Vacation planning requires covering a lot of different details. You need to choose a destination and figure out how you will get around. The hardest part of all is deciding on a nice hotel, even when you don’t know much about the area. Read these tips to help you get this right and maybe even save you some money.
To help you make a good choice, you should check out hotel review websites like TripAdvisor online. These sites will allow you to see previous guests’ experiences at the hotels you are considering. The information provided by patrons of the hotel will help you make a good choice of where to stay.
Consider taking advantage of room service when the urge strikes for a late-night snack with your special someone. Room service can be expensive, but the luxury of being able to lounge about in your room in your jammies can make it worthwhile.
Use your hotel room’s safe to keep your valuables secure. 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.
If you belong to any organizations, check with them for travel deals. There are times when an organization will give you great deals on the price of hotels. Many people don’t remember these discounts, which can save them 10% or more. This is a good discount that only gets better the longer you stay in a hotel. If you stay for a week, these discounts will almost add up for a free night.
Look for deals online. Many times, the person you book your room with will not tell you that you can get a discount online. This leaves the job of finding discounts entirely up to you. Use websites such as Jetsetter, SniqueAway or RueLaLaTravel.
Don’t unpack upon arrival without checking your hotel room first. Is the room clean? Do you see any mold or mildew? Does the plumbing work right? Do you have enough towels and linens? If you spot any problems, immediately notify the hotel staff so they can fix it or move you to another room.
Know the check-in times. Many people show up before check-in time only to find out their room isn’t ready. If you can’t help your arrival time being early, you can ask for an early check-in but it might cost a bit extra.
To get a good price when you want a hotel room, get your trips planned quite a few weeks or so in advance. There are quite a few hotels that will reward booking your room a few months in advance with nice discounts. You can save up to 50 percent, even on elite hotel chains.
You don’t want to assume that the hotel you will be staying in is considered pet friendly. Ask the hotel if pets are allowed, no matter what their site says. Ask about their pet policy. Many hotels have restrictions on the breed and size of pet allowed on the premises.
See if you can get a hotel discount through AAA if you are a member. It may come as a surprise to find that an auto club membership offers hotel discounts, but that is the case. You could save 5% or even 10% on some rooms. This is a savings that can really add up over several nights.
Pack your GPS and running clothes while on vacation. If you want to jog early in the morning, don your gear and then go for it. Running down city streets or country roads can give you a fresh view of the place you are visiting.
If you travel frequently, you can maximize your hotel benefits by looking into reward programs from large hotel chains. These points can translate into some major perks when you’re vacationing.
If you are planning on staying in a hotel room with your children, make sure you call the hotel in advance to ensure they provide a working pool or some other fun activities for your children to do. Nothing is worse than having excited kids who find out they cannot go to the pool.
Ascertain whether or not the hotel you plan to stay at allows smoking. If you are a nonsmoker, you may want to avoid hotels that offer smoking rooms. Even if you stipulate that your room should be non-smoking, second hand smoke can still enter your room. Sometimes, smokers book rooms that are non-smoking and smoke anyway. Instead of choosing a non-smoking room, you can actually find an entire non-smoking hotel if you really want to avoid nasty, secondhand smoke.
Check to see if the hotel allows pets. It may be best to stay clear of hotels that accept pets if you are afraid of dogs or are allergic to pets. Rooms that allow pets may also have the odor of animals. This can be in the linens and carpet. One hotel may charge guests an arm and a leg to bring their pet, while others don’t. The fee might be too low to cover the extra cleaning costs.
Don’t think that you should steal the hotel’s property. Housekeeping keeps track of linens. If you truly love them, ask the hotel about buying them.
Save money by booking your flight and hotel at the same time. There are numerous travel websites that give a fair deal when you book the hotel with a rental car or flight. To get the most from this service, compare rates of several different hotels and airlines.
If you want an upgrade, use an approach that may snag it for free. You can do this by checking in exactly at your expected arrival time. Because many of the rooms may not be cleaned yet, you may score a better room.
Now you know how to easily find an affordable hotel that is comfortable. Everything will work out well when you are aware of what to look out for. Simply make some calls and get ready for a great room. You will have lots of great vacation stories to share when you return.