Most everyone will find themselves needing to stay in a hotel room at some point. Many people regret their decision to stay in a particular hotel chain because they didn’t research prior to making reservations. You’re in luck! Here, you’re going to read about tips to help your stay be great.
There are plenty of websites that offer reviews for local hotels, for example TripAdvisor. Use these websites to review a hotel before you make the actual reservation. Here, you can read what people had to say about their hotel stay. Find out what actual customers say about the hotel and it can help you avoid a costly mistake.
Put your electronics into the room’s safe. Place all electronics there along with important documents, such as your passport or plane tickets.
Check with any membership programs for deals. Some offer big discounts on hotel rooms. These discounts can be as much as 10 percent or even more. This can result in significant savings, especially for longer stays. This can also net you a free hotel night.
If you are traveling with a pet, it is best to find a pet friendly hotel ahead of time. Therefore, make sure you call the hotel staff to confirm that they will allow pets. Even if they have a website that states pets are allowed, you should still call to confirm this. Get the term “pet-friendly” defined, as well. The hotel may not allow large dogs or certain types of pets.
If you’re taking a pet to the hotel, do some things beforehand. Make sure it’s a pet-friendly hotel. Gather plastic grocery bags so you are able to clean up any pet messes. Reserving a room near the end of a hallway will keep other guests from being disturbed by your pet.
If you belong to AAA, see what kinds of discounts the hotel offers. It may be surprising that auto clubs members receive hotel deals, but they do. You can save up to an additional five percent at certain hotels throughout the country. This really adds up when you are staying for many nights.
Frequent travelers can benefit from loyalty programs offered by many hotels. They provide benefits to travelers who regularly stay in the same hotel chain. There are many rewards given when you accumulate loyalty points such as free stays, free upgrades and later than usual check out times.
Be sure to avoid hotel transfer fees by asking about them in advance. Many times, rooms seem to be a good deal, but there are hidden fees for this service. You will save more by asking about such a thing in advance.
To get optimal value from a hotel stay, especially if you find yourself traveling a lot for your business, sign up for membership programs such as those offered by Marriott or Choice Hotels. This way, when you stay at a hotel, you can get points and then turn those points into free stuff that you can do with your family.
Check with the hotel to make sure the pools are ready to go if you are traveling with children. There aren’t many things that are as frustrating as going to your hotel with kids that really want to swim only to see that it has been closed.
Start by inspecting the hotel bathroom if you need to make sure there are no bed bugs. You probably won’t find any bedbugs in the bathroom. So, that means it’s the best place to stash your luggage and other belongings as you inspect the remainder of your suite. It’s safe for pets and kids too.
Always find out the pet policy at any hotel you stay at. If you have pet allergies or the noise from pets bothers you, you might want to avoid these hotels. These hotels may also have an odor due to the smells sinking in the floor and linens. Some hotels are pet-friendly and don’t charge for it, while other hotels will add a hefty fee for keeping a pet. Depending on the hotel, that fee may or may not be enough to cover extra cleaning.
If you require extra amenities like a roll away bed, you want to mention this while making your reservation. These items are not available at all hotels. When they are available, they are often in limited supply. Also, you may face extra charges for the use of these items. Before making reservations, explain this.
For hygienic purposes, you may want to avoid using the bedspread that the hotel provides. While the staff may have washed the sheets prior to your stay, the comforter is not always washed. It can carry a lot of germs. Just remove this covering from the bed to have peace of mind.
Know what the hotel’s policy is for overbooking. Sometimes hotels are going to overbook and then your room that you reserved won’t be there. They might try and send you to a different hotel. This is inconvenient, and try to avoid it if possible. If you must go elsewhere, make sure transportation is paid and you get a better room than you originally booked.
There are many times that we need to use a hotel. If you do not do proper research, you could end up with a room that is unacceptable. Now that you know what to look for, you can make sure that you book the best hotel possible.