There are innumerable hotels across the country, all the way from luxury, five-star resorts to economical roadside motels that have not been updated in decades. A great trip starts with a great hotel room. You will be able to use the following information to help ensure you select the right hotel.
If you are hungry when you get to your hotel and do not want to leave, consider ordering room service. Although you’ll probably pay more, it is worth being able to comfortably dine in the room while in pajamas.
When leaving your hotel room, keep any electronics you have secure by putting them in the room’s safe. Your small electronic devices can be left in the safe when you are out, so you will not have to worry about them.
See if your organizational memberships offer any benefits. Sometimes you can get discounted hotel prices through these organizations. Some discounts can be over ten percent! This can result in significant savings, especially for longer stays. Within a week’s time, you are basically getting a free night’s stay.
When thinking about selecting a hotel, there are quite a few salient points to consider. While price is obviously a factor, you may want to think about room size and amenities as well. Amenities like a swimming pool, a gym, free local calls or breakfast, and other amenities may be things that you prefer. Try to find a hotel that offers as many of your desired amenities as possible.
When you get to your hotel room, look over the room before unpacking. Make sure the room is entirely clean and free from any mildew or mold. Do the sink, shower and toilet work properly? Do you have all the towels and linens you need? Any problems that you notice should be reported to front desk staff right away. That way, they can be rectified or you can change rooms.
If you want to find the absolute rock bottom hotel prices, plan your trips weeks or months ahead of time. Some hotels have great discounts when you book a couple of months in advance. You may save 50 percent or more.
If you belong to the AAA, see what kinds of discounts the hotel offers. You may be surprised that your auto club membership includes hotel discounts, but it does. You could save 5% or even 10% on some rooms. It really is a savings that adds up over time.
If you tend to stay at the same hotel a lot, see about signing up for their frequent guest program. These programs usually work by letting you rack up points. These points can be used to earn free nights, discounts and more.
Inquire about hotel transfer costs before before booking. In many situations in which the room’s price is a great deal, the undisclosed price of your transfer can frequently eat up the savings. You will save more by asking about such a thing in advance.
Hotel Discounts
You can get great hotel discounts by becoming a member of AAA. Not only do AAA members get hotel discounts at many chains that are well worth the AAA membership, but you can find it a lot easier to find a rental car where you go. 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. Use the Internet, instead. The hotel may even offer Skype calls via Wi-Fi. You will be able to stay in touch with family and friends while you are away without the additional expense of costly phone calls.
Check with the hotel to make sure the pools are ready to go if you are traveling with children. Your kids and you will be very frustrated if the pool at your hotel is closed because of repairs when you arrive.
When you first arrive, inspect your hotel room’s bathroom. This is where you won’t find them. That means your luggage will be safe there while you check out the other areas of the room. It is usually a convenient place for young children to sit for a moment too.
Cigarette Smoke
Think about whether or not you are going to be staying at a smoking or nonsmoking hotel. If cigarette smoke bothers you, look for a hotel that doesn’t have smoking rooms. Even in a non-smoking room, the smoke from other rooms is in the air and might infiltrate your clothing. You may find that a smoker has been in your non-smoking room before you and ignored the rules. To be sure you don’t absorb cigarette smoke, think about staying at a nonsmoking hotel.
You should be aware whether or not the hotel allows pets. If you fear pets or have allergies to them, make reservations at hotels that have a strict no pets policy. These hotels sometimes have odors because the carpet and linens have absorbed them. While some hotels charge fees for pets, they don’t always charge a lot. The fee might be too low to cover the extra cleaning costs.
Hotel Early
Be aware that it is normally not possible to check into a hotel early. Be sure to plan your arrival with that in mind, or you may be sitting in the lobby area for some time. The room has to be cleaned ahead of your check in. If you do get to the hotel early, ask at the front desk if you can possibly check in early, but there is a chance you won’t be able to.
Many people do not spend enough time looking for a hotel, and they end up taking the first reservation that they find. This is risky business that can often backfire, leaving you disappointed. You do not want to book a bad hotel room, so read on to learn more about getting the right one.