There are lots of things to think about when planning a vacation. After you’ve chosen your trip destination, you have to figure out what mode of transport you’ll use. You have to also arrange for where you’ll be staying, but this can be hard for unfamiliar areas. This article will help you find that hotel room and get it for a great price.
Check online reviews before booking a room. This will give you valuable information about the recent experiences of people at each hotel. Their opinions can help you decide whether or not a certain hotel is the right one for you.
Use websites like Orbitz and Expedia for great prices. If you have a hotel loyalty program your a part of, be sure you enter this information while looking through rates. You might also have other discounts from a membership in the AARP or AAA.
Look for deals online. Most of the time, people you speak with over the phone won’t mention any discounts possibly available to you. This is why it’s up to you to search for these discounts. There are many travel websites that offer discounts.
You can get better deals on hotel rooms if you book several weeks or months ahead. If you book one or two months in advance, you can often receive a discount. You may save 50 percent or more.
Think about these three things if you plan to bring a pet with you during your hotel stay. First, inquire as to whether the hotel really is a pet-friendly place. Gather plastic grocery bags so you are able to clean up any pet messes. Reserving a room near the end of a hallway will keep other guests from being disturbed by your pet.
AAA members get an extra discount at certain hotel chains. You may not know that your membership to the auto club includes discounts on hotels. There are discounts at hotels around the country of 5 percent or more. It’s a way to save money that can add up fast.
If you want to keep your regular running routine, pack your GPS and running clothes. In this way, you can simply suit up and enjoy your workout as usual while on the road. Even if your route takes you through the street of a city, at least you will get a glimpse of the area you are visiting.
If you go out to travel quite a bit, it’s good to get signed up for a hotel’s loyalty program. There are some great benefits offered to clients who often book the same chain. Some of the useful things that you can earn are extra upgrades, free nights, and late check-outs.
If you often stay at the same hotel chain, check to see if they offer membership to frequent stay programs. Just like with a frequent flyer mile program, you can get points for staying a hotel. They will get you discounts on the hotel restaurants, spa deals, and just a number of great stuff.
If you do a great deal of traveling, consider joining hotel chain loyalty programs. This way, when you stay at a hotel, you can get points and then turn those points into free stuff that you can do with your family.
Try not to make long distance calls from your hotel room. Use the Internet, instead. You will probably find that your hotel has Wi-Fi and Skype. This can be a much cheaper option than calling from a hotel room and getting hit with lots of fees.
Call ahead of arrival to see if the pool is open to keep the family happy. It is extremely frustrating for you and your children to arrive at a hotel expecting a pool and/or other activities only to discover that there are none.
Moking Rooms
Ask if there is smoking allowed in the hotel. If you aren’t a smoker, then you want to avoid smoking rooms and maybe even smoking hotels in general, but most hotel chains do have smoking and non-smoking rooms. However, even with non-smoking rooms, there’s no telling if the guy next door is smoking. In addition, some smokers will rent out non-smoking rooms and smoke in them. Request a non-smoking room if you do not want to smell like cigarettes.
Know whether or not smoking is allowed in your room. Some have smoking rooms. If this is what you’re looking for, inquire about these rooms. Don’t smoke in a nonsmoking room, or you may be charged by the hotel for doing so.
You should be aware that early hotel check ins are not always possible. If you are going to arrive early, plan on doing something to fill your time. The hotels need a chance to clean up your room prior to check in. If you arrive earlier than your check-in time, you can always ask the front desk and see if they can let you in.
If you are going to use a crib or even a rollaway bed, make sure you mention this at the time your reservation is made. Hotels don’t typically have a lot of these, so be sure to ask in advance. Additionally, you may need to pay an extra fee. Make your needs known at the time you place your reservation so that you do not have any unpleasant surprises.
If you are concerned about germs, don’t use the hotel bedspread. While sheets and linens are always washed, the topmost bedspread may not be, depending on the hotel policy. It could have acquired a lot of invisible germs and other things you want to avoid. Remove the bedspread and use your own travel blanket or comforter, instead.
As you have seen from reading the above article, choosing an afforable yet comfortable hotel room can be easy. Being aware of the pitfalls will help you avoid them. Be sure you make some travel plans to ensure your stay is great. Your stories will be worth sharing when you are back home!
