When planning out hotel stays, there can be much that is sight unseen. That is why you need to know what it takes to find the right hotel deals. You must understand what information you need in order to make a wise decision regarding what place to stay. Read on so that you can end up sleeping in comfort next time you’re on the road.
Do comparison shopping online:
Often you”ll need to do some comparison shopping to find the best deals out there. Some quick web searches can do you a lot of good. There you’ll see who has the best prices for hotels in the areas you are considering. It can save you some real cash.
Try using price comparison sites online to find a hotel when you’re on a budget. Websites like Priceline, Travelocity, Expedia, and the like can help you see all kinds of hotels in different locations. You can narrow down your searches to specific price ranges and compare them to each other.
When you are staying at a hotel, it is a good idea to leave a small tip for the housekeeping staff. It is best to tip daily instead of waiting until the entire trip has come to an end since there is a chance that the same person will not be assisting you every day.
When staying in a hotel, it is wise not to bring valuables:
If you do have valuable jewelry, documents or other items be sure to stay at a hotel that has a safe in the office. By making good use of this amenity, you can keep your personal belongings secure and enjoy peace of mind.
To keep your running regimen up while you are traveling, pack your GPS watch and plenty of running clothes. Go for a run when you wake up in the morning. Spending time on the road with your own two feet will give you a perspective that you’ll never get while riding in a car.
Try out DealAngel the next time you are looking online for hotel rooms. This relatively newer site will show you just how good of a deal you are actually getting. It even has a unique feature that will show you how hotel rates vary by date, letting you pick the cheapest time to go.
If you don’t have your heart set on a certain hotel, try using a website like Hotels.com. These types of sites let you put in bids and then return a list of hotels in your price range. The only drawback is that they may not reveal which hotel you have booked until after you have committed to staying there.
Call ahead of arrival to see if the pool is open to keep the family happy. It can be extremely frustrating if you arrive at your hotel only to find out the pool is shut down for maintenance.
Make sure to ask up front if the hotel allows smoking or does not:
If you don’t smoke, you may wish to avoid those that have smoking rooms. Although certain hotels that allow smoking will provide guests with non-smoking rooms, smoke will still be in the air. Also, people may rent a non-smoking room and smoke in it. To avoid the experience of breathing in smoke during your stay, try to stay in a hotel that doesn’t allow smoking.
Don’t limit your hotel bed bug inspection to the bed. Bed bugs can be up to fifteen feet away. So, check any chairs and other furniture around the room. Also look in drawers and closet spaces before unpacking your clothes and risking them. As always, flag someone on the staff down if you find anything.
If you plan to use the telephone provided in your hotel room, know what to expect as far as charges. Some hotels offer free local calls, but others charge for each call. In addition to any long distance charges, the hotel usually adds an extra fee. Use your cell phone to make calls from your hotel room when possible.
Be sure you understand the pet policy of the hotel:
If you are allergic to pets, avoid pet friendly hotels. If the hotel does not have good cleaning practices, you may be bothered by pet odors. Some hotels have an extra fee for pets, and the charge is not much in some places. If the hotel allows animals in any room, then you may want to book elsewhere if you have allergies.
Never ask for the minibar to be removed from your hotel room. You may think this is a great way to ensure that you don’t partake of the minibar; however, most hotels charge for this service. Instead, if you may be tempted to drink alcoholic beverages, purchase your favorite beverage at a package store.
To ensure that you get the very best out of your hotel stay, check the online reviews, not just for the brand but for your particular location. Within a brand, there can be significant variances in terms lf quality. Make sure that your stay is as satisfying as possible by researching your room.
Many hotel chains offer reward programs to guests who stay there frequently. You can often earn credit for free rooms if you stay at a particular chain enough times. When you book a hotel, ask if they have such a program. If there is no cost to join, signing up is worth it.
Don’t just check one hotel deal website, check many of them:
Each one may have different deals available to them. You could be missing out if you skip overt this little additional research. Keep each open in different browser windows so that you can compare and contrast as you do your work.
Conclusion:
Whether you’re on vacation, traveling for business, or needing a hotel for some other reason, you definitely want to be happy with your room. There is nothing like checking out with extra charges or being unhappy with your surroundings. Knowing what you know now should help ensure that you pick the right hotel next time.
