Trying to choose the right hotels, especially in unfamiliar territory, can seem like a daunting task at times. Perhaps you would like some helpful advice that can put you in the right direction. It doesn’t have to be difficult when you know what to look for in a good hotel that will treat you right.
Before you make reservations at a particular hotel, check its reviews on websites like TripAdvisor. This lets you know what others’ experiences have been like. Their opinions can help you decide whether or not a certain hotel is the right one for you.
Prior to beginning a hotel search, try thinking about what accommodations you want and can afford. Figure out if the hotel’s location is more important than its price or if you limited to hotels under a certain price range. Also consider whether you need one that has items like spas and fitness centers or just a beautiful view.
When planning a vacation, be sure to make all of your hotel reservations well in advance. In this way, you can lock in lower rates. If you have some flexibility regarding when you take your vacation, be sure to find out about off season rates. Very often, the rate you pay in non-peak times of year is significantly lower.
If you’ve left amenities at home, ask the front desk. Often you won’t need to go out to buy things like toothpaste and toothbrushes. The front desk typically has the staples available to customers at no cost whatsoever. Sure it’s only a few dollars saved, but every dollar counts.
When searching for a hotel, consider “bundle” packages. For example, if you have to fly to your location, look for a bundle that includes both your hotel room and your airfare. You should save quite a bit of money that way, but make sure to always double-check the regular room rate to ensure you are getting a good deal.
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.
One way to save money when traveling is to search for a hotel that offers a free continental breakfast. This can save you a lot of money if you are staying for a week. Many of the top hotel chains offer large continental breakfasts consisting of breakfast meats, pastries and drinks.
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.
Prior to booking your hotel room, search the Internet for 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 websites like Hotwire.com, Kayak.com and Priceline.com for great discounts.
If you know that you will need to make phone calls from your hotel room, check to make sure you will have free Wi-Fi service. Rather than using the in-room phone, and getting charged an arm and a leg, use an Internet phone service that is free. For example, both Skype and Line are possibilities.
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.
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.
Ask if there is smoking allowed in the hotel. If you do not smoke, you might not want to go to a hotel with smoking rooms. Even non-smoking rooms can have smoke billow in from next door. Smokers often don’t care that their room is non-smoking, too. Request a non-smoking room if you do not want to smell like cigarettes.
If possible, try to stay in a hotel during the off-season. Most hotels know how desperate people are to find a room during the travel season. They tend to jack up their prices because they know people are willing to pay for the room. If you go during the off-season, you will get big discounts!
Planning your travels is not always so simple, and this includes lodging, meals, attractions and more. In order to find yourself staying a hotel suitable to your needs, be sure you’re following the advice that has been given. A hotel should be a place of relaxation and comfort not a hassle.