absolute rock bottom hotel prices, plan your trips weeks or months ahead of time. If you chose to book a month or even two ahead of your arrival date, you can get great discounts. That saves you 50 percent or more frequently!
Pet Friendly
If you are traveling with a pet, it is best to find a pet friendly hotel ahead of time. Call the hotel in advance to ensure the hotel is pet friendly. Ask what pet-friendly means at the establishment. There may be some restrictions.
If you plan on taking a family pet with you to a hotel reservation, do three things in advance. First, ensure that the hotel actually allows pets. It is also a great idea to bring along some plastic bags to clean up when your pet makes a mess. When you call to make reservations, try getting a room away from other guests so any noise your pet makes won’t bother people.
One of the best bonuses of a AAA membership is great discounts on booking a hotel. Did you know that this membership entitles you to hotel discounts? You may be able to save upwards of five percent at hotels nationwide. Those discounts add up to great savings, especially if you will be having an extended stay.
Bring your running clothes with you on your trip. You can still enjoy your early morning jog while on vacation if you have your gear and the right room booked. Running in a city allows you to see things other travelers miss.
Membership Programs
If you stay at the same chain of hotels often, look into their membership programs for frequent guests. Many hotels offer membership programs that allow you to earn points for each of your stays. 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.
How much you pay for a hotel room depends on when you book your room. Hotels price their rooms based on how many rooms are available. If at all possible, do not book your room more than one day in advance. You may find the best prices this way. The hotel is not going to make any money on a room that is unoccupied, which is why the reduce the price.
If you want to save money, and you stay at the same place a lot, consider signing up for the hotel’s version of a frequent guest program. Then you can accrue points, get extra perks, and save money.
Sign up for AAA to ensure easier hotel arrangements when traveling. Members of AAA receive many travel benefits including reduced hotel rates and lower car rental rates. Those with youngsters will be grateful for the free car seats.
Avoid making long distance calls from the hotel room phone. Using the Internet is a better option. Hotels usually have Wi-Fi, so you can call using Skype. This will help you converse with those back home without racking up a lofty bill.
If you are planning on staying in a hotel room with your children, make sure you call the hotel in advance to ensure they provide a working pool or some other fun activities for your children to do. There aren’t many things that are as frustrating as going to your hotel with kids that really want to swim only to see that it has been closed.
When you look for bed bugs, start in the bathroom. This is where you won’t find them. That makes it the perfect place to store your luggage while you inspect the rest of the premises for bedbugs. It’s also safer to the pets and kids you may have.
If you smoke, be sure you’re aware of what the hotel thinks of smoking where you’re staying. A lot of places have specific rooms just for people who smoke. If so, you should avail yourself of this option. A few hotels will charge you in the event that they discover you’ve been smoking in their rooms where it’s prohibited, so abide by the smoking rules.
If you are going to use a crib or even a rollaway bed, make sure you mention this at the time your reservation is made. Not every hotel will carry them, and the ones that do may not have enough to go around. Some hotels will include an additional fee if you want to rent these items during your stay. Avoid difficulties by making these arrangements in advance.
You may wish to use a different blanket than the comforter that is in your hotel room. The sheets and blankets underneath are usually washed between guests, but the top bedspread is usually not. Therefore, you don’t really know what is on it. Remove the blanket from the bed to have peace of mind.
The advice you have read here will be very helpful in finding a great hotel. You will have a much better experience if you use these tips to help you book a great hotel. A stay in a hotel is meant to be a relaxing one, so do what you can to make that come true.