It takes work when you are trying to plan a vacation. You have to pick a great place to go, buy plane tickets and book a room. Making the wrong choice can spell disaster. Continue reading to help you learn how to make the best decisions when it comes to booking your hotel.
Consider ordering room service during your stay. Although you’ll probably pay more, it is worth being able to comfortably dine in the room while in pajamas.
Check the organizations that you’re a member of. Some organizations will receive discounts for different reasons from different hotels. People often forget that they are eligible for these discounts, which may be for 10 percent or more off of your stay. This is a good discount that only gets better the longer you stay in a hotel. This can also net you a free hotel night.
When booking a hotel, you need to establish what you need and what you would ideally like from your stay. While price is obviously a factor, you may want to think about room size and amenities as well. Amenities such as complimentary WiFi, free local calls, complimentary breakfast, a gym and pool and a convenient restaurant are also important considerations. Seek out hotels that offer amenities that appeal to you.
Be aware in advance of the check-in time. If you show up too early for check-in, then your room may not be ready for you yet. If you might arrive prior to check-in time, try calling the hotel and seeing if the room is available.
To benefit from the best prices at hotels, start planning your trips several weeks or even months in advance. Quite a few locations will give discounts if you choose to book a room a month or more in advance. This way, you can save as much as 50 percent even with the most elite brands.
If you’d like to bring Fido on your next trip, you must make some advance plans. Confirm that pets are allowed in the room you are staying. Also, take a good supply of plastic bags, such as grocery bags, to clean up after your pet. See if you can stay in a room toward the end of a hall so your pet does not disturb guests.
Do you travel on a periodic basis and use the same hotel chain? If so, check out the loyalty programs provided by that hotel. They offer benefits to people that stay at the same chain quite often. You will be able to earn stuff like a free upgrade, an allowance to check out late, and even free stays when you get enough points.
You may wish to consider a “green” vacation if the environment is one of your concerns. Luckily, there are a lot of green hotels out there in this day and age. Newer hotels are sometimes built according to green standards. Old hotels will change their practices to be more green. Ask your booking agent about green hotels.
If you don’t want to get a big expense on the hotel bill you get, speak to the place about hotel transfers prior to booking things. Especially in situations where the price of the room represents a major deal, the hidden cost of the transfer can often make the difference. Inquiring about this in advance will maximize any savings.
Membership programs offered by hotel chains help members who travel a lot get the best rooms during their stay. These points can translate into some major perks when you’re vacationing.
Being a member of AAA makes travel very easy. You’ll get discounts on hotel rooms, easier car rentals and more benefits. Some places provide free car seats too.
Find out if the hotel you’re staying at has a functioning pool for the kids. Your kids and you will be very frustrated if the pool at your hotel is closed because of repairs when you arrive.
If it’s possible, try not to check out before the departure date you had originally scheduled. This could result in a charge for early departure. When a hotel room is something you book, they are taking it away from other people and will lose some money if you leave early. This is why they have the departure fee, to get their money back that they would have otherwise lost.
If you are concerned about germs, you might want to take the bedspread off of the bed. The bedspread isn’t washed often, while the sheets are. This can make it full of bacteria, germs, and other unknown elements. Remove it from the bed before you use it.
Know what the industry term “walk” means when booking a room. This happens when the room you requested is unavailable because of overbooking on the part of the hotel. This is known as “walking” a customer. You should try to avoid this; however, if this is necessary, ensure you are provided with the same quality room or better at the same price you would have paid.
Don’t drink the water! After checking into your room you will probably feel exhausted and thirsty. You can be tempted to casually open that bottled water beckoning on the mini-fridge. There is a huge mark-up in price because the hotel knows this fact. Some hotels offer complementary bottles of water in their gyms. A better option to simply bring your own bottled water.
Don’t let a bad hotel choice ruin your hopes for an amazing vacation. Research and plan well in advance. You will have better options when you know how to find the best accommodations. Your hotel stay and your whole vacation will be more enjoyable. Be sure you utilize the advice provided when you are planning your next vacation.
