Sometimes, we have to stay in hotels when we travel. Oftentimes, people will regret the choice they make when they book a hotel because they failed to do some research. But, you can avoid a costly and nightmarish hotel stay by using the tips found below. Here, you’re going to read about tips to help your stay be great.
Before making reservations at a hotel, check the online review sites. This will give you valuable information about the recent experiences of people at each hotel. What others say will help you make a wise decision.
Room service is one of the best parts about a hotel. How else could you possibly enjoy a midnight snack without leaving your bed? You will probably pay more for this meal, but for the convenience of having it delivered to your room, it is worth it.
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 stash your expensive electronics and jewelry in the safe and go about your day without worry.
When you arrive at your hotel, thoroughly inspect your room before unpacking. It should be free of any mildew or mold. Do the sink, shower, and toilet all work properly? Does your room feature the linens and towels you require? If you spot any problems, make the front desk aware immediately so they can take care of it or move you to a room that meets your needs.
Ask when you’re able to check into the room. If you show up too early for check-in, then your room may not be ready for you yet. If you anticipate arriving before check-in time, make a call to the hotel and inquire if you can arrive early.
Planning for a trip months or even just weeks in advance can often get you a better rate for your hotel room. Many locations offer discounts if you are willing to book more than a month or two ahead of time. You might even be able to save up to 50 percent off at some very exclusive hotels.
If you’re taking a pet to the hotel, do some things beforehand. Take time to ensure that the hotel you’re booking is, in fact, pet-friendly. In addition, take along some plastic bags to pick up your pet’s mess. If you can arrange a corner room, there will be less likelihood of your pet disturbing other guests.
If you are an avid jogger, a GPS watch is a great investment so you can always find your way back to your hotel. Also, don’t forget your exercise clothes! When you wake up and feel like a jog, simply toss on your gear and head out. You’ll get plenty of good exercise and a better understanding of the city around you.
If you travel a lot, you should consider joining hotel loyalty programs. They provide benefits to anyone who stays at a hotel chain frequently. Some of the useful things that you can earn are extra upgrades, free nights, and late check-outs.
If you are an environmentally conscious traveler, you should look into “green” hotels. It is fortunate for you that there are quite a lot of green hotels available. Green certification is something some of the newly built hotels are quite proud of promoting. Older hotels can go green by making environmentally friendly choices in energy use. A travel agent or similar source can help you find hotels that are considered ‘green’.
Be sure you know the cost associated with hotel transfers when booking a room. If you’re getting what appears to be a nice deal on the room, these types of hidden charges can sometimes surface. If you know this upfront, you can save more money.
One way to get discounts on hotel rooms is to join AAA. AAA members can receive great hotel discounts as well as locate a rental car much more easily. Parents of small children will probably like the car seat that’s provided for free in a lot of locations.
If you wish to have happy kids while you’re on the road, be sure you call a hotel to see if they have a working pool at the time. There aren’t many things that are as frustrating as going to your hotel with kids that really want to swim only to see that it has been closed.
Find out if the hotel you want is smoking or non-smoking. If you’re not a smoker, it may be wise to stay away from rooms that are for smoking. Even if you reserve a non-smoking room, the smell of smoke can circulate through the hotel’s air vents and cause your clothes to pick up the odor. In addition, previous travelers could have smoked in the room, even if it is a non-smoking room. Choose a non-smoking hotel to avoid the stench.
Be sure you understand the pet policy of the hotel. If you fear pets or have allergies it may be best to make reservations at hotels that have a strict no pets policy. Usually, hotels that do allow pets will have a strong odor coming from the linens as well as the carpeting. Depending on the hotel, you may be expected to pay extra for keeping a pet, but it isn’t usually a large sum. The fee may cover totally or partially the cost of the extra cleaning involved.
If a crib or a rollaway bed is necessary for your stay, let your booking agent know. Some hotels do not provide these things, and the ones that do usually have limited quantities. There also may be an added charge for these things. Let the hotel know what you need to avoid anything that you will turn in a bad surprise.
There comes a time in many people’s lives in which a hotel visit will be required. If you don’t do some research ahead of time, you could end up staying in a less-than-satisfactory hotel room. After reading the above article, you now have the needed information to find hotels that best suit your needs.