Have you ever booked a hotel room, only to find that the place wasn’t up to snuff when you arrived? This can really ruin a trip. But at the same time, you want the ability to pay a realistic price for a decent hotel room. Keep reading for excellent advice on booking a great and affordable hotel.
Consider ordering room service if you want a special meal without needing to go out. This service comes at a premium, but you can stay comfortable in your room while enjoying you eats.
If you take a lot of electronic gadgets with you on a trip, lock them up in the safe when away from the room. You can stash your expensive electronics and jewelry in the safe and go about your day without worry.
Check with the organizations that you are a member with. You may be able to receive discounts on hotel through these organizations. It is easy to forget about the discounts. This is a good discount that only gets better the longer you stay in a hotel. That can give you close to a completely free night when it adds up.
Check the Internet for the best deals before you book a hotel room during your next trip. You might not learn from the person on the phone that you can actually get great discounts over the Internet, instead. It is your responsibility to find these discounts. Websites like Orbitz, Travelocity and Hotels.com usually have some great discounts.
Check out your room ahead of unpacking. Is the room mildew-free and otherwise clean? Are the toilet, shower and sink functioning properly? Are there enough of the right linens? If you notice a problem, be sure to inform the front desk right away to have these problems resolved.
Know when check-in time is. Some people neglect asking what the check-in time is and get to the hotel when their room is still not ready. Ask for an early check-in time if absolutely necessary.
If you need to travel with your pet, you need to make three advance preparations. Take time to ensure that the hotel you’re booking is, in fact, pet-friendly. Make sure you have some plastic bags to get rid of pet messes. See if you can stay in a room toward the end of a hall so your pet does not disturb guests.
If you belong to the AAA, see what kinds of discounts the hotel offers. Your membership may entitle you to hotel discounts. You may save 5% or even more on nationwide hotels. Over multiple nights, that five percent will really add up.
If you often frequent the same hotel chains, look into their frequent stay membership programs. Similar to frequent flyer programs, hotels have programs that add points on to your account each time you stay with them. Use them for discounts, entertainment tickets and other things.
The price for any give hotel room is going to affected by how early you book the room. Availability is one factor that plays a part in cost. When possible, you can often get a good price if you book a room at the very last minute. You can often get the best price if you do it this way. They’ll lower the price to fill the room.
To get the most out of your hotel stays, particularly if you travel a great deal for business, join a membership program such as that offered by Choice Hotels or Marriott. When you do that, you accumulate points for every stay, and that can add up to free nights or vacation discounts.
Sign up for AAA to ensure easier hotel arrangements when traveling. The AAA membership fee is well worth the discounts offered by many chains, and renting a car will also be easier. If you are a parent of a young child, you may even be provided with a free car seat.
Try not to make any long-distance calls from your hotel room. Try using the Internet, instead. A lot of hotels have free Wi-Fi that you can use to connect with people. This will help you converse with those back home without racking up a lofty bill.
If you are searching a hotel for bed bugs, you should check the bathroom first. This is where bedbugs are least likely to be. You can leave your bags there while you investigate the remainder of the room for bedbugs. If you have pets or children with you, ask them to wait in the bathroom too.
Make sure to ask up front if the hotel allows smoking or does not. If you don’t smoke, you may wish to avoid those that have smoking rooms. You could still get a non-smoking room, but smoke can flow through the air and settle on your clothes. There are times when smokers light up in a non-smoking room. If you are a non-smoker, be sure to request a non-smoking room in a non-smoking area of the hotel or you can find a hotel that is completely smoke free.
Be sure you understand the pet policy of the hotel. People who are allergic to pets obviously want to avoid pet-friendly hotels. The smells tend to stick around. Some hotels have an extra fee for pets, and the charge is not much in some places. Some hotels use the paid fees to clean the hotel more thoroughly.
You should know how to get a good hotel without paying too much. It is easy to book a great hotel room if you are aware of what you’re looking for. Keep this information in mind when booking and staying at a hotel.