Vacation preparations aren’t easy. Not only do you have to choose your vacation spot and arrange for transportation, you also have to book your hotel accommodations. Making the wrong decisions can spoil your vacation. As the trip manager, it’s your job to get everything prepared and organized. Use the tips below to help you do this.
Prior to making reservations, research hotels on sites like TripAdvisor. These reviews can give you a customer’s perspective of the hotel you are planning on staying at. What former guests have to say with regards to a hotel being considered can ensure you make an informed decision.
When checking for good prices at hotels, refer to online travel sites like Orbitz and Expedia. Join the loyalty program for any hotel chain that you love and believe you’ll stay with often. You may also qualify for discounts from other organizations you belong to such as AAA or AARP.
Use travel websites to find the most competitive prices for hotel chains online. Always remember to give your loyalty program information to the clerk when you book your room or search for prices. You can also get additional discounts from any organization you are apart of, such as the AAA or the AARP.
It’s important to make sure that your valuables are safe during a hotel stay, so make use of 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.
Room service can be a great way to have a private, comfortable meal. Even though this will cost a bit more, the convenience and comfort are worth it.
Check the organizations that you’re a member of. Some organizations offer discounts on hotels to their members. People often forget about these discounts, which can be 10% or more. These discounts can save you quite a bit of cash, particularly if your stay involves several nights. This can rack up a free night over the entire course of a whole week.
It’s important to make sure that your valuables are safe during a hotel stay, so make use of the room’s safe. Anything of value can be securely locked in the safe, then you won’t have to worry about your valuables while out enjoying yourself for the day.
When thinking about selecting a hotel, there are quite a few salient points to consider. The location of the hotel may be just as important than the price. Amenities like a swimming pool, a gym, free local calls or breakfast, and other amenities may be things that you prefer. So decide on the amenities that mean the most to you and start looking.
Find out if any organization to which you belong offers good discounts. Many of these places will give you cheaper hotel prices. Some of these discounts can be pretty substantial, but many people don’t take advantage of them. If you are planning to stay a few nights, this can really add up. It may equate to one whole free night.
Upon arriving at your hotel, check your room before you unpack. Is the room clean? Do you see any mold or mildew? Are the showers, sinks, toilets, etc. properly functioning? Are you given the linens and towels that you’re going to need? If there are any obvious problems, report them to the front desk immediately so that they can be taken care of or you can be moved to a different room.
Use online hotel search tools. You can use such websites to discover great deals with ease and speed. You can see the average price of the rooms, and you can check to see how those rates stack up to the rates you’re being offered now. Finally, they can also help you figure out when you want to go on your vacation and what you want to do there.
Know when you are able to check in and get your room. Some people neglect asking what the check-in time is and get to the hotel when their room is still not ready. 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.
When you arrive at your hotel, thoroughly inspect your room before unpacking. Is the room clean and devoid of issues like mildew and mold? Are all bathroom fixtures in proper working order? Do you have the blankets, pillows and towels you need? If you spot any problems, immediately notify the hotel staff so they can fix it or move you to another room.
For the best hotel rates, plan your trip weeks or months ahead of time. There are quite a few hotels that will reward booking your room a few months in advance with nice discounts. This can save you as much as 40 percent off of the cost of your hotel.
Be clear about check-in time at the hotel you have booked. If you don’t know when you can check in, you may find your room is not ready when you arrive at your hotel. Ask for an early check-in time if absolutely necessary.
Don’t think every hotel is pet-friendly. Always call to ask, even if it says pet-friendly online. Be sure you know what pet-friendly means because there could be specific restrictions on sizes or certain breeds of dogs.
In order to get the best hotel deals, always plan your trips weeks ahead of schedule, or even a few months. There are quite a few hotels that will reward booking your room a few months in advance with nice discounts. Some of the most popular hotel chains can end up giving you up to 50 percent in savings.
There are three different things you should do in advance if you’re going to be traveling with a pet. First, ensure that the hotel actually allows pets. In addition, take along some plastic bags to pick up your pet’s mess. Finally, ask the hotel staff if you can have a room on the far end away from guests so that you don’t interfere with their visit.
If you’d like to bring Fido on your next trip, you must make some advance plans. Confirm that pets are allowed in the room you are staying. Pack a supply of plastic grocery bags with you – you will need to clean up any pet waste. You should also see if you can get a room near the end part of the hallway to make sure other guests don’t have to put up with pet noise.
If you want to arrange for a couples massage at your hotel, be sure to book the appointment right away. In order to get the best masseurs at these top hotels, you must plan early to ensure that you get a good experience.
Bring your running clothes with you on your trip. When you wake up and feel like a jog, simply toss on your gear and head out. Running not only provides you with great exercise, but it also helps you better learn the city in which you are residing.
If you often frequent the same hotel chains, look into their frequent stay membership programs. Similar to frequent flyer programs, some hotels have programs that give point for each stay. You can exchange these points for discounts and freebies at the hotel and its restaurant. You may also be able to use them on local amenities.
How much you’re going to pay for your hotel room will depend on when your room is booked. Hotel rooms are priced based on how many are available. When possible, you can often get a good price if you book a room at the very last minute. This will net you the best price when it comes to hotel rooms. Empty rooms don’t earn a hotel any money, so they are willing to slash the price.
If you want to work on saving the environment, a green vacation is something to look into. There are a lot of eco-friendly hotels out there. Certain hotels provide green rooms, and in fact, some are even certified as green hotels. Some older hotels choose to use eco-friendly practices as well, making them a good green option. Ask around for hotels that are friendly to the environment.
In order to avoid any surprise charges, inquire about hotel transfers prior to booking. Especially in situations where the price of the room represents a major deal, the hidden cost of the transfer can often make the difference. Asking about this ahead of time helps you maximize your savings.
Get a AAA membership to facilitate the process of booking a hotel when you travel. You’ll get discounts on hotel rooms, easier car rentals and more benefits. It’s great to know that you can count on both of these things.
Be careful not to make long distance phone calls on the hotel phone. You can use the Internet to make these types of calls. You’ll often find hotels have free Wi-Fi, which allows for Skype calling long distance numbers for free. Use this type of thing to get with people you know while you’re in your hotel room so you can save quite a bit of money.
Check with the hotel to make sure the pools are ready to go if you are traveling with children. 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.
Call ahead of arrival to see if the pool is open to keep the family happy. It will be a huge disappointment if you arrive at the hotel with the kids ready to swim and they are not able to do so.
Don’t let a bad hotel ruin your entire trip. Research and plan well in advance. You will open the door to better choices when you know what to look for. It is important that you enjoy your vacation as a whole, including the hotel that you choose. Keep the advice of this article in mind the next time you sit down to plan your travel.
When you feel the need to check the room in your hotel for signs of bed bugs, begin in the bathroom. This is the place least likely to have bedbugs. So, that means it’s the best place to stash your luggage and other belongings as you inspect the remainder of your suite. It is also the safest place for children and pets, too.
