Booking a hotel room can be a scary experience, especially if you have had a bad experience before. By then, it is usually too late to back out. So that is why you need to prepare properly by doing research. So here are some tips to help you find the hotel room of your dreams.
Do you stay at a particular hotel chain fairly often? Consider signing up for their loyalty club. As long as it is free to do so, you really have nothing to lose. Giving the hotel your contact information could mean getting special perks that you can use the next time you stay there.
There are some things you have to do before taking your pet on a trip. Be sure that this hotel will be friendly to pets. You should bring some plastic bags and cleaning supplies to keep the room clean behind your pet. When you make a reservation you should see if you can stay near the back of the hallway to keep other guests away from your pets when they are making noises.
Visit several online travel websites and compare hotel room prices. These online travel websites do not always offer the same price for hotel rooms at a specific location. By choosing two or three different online travel websites, you can assure you are getting the best deal possible. Also, booking close to your travel date will usually net you a better price.
If you go to the same hotel often, see if they have frequent stay programs you can become a member of. Like the programs for frequent flyer, these programs the hotel offer give you points whenever you stay with them. They can amount to show tickets, free nights, spa deals, hotel restaurants discounts and much more.
If you are planning to stay in a hotel for an entire week or longer, ask the hotel about long term price discounts. Hotels will often have weekly and monthly rates which are unpublished. These can offer significant price breaks for your hotel stay. Be sure to mention it upfront.
If you forget to bring toiletries with you, the housekeeping staff at the hotel may be able to help. Most hotels provide soap, shampoo and conditioner as a matter of course, but they may also have toothbrushes, toothpaste, combs, razors and other necessary items on hand for those who request them. Many even supply hair dryers in the room, so you do not have to bring your own along.
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.
Don’t make long distance calls on your hotel phone. Use the Internet, instead. A lot of hotels offer Skype connections over Wi-Fi. But the Internet is infinitely useful while traveling so it is usually worth it.
Book your hotel room as far in advance as possible. You will be surprised at how quickly hotels fill up, especially in smaller towns with few hotels. If you wait until last minute, there is a good chance you may not even be able to book a room. So, be sure to reserve your room as soon as you know you need one!
Talk to a travel agent about potential hotel deals. You may think you’ll be paying more by going through a travel agent, but more often than not the opposite is true. Travel agents typically have access to unpublished deals not only for the hotel, but also for airfare and vacation activities.
One should always be aware of the hotel’s policy on pets. People who are allergic to pets obviously want to avoid pet-friendly hotels. Hotels that allow pets typically have rooms that have a pet odor in them. While some hotels charge fees for pets, they don’t always charge a lot. The fee might be too low to cover the extra cleaning costs.
Beware of an establishment that attempts to “walk you.” Hotels sometimes over-book, and this can leave you without a room. In such cases, the hotel “walks” you, or sends you to another hotel. It’s best to avoid this, but if you can’t, be sure you are going to a better hotel and getting a better room.
As you probably know, a bad hotel experience can be a nightmare. So it is important to do your research before you book so you will get a room that is right for you. So use the information from above to help you find the hotel that suits you perfectly.
