Finding a good hotel can make your trip better. A costly hotel room means you can’t afford other “extras” on the trip, for instance. Read on to learn how you can book hotels on a budget.
Use online travel sites, such as Expedia and Orbitz, to find the best prices at the hotels you want to stay at. Make sure you notify the reservation clerk about any loyalty program you belong to with the hotel. You may also qualify for discounts from other organizations you belong to such as AAA or AARP.
Consider ordering room service if you want a special meal without needing to go out. Sure, it might cost a bit more, but it is completely worth it to be able to kick back and relax, while your food comes to you.
If you have a safe in your closet, then you should use it to keep your valuables safe while you are outside of the room. Anything of value can be securely locked in the safe, then you won’t have to worry about your valuables while out enjoying yourself for the day.
Take advantage of online hotel searching tools. These kinds of websites allow you to locate great deals fast. Not only will they show the best deals, but they’ll also include extra information about the rooms, floor plans, and even reviews from other customers. Finally, you can also use these to help you learn what there is to do when you get to your destination.
In order to save money on hotel stays, book far in advance. Most hotels have serious discounts for early booking customers. Even high end hotels can offer you a substantial savings this way.
Don’t think every hotel is pet-friendly. Be sure to ask even if the website says it’s ok to bring a pet. A hotel may be pet-friendly, but still has restrictions against certain breeds or animals. Find out ahead of time if your pet is acceptable.
Taking a pet on a trip requires some extra responsibility. You want to ensure you’ve chosen a pet-friendly hotel. Pack a supply of plastic grocery bags with you – you will need to clean up any pet waste. And, ask if your room can away from guests.
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. Most of the time, the most reputable masseuses will be booked, so plan early in order to have the most enjoyable experience.
If you’re a member of the AAA, you should see what your hotel membership discount will be. It may come as a surprise to find that an auto club membership offers hotel discounts, but that is the case. You can save 5%, 10% or more at quality hotels throughout the country. The savings can really add up if you’re staying multiple nights.
If you run regularly, continue your routine when traveling by bringing running clothes and your GPS. For an early morning jog, get up and throw your gear on, and then head out the front door. Even if you are running down roads or down city streets, you’ll get a new perspective on the city you’re visiting before you’re done.
If you are a person who travels often, it is a good idea to sign up for hotel loyalty programs. They offer benefits to people that stay at the same chain quite often. It is possible to earn perks such as free stays, extended check out times and other upgrades.
When you book has a huge impact on your final bill. Rooms in hotels are often priced based on their availability. If possible, try to book your room 24 hours or less in advance. You may find the best prices this way. They’ll lower the price to fill the room.
To get the most out of your hotel stays, particularly if you travel a great deal for business, join a membership program such as that offered by Choice Hotels or Marriott. When you do, you get points every time you stay at a hotel.
Hotel Phone
Avoid using the hotel phone to make long distance phone calls. If you don’t have a cell phone or the Internet, buy a calling card to keep with you during your trip. You will probably find that your hotel has Wi-Fi and Skype. You can stay connected with people back home by using this instead of making expensive long distance calls from your hotel phone.
Call ahead to your hotels to make certain the swimming pools are ready for your kids. It can prove rather frustrating when you check in to your room with the kids screaming “pool” only to find out it’s closed.
Start by inspecting the hotel bathroom if you need to make sure there are no bed bugs. You probably won’t find any bedbugs in the bathroom. Stow you suitcases and other items here and then take a good look at the rest of your room. It is a good place for pets or children to wait for a couple minutes as well.
Always find out the pet policy at any hotel you stay at. If you fear pets or have allergies it would be best if you make reservations at hotels that have a strict no pets policy. These hotels might also suffer from odors sinking into the floor and bed linens. 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 may cover the cleaning, and it may not.
As you read in the above article, depending on the hotel costs, it can really cut into the amount of money you had available to do other things. With the advice you have read here, you can find a decent hotel at a reasonable price. Check back here when you are next planning to travel.