When traveling, whether it is a short trip or a lengthy vacation, you often have to find somewhere to stay while you are away from home. A hotel is the obvious choice, but not all hotels are equally nice. Find yourself a quality hotel at an affordable price with these tips.
If you are a member of a frequent flyer program or travel a lot, try joining a hotel loyalty program. You can earn points and use them toward your upcoming stays. You can also gain airline miles if the hotel is a partner of a frequent flier program. Check the airline or hotel website to see what you’re qualified for.
If you are traveling with pets, be sure to select hotels that have good accommodations for them. This is especially true if you are planning on an extended stay. A good hotel that allows pets should have amenities for them. These might include and groomer, doggy day care and special walking areas.
Read the reviews before choosing hotels that look less than top notch. Sure there are lots of hotels that don’t look like the Four Seasons, and there are many that are plenty clean to stay in. There are others though that can be very dirty inside. Reading reviews can help you steer clear of the poorer lot of hotels out there.
Never assume that all hotels are pet-friendly. So call ahead and make sure you understand if there are extra fees or a limited number of rooms available. Make sure that you ask ahead what pet-friendly means to the hotel because this is a loose term that may still mean there are certain restrictions.
Do not feel silly when it comes to asking a hotel’s guest representative some questions. If you are looking for quiet and relaxation, you need to ask ahead to be sure you will get it. For instance, is the hotel too close to an airport? Is there construction going on nearby. Know this before booking with a hotel.
Do you travel a lot? Consider using a hotel loyalty program. They offer a variety of benefits to their members. You can often earn free upgrades, free stays, and complimentary late check out with enough points accrued.
Find out what perks are offered on hotel club floors before deciding the extra premium isn’t worth the cost. At some hotels, staying on a club floor can mean benefits like free food and even full meals. Factor up the potential expenses of paying for those on their own, and you might see that an upgrade can actually save you money.
If you stay at the same chain of hotels often, look into their membership programs for frequent guests. Just like with a frequent flyer mile program, you can get points for staying a hotel. As a result, you could have your next stay discounted or receive other benefits, like tickets to a show and get best food delivery.
Be sure to check for online deals. Most of the time, you can get cheaper deals by taking a few minutes to search for them on the Internet. It is a great way to choose your hotel. You will find deals this way that the hotels won’t tell you about over the phone.
To enjoy a tropical destination a bit more quietly, stay away from the large, all-inclusive resorts that bring in quantity but also feature nonstop partying. Instead, choose a smaller resort that also offers shuttles to the major local attractions. You’ll have a stay that is more on your terms, especially when it’s time to sit out on your patio in the quiet of the night.
Sign on to Facebook and find the page of the hotel you are staying at. Write a little message on their page, and see if the staff responds. You never know, they may offer you a special perk! If nothing else, keep up with what is happening on the page in case any specials are announced.
Will your children be staying with you during your next hotel stay? If so, pick a hotel that best suits their needs. This includes amenities of the actual hotel and the location itself. A hotel could be lovely, have an indoor pool, or offer all the cable channels. But, if it’s located in an industrial area or in the part of town with lots of bard, your children may not be pleased.
Pay attention to your security when you stay at a hotel. Make note of the fire exits and locations of fire extinguishers. Keep your door locked, and keep your key or key card in a safe place. Stash any valuables in the hotel safe. Consider bringing a flashlight along and keeping it by your bed in case you need it during the night.
If you travel frequently, you can maximize your hotel benefits by looking into reward programs from large hotel chains. By joining a membership program, you earn points during every visit. These points can add up to free items over time.
To save money on a trip when you are traveling with a large family, choose a hotel that offers a free breakfast. Even if it’s just continental fare, you’re saving a significant amount of money by cutting out having to pay for that one meal each day on the road.
Check out the prices at the hotel website. Sometimes the hotel website will have deals that trump the hotel discount websites out there. Before you pick a deal be sure to do this due diligence. You can even call the hotel to ask if they have any unpublished rates.
To ensure that you don’t leave anything behind when you are checking out of a hotel, make a sweep through the room after you’ve packed your bags. Open every drawer, check down on the floor by each bed, and check every outlet to make sure that you haven’t left any chargers plugged in.
A good hotel is a valuable thing to find when you are on the road, far from home. The last thing that you want is to have to sleep in a smelly, run-down hotel where you do not feel safe. To make sure that you find the right hotel, just remember the tips you have read here.