Hotels can be simple and inexpensive or they can be luxurious and pricey. Price and what you get for accommodations may be different from place to place. Before you book your hotel stay, do what you can to find a great one that is budget friendly for the sake of your vacation. Read this article to learn the right approach to finding a nice hotel.
Before booking your hotel room, look to online review sites for in depth reviews from recent travelers. These types of sites let you read about real customers’ experiences with each hotel. What people say about their experiences at the hotels you’re thinking of booking can aid you in coming to the right decision.
You can enjoy a romantic dinner in your room by calling 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.
Put your electronics into the room’s safe. You can put just about anything in there, as long as it isn’t too big, and you won’t have to worry about it.
Search for hotel deals online. You might not learn from the person on the phone that you can actually get great discounts over the Internet, instead. For this reason, making a proactive search is advisable. Check out websites such as Jetsetter, RueLaLaTravel, and SniqueAway.
Find out the exact time for check-in and check-out. Many hotel guests will forget their check-in time; therefore, they will arrive at the hotel just to discover that they cannot check in yet. If you think you will arrive before check in time, call the hotel and ask if you can come.
Are you a member of the AAA? If so, find out about membership discounts at hotels. It may be surprising that auto clubs members receive hotel deals, but they do. You can save upwards of 5% on your hotel stays. It’s a way to save money that can add up fast.
If you are a runner, be sure to bring your running clothes and shoes. You can still enjoy your early morning jog while on vacation if you have your gear and the right room booked. Running in a city allows you to see things other travelers miss.
If you travel frequently, sign up for loyalty programs at your favorite hotels. They offer a variety of benefits to their members. You might earn a free upgrade, late checkout time, or other great perks.
Green Hotels
If you care about the environment, then you may be interested in taking a “green” vacation. Luckily, there are a lot of green hotels out there in this day and age. Certain hotels provide green rooms, and in fact, some are even certified as green hotels. Some older hotels choose to use eco-friendly practices as well, making them a good green option. Ask your travel agent to help you identify environmentally friendly hotels.
Steer clear of long distance calls while in a hotel. Make use of the Internet, instead. You can access Skype with the Internet connection at your hotel. But the Internet is infinitely useful while traveling so it is usually worth it.
Ascertain whether or not the hotel you plan to stay at allows smoking. If you’re not a smoker, it may be wise to stay away from rooms that are for smoking. Although certain hotels that allow smoking will provide guests with non-smoking rooms, smoke will still be in the air. In addition, some smokers will rent out non-smoking rooms and smoke in them. If you just can’t stand the smell of stale smoke, look for a hotel that doesn’t allow it at all.
You should always be aware whether or not the hotel allows pets. If you’re scared of pets or are allergic, you might want to stay away from pet-friendly hotels. These hotels could have weird odors because of smells getting into the linens and the floor. Depending on the hotel, you may be expected to pay extra for keeping a pet, but it isn’t usually a large sum. Some hotels use the paid fees to clean the hotel more thoroughly.
Early Departure
Unless it is an emergency, always stay for the total number of nights that you have booked. The hotel may charge a fee for early departure. Booked hotel rooms are taken off the market, so if you leave early, the hotel loses money. Therefore, they have to make up for the loss by charging an early departure fee.
When your hotel attempts to “walk” you, don’t stand for it! This refers to hotels overbooking their hotel rooms; therefore, the hotel room that you booked may not be available when you check in. The hotel will then “walk” you, or direct you to a different hotel. Avoid getting “walked” whenever you can, but if you have to switch hotels, be certain that your reservation there is equivalent or even an upgrade.
Do not open the bottled water in your hotel room. You are very likely to be tired and thirsty when finally arriving to a hotel. This could tempt you to open the water that is in the mini-fridge or on the desk. Hotels take advantage of their guests by charging ridiculous pricess for bottled water. Some hotels give free bottles of water to their guest in their gyms. Nonetheless, it is better to bring along a water filtration pitcher and reusable water bottle and filter your own water.
A big part of taking a vacation is selecting the right hotel to stay in. Take some time to research and compare your different hotel choices. You’ll want the best for the money you are paying. Use the information from this article to help you make a wise decision when booking your hotel.