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There are a lot of details that go into planning a trip away. You must choose your vacation destination and make transportation arrangements. Also, you need to plan on where you will stay. But, choosing a hotel can be hard, especially when you are unfamiliar with the area. These tips will help you find a great hotel.
Room service is one of the best parts about a hotel. How else could you possibly enjoy a midnight snack without leaving your bed? It may cost more, but it’s convenient when you don’t feel like leaving.
Make sure you check with any organizations of which you are a member. Many organizations provide hotel discounts for members. Some of these discounts can be pretty substantial, but many people don’t take advantage of them. That can add up to huge savings over multiple nights. This can mean a lot of savings over a full week stay.
When thinking about the type of hotel you would like to stay at, there are plenty of options to consider. Of course price is a big deal, but a hotel close to where you are head is a big consideration. Other amenities, such as a swimming pool, an onsite restaurant and free continental breakfast are important to travelers. Choose an establishment that offers the amenities you desire.
Be aware in advance of the check-in time. Some people end up waiting for their room to be available because they forget to check this critical detail. Call and ask if you think you’ll be early.
For the best hotel rates, plan your trip weeks or months ahead of time. If you book one or two months in advance, you can often receive a discount. You may save 50 percent or more.
If you are a daily runner, make sure you pack exercise clothes and a GPS watch. You can still enjoy your early morning jog while on vacation if you have your gear and the right room booked. Whether you are running on roads or city streets, you will gain more knowledge about the city you are visiting while you run.
Do you travel a lot? Consider using a hotel loyalty program. Loyalty programs provide frequent guests benefits for booking with them on a regular basis. There are many rewards given when you accumulate loyalty points such as free stays, free upgrades and later than usual check out times.
Membership Programs
There are membership programs that hotels offer for those that stay frequently at their chains. Many hotels offer membership programs that allow you to earn points for each of your stays. These points can be traded in for restaurant discounts, tickets to shows, free nights at the hotel, and much more.
Vacation “green” if you are worried about the environment. Fortunately, there are many green hotels available nowadays. Some new buildings are certified as green. Many older hotels will still be environmentally aware by utilizing some eco-friendly practices. Ask your booking agent about green hotels.
What you will be charged for a room, depends on when it’s booked. The prices are based partly on availability. If possible, don’t make your reservation more than a day in advance. This will net you the best price when it comes to hotel rooms. Hotels don’t like to have vacancies so they often provide better prices.
To avoid major expenses on your final hotel bill, be sure to ask the sales representative about the price of hotel transfers first. If the room is the bargain, then an expensive transfer can ruin the whole savings. You should inquire about this before booking the hotel room.
A membership in AAA can make booking a hotel easier when you travel. Members of AAA will get additional hotel discounts up to five percent, but you’ll also get discounts on rental cars as well. Many car rental agencies add perks, such as a child car seat at no charge, for AAA members.
If you wish to have happy kids while you’re on the road, be sure you call a hotel to see if they have a working pool at the time. There is nothing worse than arriving at your destination anxiously looking forward to splashing around in the pool, only to find that it is closed.
One should always be aware of the hotel’s policy on pets. If you fear pets or have allergies it may be best to make reservations at hotels that have a strict no pets policy. Because odors have a tendency to linger on fabrics and rugs, the hotel may have an odor about it. Depending on the hotel, you may be expected to pay extra for keeping a pet, but it isn’t usually a large sum. The fee charged may not be adequate to cover the extra cleaning needed to completely remove the odors.
You should understand that early check-ins to hotels are not usually possible. Plan your trip right or you might end up waiting in a hotel lobby. The room must be cleaned and prepared so the next guest can check in. Having said that, don’t hesitate to ask the front desk about checking in if you do arrive early; however, you shouldn’t expect to be able to do this. The best thing you can do is arrive on time.
If you are concerned about germs, you might want to take the bedspread off of the bed. Although the blankets and sheets are cleaned when guests check out, sometimes the bedspread on top will not be. It could have acquired a lot of invisible germs and other things you want to avoid. Just remove this covering from the bed to have peace of mind.
When your hotel attempts to “walk” you, don’t stand for it! Occasionally, a hotel overbooks and your booked room is unavailable. The hotel will attempt to foist you off on another hotel. If you cannot avoid this situation, you need to be booked at a comparable hotel or upgraded room for your troubles.
Finding the right hotel for your trip is not that hard. Everything will work out well when you are aware of what to look out for. The right room can make or break a vacation or trip away. Tell all your friends about it upon your return!
