Have you heard others mention they didn’t like a hotel room they stayed in and it affected their vacation? Where you’re going to sleep plays into how well your vacation is going to go. Therefore, it is crucial that you select the best hotel for your needs and budget. Keep reading for more tips.
Before you choose a hotel and make reservations, check online review sites, such as TripAdvisor. This gives you first-hand accounts of people’s experiences in each hotel. What others say will help you make a wise decision.
Check out online travel websites in order to discover the best deals on hotels. Examples include Orbitz and Expedia. As you check your rates, don’t forget to include that you’re a loyalty program member. You might also have other discounts from a membership in the AARP or AAA.
Make sure you put your valuables inside the safe in your hotel room. Place all electronics there along with important documents, such as your passport or plane tickets.
Take a look into organizations you are part of. Some organizations offer discounts on hotels to their members. A lot of people don’t use these discounts, and you may save 10% or even more. For extended stays, this can really add up. A stay of 5 days or more could add up to one free hotel night stay!
Make use of online tools to find a hotel. Some websites are designed to help you find the best deals. They can provide you with an idea of the average rate charged by each hotel, so you will have a good idea as to whether or not the deal you are being offered is good. You can also use them to explore the area around the hotel for recreation.
Before you book a hotel, look for deals online. You might not learn from the person on the phone that you can actually get great discounts over the Internet, instead. This is why you should look for discounts yourself. Websites like Orbitz, Travelocity and Hotels.com usually have some great discounts.
Know when check-in time is. Some people fail to check when they will be able to access their rooms. They arrive at the hotel but find that their room isn’t ready yet. 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.
Plan your trip as far in advance as you can to ensure best rates. The earlier you book, the better rate you should get. Doing this could save you up to 50 percent off your room, and this holds true with the more elite brands as well.
Hotel Chains
AAA members get an extra discount at certain hotel chains. AAA members actually receive hotel discounts at specific hotel chains! You can save upwards of 5% on your hotel stays. When you stay for multiple nights, the savings really add up.
If you often stay at the same hotel chain, check to see if they offer membership to frequent stay programs. Similar to frequent flyer programs, some hotels have programs that give point for each stay. They add up to free nights, discounts at hotel restaurants, show tickets, spa deals and a whole lot more.
If you care quite a bit about your environment, consider taking a “green” vacation. Green hotels can feature specialized recycling programs, may only use recyclable products and use environmentally friendly cleaning supplies. Green certification is something some of the newly built hotels are quite proud of promoting. Other older hotels will just provide green options for you. Speak with a travel agent to see if they can help you pick out hotels that care about the environment.
Timing matters when booking a hotel room. Hotels price rooms based on availability. If possible, book your room no more than 24 hours in advance. In this way, you will get good rates. Hotels don’t like to have vacancies so they often provide better prices.
Inquire about the price of a transfer before you place a booking. A transfer can sometimes come with a substantial hidden cost. Asking about this ahead of time helps you maximize your savings.
Your children will be happy when you call the hotel to make sure their pool is open and working. Your kids and you will be very frustrated if the pool at your hotel is closed because of repairs when you arrive.
You can locate a great room at an affordable price. Hopefully this article has shown you some great tips on how to find a fantastic place to stay. This doesn’t necessarily have to mean expensive, either. Remember what you’ve learned here, and you will end up with a good hotel and a great deal.