You will probably be staying at a hotel at one time or another. No matter why you need to stay at a hotel, you should be aware of what you need to be looking for. Here is some advice that will help you with this quite a bit.
If you are hungry when you get to your hotel and do not want to leave, consider ordering room service. Although you will probably have to spend more money to do this, it’s usually worth the cost because you have the luxury of receiving excellent food without having to leave your hotel room.
It’s important to make sure that your valuables are safe during a hotel stay, so make use of the room’s safe. You can place your small, expensive items such as your iPad in the safe, so you can enjoy your day knowing they are safe and secure.
Look at organizations you’re part of for discounts. You may be able to receive discounts on hotel through these organizations. Many people forget to do this and miss out on saving a sizable amount of money. You end up with an even bigger savings if your hotel stay is going to be for multiple nights. It can add up to equal a free night!
Take advantage of online hotel searching tools. These sites allow you to find great deals quickly. They display the average rates of hotels so that you can see if the deal you are getting is good. Finally, they can help you determine when you’d like to travel and what you’d like to do when you’re there.
Prior to emptying out your suitcase, carefully look over your room. Is it without mildew and mold? Does the plumbing work right? Do you have all the towels and linens you need? If you find obvious problems, notify the front desk right away so the hotel can correct the problems or they can assign a different room.
Be clear about check-in time at the hotel you have booked. If you don’t know you may end up waiting a long time. Call the hotel desk and find out if your room has been prepared if you know that you’ll be arriving early.
If you need to have a pet stay with you in your hotel room, do a few things ahead of time. First, you’ll need to find out if a hotel is even pet-friendly. Make sure you bring along plenty of plastic bags to dispose of any pet waste. You should also see if you can get a room near the end part of the hallway to make sure other guests don’t have to put up with pet noise.
If you want a nice massage for you and your loved one, book that as early as possible. The best massage therapists are well-known at resorts, so planning early is the best way to create a good experience.
Take your GPS watch with you on vacation and some running clothes. Just because you’re on vacation doesn’t mean you should skip on your daily running regimen. For an early morning jog, get up and throw your gear on, and then head out the front door. Running not only provides you with great exercise, but it also helps you better learn the city in which you are residing.
If you are always staying at the same chain, find out about the programs they offer to frequent guests. They work a lot like frequent flier miles do with airlines. You earn points in a similar way. You might earn free stays and discounts, show tickets, or other things.
The price of a hotel room is often a mix of many factors. Hotels price rooms based on availability. Don’t book a room more than a day in advance. This will net you the best price when it comes to hotel rooms. If the hotel never rents the room they’ll get zero dollars for it, so most of the time they will give you a steep discount on it.
To avoid major expenses on your final hotel bill, be sure to ask the sales representative about the price of hotel transfers first. Particularly if you are getting a discount, the fee associated with the transfer may be high. Asking before you arrive can really increase your overall savings.
To get optimal value from a hotel stay, especially if you find yourself traveling a lot for your business, sign up for membership programs such as those offered by Marriott or Choice Hotels. The more points you get, the more free stays you can use for vacations.
Being a member of AAA can save you money on hotels. The AAA membership fee is well worth the discounts offered by many chains, and renting a car will also be easier. Parents of small children will probably like the car seat that’s provided for free in a lot of locations.
Be careful not to make long distance phone calls on the hotel phone. Instead, use the Internet. Many hotels now offer Skype connections via Wi-Fi. Use these types of services to keep in contact with loved ones back home instead of having exorbitant charges added to your bill from the costly phone calls.
If you smoke, it is important to know what the hotel’s smoking policy is before you book your room. Many have rooms set aside for people who smoke. If this is what you’re looking for, inquire about these rooms. You may be charged hefty fees if there is evidence that you have smoked in a that is designated as non-smoking.
It is usually not possible to check into your hotel early. You need to plan appropriately to avoid waiting in the lobby all day. Hotels use these in between hours to make sure rooms are cleaned and ready for the next occupant. Should you arrive early, ask at the desk if it is possible to check in, but do not be surprised if they say no.
Clearly, we all have to stay in hotels at some time. Regardless of the reason why, research is necessary. You’ve just read some really great advice; now, put it to good use and have fun!