Booking a hotel can be overwhelming when you are faced with such a wide array of prices, locations and amenities. Research prior to booking your hotel room is essential. Develop a budget, make a list of the amenities you need and then start looking. Keep these tips in mind, and you will have a great stay.
Before you pick out your hotel you’re going to reserve a spot at, check out review sites online like TripAdvisor. These offer feedback from those who have recently stayed at the hotel you are considering booking. These reviews can aid you in your decision about whether to book the hotel.
Compare prices at websites like Orbitz and Expedia to ensure that you receive the best available rate. 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.
Room service can make your stay more enjoyable. This will cost you a little extra, but the convenience it provides is worth it.
Be sure to put all valuables, such as jewelry and electronics, in the hotel safe. Put all of your valuables and small electronics into the safe, such as your jewelry and iPad. They’ll be safe in there and you can leave the hotel room without worry.
Check with the organizations that you are a member with. Sometimes you can get discounted hotel prices through these organizations. People frequently forget these discounts are available, and they can be 10 percent or more. When you’re staying for more than one night, this can add up to a decent savings. Over the course of a week it’s nearly a free night!
Inspect the room before unpacking. Is it clean? Do a quick check to ensure that the shower, sink and toilet are all in proper working order. Do you have the blankets, pillows and towels you need? If you have any problem with the room, report it immediatlely to have it fixed as soon as possible.
Ask the hotel about their check-in time.. If you show up too early, you may find yourself sitting around the lobby, waiting for your room to be ready. If you can’t help your arrival time being early, you can ask for an early check-in but it might cost a bit extra.
If you tend to stay at the same hotel a lot, see about signing up for their frequent guest program. These hotel programs give you points for each stay. You can accumulate points that you can redeem for free hotel stays, discounts at restaurants, and all types of entertainment.
Inquire about the price of a transfer before you place a booking. In many situations in which the room’s price is a great deal, the undisclosed price of your transfer can frequently eat up the savings. You should inquire about this before booking the hotel room.
Inspect your room for bed bugs, starting with the bathroom. This room is usually free from bugs. You can leave your bags there while you investigate the remainder of the room for bedbugs. It’s also safer to the pets and kids you may have.
Smoking Rooms
Figure out if you want a hotel you can or cannot smoke in. If cigarette smoke bothers you, look for a hotel that doesn’t have smoking rooms. The smoke flows through the hotel and can stick to you. Sometimes, smokers rent and smoke in non-smoking rooms. By choosing a hotel that does not allow smoking, you can completely avoid the smell of cigarettes.
Know your hotel’s policy on pets prior to booking with them. If you fear pets or have allergies it may be best to make reservations at hotels which do not have a pet-friendly policy. Hotels that allow pets typically have rooms that have a pet odor in them. Extra fees are sometimes imposed by hotels for guests who bring pets, but sometimes the fee is not too high. Depending on the hotel, that fee may or may not be enough to cover extra cleaning.
If your requirements include a roll-away bed or a crib, you should call ahead to reserve them. Some hotels don’t provide these things, and the ones that do usually have a limited amount. In addition, there is sometimes an extra charge for these items. Discuss these needs when making your reservation to avoid any unpleasant surprises.
Try to avoid checking out of the hotel ahead of your scheduled checkout time. Your hotel may charge you a fee to do so. Booked hotel rooms are taken off the market, so if you leave early, the hotel loses money. This is why they usually charge you an fee for early departure.
Avoid sleeping under the bedspread. Hotel sheets are laundered daily; however, bedspreads are not. For this reason, there’s no telling what might be on that bedspread. Remove the blanket from the bed to have peace of mind.
There are a variety of ways that you can ensure a great stay in a fantastic hotel. As you plan, keep these tips in mind. You’ll be rewarded with an enjoyable stay that fits your budget.