You will need to book a hotel from time to time for various reasons. Whether your stay involves business or pleasure, you must know what you are doing when it comes to selecting a hotel. Following is some advice that should help.
Do some research on travel websites before you book any hotel. Reviews allow you to read about recent experiences at a hotel. What former guests have to say with regards to a hotel being considered can ensure you make an informed decision.
Find great hotel room prices by checking out travel websites like Orbitz and Expedia. Make sure you notify the reservation clerk about any loyalty program you belong to with the hotel. You can also get additional discounts from any organization you are apart of, such as the AAA or the AARP.
To get a meal later at night order yourself some room service. It might cost a little extra, but it’s definitely worth the bill. Nothing is more enjoyable than having food delivered to your room while you’re in your PJ’s.
Double-check your organizational memberships. Many of them offer hotel discounts to members. People don’t always remember to check out these discounts, which can often be 10% and higher. This is especially useful if you plan to book a longer stay. A stay of 5 days or more could add up to one free hotel night stay!
When you’re looking for the perfect hotel, there are a few different things you should always check for first. You should look at the price, but you should also look at the location that is most convenient for what you want to do. Amenities, such as a gym, room service, or free Wi-Fi, might be of importance to you. Look for a hotel that provides you with the amenities that are a priority to you.
If you’re taking a pet to the hotel, do some things beforehand. Check to see if the hotel actually permits pets. It is also a great idea to bring along some plastic bags to clean up when your pet makes a mess. If you can arrange a corner room, there will be less likelihood of your pet disturbing other guests.
Are you a member of the AAA? If so, find out about membership discounts at hotels. You would be surprised where hidden discounts may be lurking. There are discounts at hotels around the country of 5 percent or more. Over multiple nights, that five percent will really add up.
If you are a person who travels often, it is a good idea to sign up for hotel loyalty programs. These programs provide benefits to guests who book the same hotel regularly. You might earn a free upgrade, late checkout time, or other great perks.
If you stay in a particular hotel chain, ask about their membership program. These programs give you points every time you stay there. They can amount to show tickets, free nights, spa deals, hotel restaurants discounts and much more.
The timing for your booking of a hotel room has much to do with what you pay. Hotels price rooms in part based on availability. When possible, you can often get a good price if you book a room at the very last minute. This will allow you to get a great price on a hotel room. Empty rooms don’t make money, so hotels slash prices to fill the building.
If you do a great deal of traveling, consider joining hotel chain loyalty programs. By joining a membership program, you earn points during every visit. These points can add up to free items over time.
One way to get discounts on hotel rooms is to join AAA. Not only do AAA members get hotel discounts at many chains that are well worth the AAA membership, but you can find it a lot easier to find a rental car where you go. People that have young kids will get a car seat for free in a lot of different places.
If you are concerned about bed bugs, look in the bathroom first. You probably won’t find any bedbugs in the bathroom. That means that the bathroom is a great place to keep your bags while you check the rest of your accommodations for bedbugs. Have kids and/or pets wait for you in the bathroom while you look around.
Figure out if you want a hotel you can or cannot smoke in. If you are not a smoker, you might want to avoid hotels with smoking rooms. Even if you reserve a non-smoking room, the smell of smoke can circulate through the hotel’s air vents and cause your clothes to pick up the odor. Sometimes, smokers book rooms that are non-smoking and smoke anyway. If you want to avoid smelling like cigarettes when you leave, you may wish to consider a non-smoking hotel.
You should always be aware whether or not the hotel allows pets. If you fear pets or have allergies to them, make reservations at hotels that have a strict no pets policy. If the hotel does not have good cleaning practices, you may be bothered by pet odors. Depending on the hotel, you may be expected to pay extra for keeping a pet, but it isn’t usually a large sum. The fee may be for any cleaning that needs to be done.
As you know, staying in a hotel is a common activity. Whether you are staying for business or pleasure, it’s important you do your homework. The information from this article has shown you how to book a hotel and enjoy your stay.
