America features thousands of hotels, from luxury resorts bragging about their five stars to homely motels on the side of the road that look ancient. Your choice in hotels can make the difference between a good trip and a bad one. To ensure you find the best possible hotel, read this article.
Online travel websites can offer you a great deal on hotels with lots of choices, all on the same website. If you are in a hotel loyalty program, put your information in. You may also be able to get good discounts due to AAA or AARP membership.
If you are hungry when you get to your hotel and do not want to leave, consider ordering room service. Even though this will cost a bit more, the convenience and comfort are worth it.
Check with the organizations that you are a member with. Some may offer discounts on hotels. 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. This can rack up a free night over the entire course of a whole week.
Use online hotel search tools. You can use such websites to discover great deals with ease and speed. Being able to comparison shop helps you find the best value, while getting the amenities that are important to you. You can also use them to explore the area around the hotel for recreation.
Inspect your room before unpacking your bags. Your room should definitely be neat and should not have any odd smells, suspicious stains or mildew. Check the shower, toilet and sink to ensure they work properly. Do you have the blankets, pillows and towels you need? If you notice a problem, be sure to inform the front desk right away to have these problems resolved.
If you run regularly, continue your routine when traveling by bringing running clothes and your GPS. If you want to jog early in the morning, don your gear and then go for it. Even if you stick to city streets, you will gain a better perspective on your destination city before you leave.
Frequent travelers can benefit from loyalty programs offered by many hotels. They provide benefits to anyone who stays at a hotel chain frequently. It is possible to earn perks such as free stays, extended check out times and other upgrades.
Environmentalists can now enjoy a green vacation. Luckily, you can choose from quite a few green hotels these days. Some of the newer hotels are built in a way that they get certified green. Older hotels can go green by making environmentally friendly choices in energy use. Ask around for hotels that are friendly to the environment.
How much your hotel room will cost depends largely on the time you book. Hotels price rooms based on availability. Try to book a specific room at least 24 hours ahead of time, but it’s even better if you book weeks ahead of schedule. This will net you the best price when it comes to hotel rooms. If the hotel never rents the room they’ll get zero dollars for it, so most of the time they will give you a steep discount on it.
Maximize your hotel stays with membership programs like the ones that Marriott or Choice Hotels offer. When you stay at a hotel, you get points you can use later on.
Always ask about the hotel’s smoking policy if you smoke. Many hotels still offer smoking rooms. If you smoke, you should make a specific reservation for this type of room. If you stay in a room that doesn’t allow smoking and the hotel staff discover evidence of you smoking in this room, then you could be charged a large penalty. Therefore, it is important that you always follow the hotel’s rules when it comes to smoking.
You should be aware whether or not the hotel permits guests to have pets in the rooms. If you do not like pets, or you are allergic to them, then you should probably avoid pet-friendly hotels. They may have a hidden smell that the hotel tries to mask with a strong fragrance, which is also an irritant. While some hotels charge fees for pets, they don’t always charge a lot. Some hotels use the paid fees to clean the hotel more thoroughly.
When seeking reservations, don’t forget to ask for a crib or cot if you need one. Not every hotel will carry them, and the ones that do may not have enough to go around. In addition, there is sometimes an extra charge for these items. Talk about these issues as you reserve your room.
Be prepared with a knowledge of your rights if a hotel ever tries to “walk” you. There may be times when a hotel overbooks, leaving with no room. The hotel “walks” you to a new hotel nearby. This should only be a last resort and the other accommodations should be just as good or better and your trip there should be paid for as well.
Resist the urge to abscond with the hotel linens. No matter how much you love them, housekeeping will note missing linens and the hotel is likely to bill you for them. If you truly love them, ask the hotel about buying them.
Save money by booking your flight and hotel together. Often travel websites provide greater discounts for package deals. Always compare the prices from multiple hotels to make sure you’re getting the best deal.
You can get a cheaper price on a nice hotel if you book during their slow times of the year. This is the highest time for rates. Instead, book during off-season for the best prices. You are more likely to find a great rate.
Most customers skip on the research step and eventually purchase the first hotel reservation that they stumble upon. This is risky business that can often backfire, leaving you disappointed. You really don’t want your hotel room to be dirty, so use this advice to avoid this circumstance.