When booking a hotel, learn all you can. Hotels are expensive and you want to ensure you have chosen a good one. This article will help you get your research started and will help you weed out the wrong hotels for the right one. Continue reading to find out how to save money when booking and enjoy your time at the hotel.
Make sure you check out online review websites prior to making a reservation for a hotel. These websites have reviews and comments from people who have recent experience with their stay. Factor former guests’ reviews into your final decision.
Check out online travel websites in order to discover the best deals on hotels. Examples include Orbitz and Expedia. As you check your rates, don’t forget to include that you’re a loyalty program member. You may also be eligible for deals that are offered to members of certain organizations, like AAA or AARP.
Check with any membership programs for deals. Many of them offer hotel discounts to members. Many people don’t remember these discounts, which can save them 10% or more. This can result in significant savings, especially for longer stays. This can also net you a free hotel night.
Many things must be considered when choosing the right hotel. You should look at the price, but you should also look at the location that is most convenient for what you want to do. Amenities that help you choose a hotel are free breakfast, free Wi-Fi, exercise room, pool, and a restaurant on the premises. Try to get yourself a hotel with what you need in it when possible.
Make use of online tools to find a hotel. These websites can help you quickly find great deals. They can also show you what the hotel’s average rates typically are, allowing you to see whether you are actually getting a good deal or not. Finally, you can also use these to help you learn what there is to do when you get to your destination.
Don’t book a hotel room without looking for online deals. Often, the person booking your room won’t tell you about discounts available online. So, it’s up personally to you to go searching for such discounts. Check out websites such as Jetsetter, RueLaLaTravel, and SniqueAway.
You should always start planning any serious trip months or weeks ahead of time. This will help you book early and get the best prices. If you chose to book a month or even two ahead of your arrival date, you can get great discounts. With elite brands, this can translate into savings of up to 50 percent.
Do not assume that each hotel welcomes pets. Call the hotel in advance to ensure the hotel is pet friendly. Verify exactly what is meant by “pet-friendly” since certain breeds and pets over a certain size may not be allowed.
If you like running and frequently stay in hotel rooms, be sure and pack up a GPS watch, along with your favorite running clothes. For an early morning jog, get up and throw your gear on, and then head out the front door. When you go running in a new city, you will get a free tour, up-close and personal.
Loyalty Programs
Many hotels have loyalty programs available to customers who travel often. Loyalty programs provide frequent guests benefits for booking with them on a regular basis. You might receive an upgrade at no cost or be allowed to check out later than others with your points.
Join a frequent customer program if you stay at the same hotel chain a lot. Similar to frequent flyer programs with an airline company, hotel programs will typically give you points for each visit. With enough points you can get free rooms in the future. They may also offer discounts for shows, restaurants and other things.
Think about going on a “green” vacation. These are much more common today than they were in the past. Newer hotels are sometimes built according to green standards. Older hotels may choose to take “green” standards seriously, which is a great thing. Ask around for hotels that are friendly to the environment.
The timing for your booking of a hotel room has much to do with what you pay. The prices are based partly on availability. If you can, make your reservation no earlier than 24 hours before you arrive. A late booking when the hotel is slow often results in a bargain. The hotel is not going to make any money on a room that is unoccupied, which is why the reduce the price.
Before you decide to book, always find out if there are any hotel transfer fees so you won’t be surprised on your bill. If the room is the bargain, then an expensive transfer can ruin the whole savings. Asking these things before anything happens will allow you to save more.
To get optimal value from a hotel stay, especially if you find yourself traveling a lot for your business, sign up for membership programs such as those offered by Marriott or Choice Hotels. Every stay in a particular hotel chain where you are a member will add points to your total, which can later be used on free rooms or amenities that usually cost you.
Always know the hotel smoking policy wherever you stay if you personally smoke. Certain hotels provide rooms that are specifically for people who smoke. Ask to see if any of these are available. Smoking in a non-smoking room can be a big no-no and you may even be charged an extra cleaning fee.
As you can see, there are some good strategies that can assist with booking a great hotel room. To really absorb this information, you may want to read these tips again. Enjoy your hotel stay more when you use the advice in the article above.