Have you had trouble finding the right hotel accommodations in the past? Well, you got lucky. This article will help you learn about the basics of booking a hotel room. If you are ready to get going and book the best hotel your money can buy, keep reading.
Check online hotel reviews prior to booking your stay. This will give you valuable information about the recent experiences of people at each hotel. Patron reviews can give you valuable information that will help you make a good choice.
Online travel sites like Orbitz and Expedia can help you find the lowest rates on hotel rooms. If you are a member of a loyalty program, use that info when checking rates. You might also have other discounts from a membership in the AARP or AAA.
Take advantage of tools provided online when searching for a hotel. These sites can help you get good deals. They also let you see what full price is, so you know you are saving money. You can also use them to explore the area around the hotel for recreation.
Look for deals online. Often, the person booking your room won’t tell you about discounts available online. So, it’s up personally to you to go searching for such discounts. Look at Jetsetter, Enrovia and Hotels.com.
To get a good price when you want a hotel room, get your trips planned quite a few weeks or so in advance. If you can book early, you may get a huge discount. You can save up to 50 percent, even on elite hotel chains.
If you and a loved one are wanting to go to a hotel and get massages, it is important that you book the appointment way in advance. Most of the best masseurs will be reserved by name ahead of time. You’ve got to get in your reservation early to get the best masseur or masseuses.
If you have a AAA membership, it may qualify you for a hotel discount. You might be surprised to learn that your membership to the auto club also includes discounts on hotels. It’s possible you could save 5 percent or higher on hotels across the United States. Over multiple nights, that five percent will really add up.
Loyalty Program
Frequent travelers can benefit from loyalty programs offered by many hotels. A loyalty program offers many benefits. You can score things like complimentary upgrades, later check-out options and even free nights once you accumulate enough loyalty program points.
If you are always staying at the same chain, find out about the programs they offer to frequent guests. Just like frequent flyer mile programs, these hotel programs offer you points for your stay. They will get you discounts on the hotel restaurants, spa deals, and just a number of great stuff.
Vacation “green” if you are worried about the environment. There are several green hotels around. There are plenty of hotels built today with strong environmental standards. Some older hotels choose to use eco-friendly practices as well, making them a good green option. Finding hotels that are environmentally friendly can be as easy as asking your favorite travel agent.
Be sure to avoid hotel transfer fees by asking about them in advance. You don’t want to ruin the deal you are getting on your room by paying for an expensive transfer. Be sure and inquire about this beforehand so that you get your savings.
If you are going to need a rollaway or crib, ask for this when making your reservation. Not all hotels will supply these things, and some may have limited quantities. They may charge extra for this. You should discuss this with the hotel agent prior to booking so that you do not have an unexpected charge to your bill.
Do not check out early. Some hotels charge a fee for early departure. Whenever you reserve a room, it isn’t available to anyone else and the hotel will lose money if you cancel. So make sure that you know the hotel’s policy on checking out a day or two early – it might cost you.
The bedspread might not be the cleanest linen in the room. Although hotels will wash the sheets that lie underneath the bedspread, the bedspread itself is not typically washed. This means you might find that the bedspread is carrying germs and bacteria. Just remove it from the bed.
Don’t let a hotel take advantage of you. Hotels sometimes over-book, and this can leave you without a room. The hotel will then “walk” you, or direct you to a different hotel. Avoid this if possible, but if must go to another hotel, make sure you get a comparable or better room and the travel to there paid for.
Don’t steal the linens from the hotel. Housekeeping keeps track of linens. If you find you really like these items, then ask the hotel if you could purchase them instead.
If you want an upgrade, try to get one for free. You can do this by checking in exactly at your expected arrival time. If the room you are booked for has not been cleaned yet, you may be offered a better room at no additional charge.
If you must secure a room when you are driving to a location, visit a rest stop in the state you are going to. Pick up a few tourist brochures which should have hotel information and possibly even discounts. This helps you call for your room instead of driving from place to place and wishing for an awesome deal.
You should never pay the price posted at a hotel. It is a rack rate, and you don’t need to pay it. Hotels expect you to haggle. Ask for the lowest possible price when calling up the hotel. Assert yourself. A number of travel websites provide deep discounts.
The process of staying at a hotel doesn’t have to be a difficult one. It’s simple to understand, especially since you read this piece. Just be sure to give everything careful consideration, and you will make a great choice.