A vacation is meant for relaxing, but there’s plenty of work to be done beforehand preparing for the trip. You must choose your destination, arrange transportation and find a place to stay. One wrong choice can spoil your whole trip. In this article we will share advice on booking a great hotel.
Make sure you check out online review websites prior to making a reservation for a hotel. You will be able to see the most recent reviews. Reading other people’s reviews of the hotels you’re considering can really help you decide which one to choose.
Use travel websites, like Expedia and Priceline to find great hotel deals. If you are a member of a loyalty program, use that info when checking rates. You may also be able to get good discounts due to AAA or AARP membership.
Make sure you put your valuables inside the safe in your hotel room. Putting your valuable jewelry and electronic items in the hotel safe allows you to feel secure as you enjoy your vacation.
See if your organizational memberships offer any benefits. Some of them may provide discounts on hotel stays. The discounts could be 10% or even higher! That can save a lot of money, especially if you are staying for multiple nights. If you stay for a week, these discounts will almost add up for a free night.
Search for hotel deals online. Often, the reservations clerk will not advise you that a better deal is available online. You will have to learn how to find these great discounts yourself. Websites like Orbitz, Travelocity and Hotels.com usually have some great discounts.
Don’t unpack upon arrival without checking your hotel room first. Is the room free of mildew and mold and clean? Does everything work? Are all the towels you’ll need present in the room? If you have any problem with the room, report it immediatlely to have it fixed as soon as possible.
Plan your trip as far in advance as you can to ensure best rates. Some hotels have great discounts when you book a couple of months in advance. Doing this could save you up to 50 percent off your room, and this holds true with the more elite brands as well.
There are three things you must do before bringing your pet along on your vacation. Be sure that this hotel will be friendly to pets. Make sure you have some plastic bags to get rid of pet messes. And, ask if your room can away from guests.
If you travel a lot, you should consider joining hotel loyalty programs. These programs provide benefits to guests who book the same hotel regularly. The rewards can include free room upgrades, free meals and movie or show tickets tickets. The points can add up.
If there’s a hotel chain you stay at often, check out their membership programs for frequent guests. Similar to frequent flyer programs, some hotels have programs that give point for each stay. You might earn free stays and discounts, show tickets, or other things.
If you care quite a bit about your environment, consider taking a “green” vacation. There are plenty of “green” hotels that take the environment into consideration. Some hotels are certified to be green. Some older inns just select one or more of several eco-friendly strategies to show environmental awareness. Check online or ask a travel agent for help.
The price you are charged for your hotel room is partly dependent upon when you make the reservations. Hotels give rooms a price based on what’s available. If possible, don’t make your reservation more than a day in advance. You may find the best prices this way. Hotels are often happy to slash prices on impending vacancies since they will get nothing if they can’t book the room.
If you must make a hotel transfer, find out about the fees. A transfer can sometimes come with a substantial hidden cost. Asking about this ahead of time helps you maximize your savings.
Consider joining a membership program if you travel often. You will build up points with that hotel for added benefits. It works a lot like frequent flier miles do for airlines.
When you feel the need to check the room in your hotel for signs of bed bugs, begin in the bathroom. This is where bedbugs are least likely to be. This makes the perfect location to place your belongings while you inspect your hotel room for bedbugs. It can be a temporary haven for children and pets.
Think about whether or not you are going to be staying at a smoking or nonsmoking hotel. If you don’t smoke, you may wish to avoid those that have smoking rooms. Even in a non-smoking room, the smoke from other rooms is in the air and might infiltrate your clothing. You may find that a smoker has been in your non-smoking room before you and ignored the rules. If you don’t want to smell like cigarettes after leaving your hotel room, you might want to look for a non-smoking hotel.
Be sure you understand your hotel’s smoking policy if you smoke. Many hotels still offer smoking rooms. So be sure to request one of these rooms. If you stay in a room that doesn’t allow smoking and the hotel staff discover evidence of you smoking in this room, then you could be charged a large penalty. Therefore, it is important that you always follow the hotel’s rules when it comes to smoking.
Don’t ruin your vacation by choosing the wrong hotel. A bit of research goes a long way. The more info you have, the better deal you will get. You should enjoy every detail of a vacation, even the stay in the hotel room! Next time you’re planning a vacation, remember this useful advice.