At some point in life, you will find yourself having to stay in a hotel. Whether you will be staying in one for personal reasons or business reasons, it is important to know what to look for in a hotel. Following is some advice that should help.
Prior to reserving a room at a hotel, look on the Internet for reviews. One great site is TripAdvisor. In this way, you can get real information from real people regarding their experiences at a variety of hotels. What people say about a hotel can help you figure out where you should be staying.
Check out online travel websites in order to discover the best deals on hotels. Examples include Orbitz and Expedia. If you are a member of a hotel loyalty program, make sure to indicate this when searching for rates. You might also be entitled to additional discounts through your other organizations, such as AAA or AARP.
Get room service if you don’t want to leave. It may cost more, but it’s convenient when you don’t feel like leaving.
Many factors come into play as you choose a hotel. Price is important but a shabby, dirty hotel room is no bargain at any price. Amenities, such as a gym, room service, or free Wi-Fi, might be of importance to you. Seek out hotels that offer amenities that appeal to you.
Take advantage of online hotel searching 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. You can also find out about local amenities and things offered by the hotels.
Be sure to look at your room before unpacking your suitcase. Is it clean? Do a quick check to ensure that the shower, sink and toilet are all in proper working order. Are there enough linens and towels? If any issues are immediately prevalent, call the front desk that instant so they can address them or move you to another room.
Be aware of when you can check into your room. You don’t want to arrive early only to find out your room isn’t ready yet. If you will be arriving early, call and ask if this is okay.
Don’t make the assumption that all hotels will welcome your pet. Put a call into the front desk just to be sure, no matter what it says on their website. A hotel may be pet-friendly, but still has restrictions against certain breeds or animals. Find out ahead of time if your pet is acceptable.
If you are concerned about the environment, you may want to take a “green” vacation. The number of “green” hotels is steadily growing. Some new buildings are certified as green. Many older hotels will still be environmentally aware by utilizing some eco-friendly practices. Talk with a travel agent to find green hotels.
The price of a hotel room is often a mix of many factors. Rooms are typically priced according to availability. When possible, you can often get a good price if you book a room at the very last minute. This can get you a seriously discounted rate. Hotels don’t like to have vacancies so they often provide better prices.
Inquire about hotel transfer costs before before booking. If you’re getting what appears to be a nice deal on the room, these types of hidden charges can sometimes surface. Inquire before you book, so you aren’t hit with an unexpected price increase.
If you do a great deal of traveling, consider joining hotel chain loyalty programs. 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.
Inquire if the hotel is a non-smoking hotel. If you’re not a smoker, it may be wise to stay away from rooms that are for smoking. However, even with non-smoking rooms, there’s no telling if the guy next door is smoking. There are times when smokers light up in a non-smoking room. If you want to avoid smelling like cigarettes when you leave, you may wish to consider a non-smoking hotel.
Always know the hotel smoking policy wherever you stay if you personally smoke. Many hotels still offer smoking rooms. If you smoke, you should make a specific reservation for this type of room. Don’t smoke in a nonsmoking room, or you may be charged by the hotel for doing so.
Always review the policy of whether or not the hotel allows pets. If you are allergic to pets, avoid pet friendly hotels. Hotel floors and linens can glean unpleasant odors from pets. Many hotels charge a fee for staying with a pet, but it might not be a lot. In fact, the extra charge for pets might not even cover the costs of cleaning; therefore, you should make sure you know all this ahead of time.
Be aware that it is normally not possible to check into a hotel early. So, you may have to sit for a while in the lobby or find a way to occupy yourself until checking in if you are going to be arriving early. Most hotels clean and prepare rooms at a certain time, so that they are ready for check-in. If you are early, don’t expect miracles.
Don’t steal the hotel linens when you leave, no matter how tempting and comfortable they are. If you do take any items, the housekeeping staff is sure to notice, and you may receive a bill from the hotel. If you find you really like these items, then ask the hotel if you could purchase them instead.
As this article has already discussed, everyone should stay in a hotel at some point. Regardless of why you need to book a room, you should research your decision first. This article should help you find a room that you’re going to love and enjoy staying at during your vacation.