Are you looking forward to your vacation but not all that goes into planning it? Planning a vacation sometimes produces headaches, particularly when you are trying to figure out where you are going to stay. Fret not. The guide below has tips you can use to make sure that you choose wisely.
When going on a trip, it is a good idea to book a vacation package instead of booking each service separately. While it may seem like you are spending a lot more money at once, the reality is that you will be getting a cheaper hotel stay than you would otherwise.
Make sure you check with any organizations of which you are a member. Many of them offer hotel discounts to members. The discounts could be 10% or even higher! This can add up to big savings, even more so if you will be staying for many nights. If you are staying for a week, you can pay for a whole night’s lodging with these discounts.
If you want to save some serious money on your hotel reservations, get the price bundled with something else. This is typically done through an online travel site. When bundled with airfare, hotel room rates drop dramatically, sometimes by over half the list rates that are publicly advertised elsewhere on the Internet.
Avoid using the phone in the hotel to make any calls. If you do not have a mobile phone, it would be a good idea to purchase a prepaid phone to make calls during your stay. The only exception should be if free local calls are included in the room rate.
Be sure to check for online deals. Most of the time, you can get cheaper deals by taking a few minutes to search for them on the Internet. It is a great way to choose your hotel. You will find deals this way that the hotels won’t tell you about over the phone.
When booking your room, get exactly what you want. If you want a good view, make sure you get one. If you want to be away from the pool area, make sure you get that as well. Look at a layout of the hotel before calling or booking so you have a good idea of what to expect.
If you are worried about the environment, consider taking a “green” vacation. Luckily, many hotels are around these days for you to choose from. Newer hotels are often certified green and designed and built using green standards. Many older hotels will still be environmentally aware by utilizing some eco-friendly practices. Your travel agent can help to identify the environmentally friendly hotels.
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.
The cost of your hotel room largely depends on the dates on which you plan to stay there. The prices are based partly on availability. If you can, make your room reservations only a day in advance. This gives you the best prices in reserving hotel rooms. Hotels would rather discount the price because an empty room does not earn them any money.
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!
Stay safe and secure in a hotel. Travelers to hotels are often robbed even when they are inside the room. Use every lock the hotel provides, including the handle lock, chain and deadbolt. Hotels are a magnet for shady characters looking to exploit people who are traveling with a lot of money and valuables.
There are many hidden fees that can substantially increase the cost of your hotel stay. For example, many hotels deliver a newspaper outside of your room and charge you for it. To ensure you are not charged for any unwanted items carefully read the contract before signing for your hotel room.
If your hotel offers a kid’s club, and you are considering leaving your child there, take a few precautions. Find out if the staff has undergone background checks and ask about the child to adult ratio. In addition, ask what the procedure is for picking up the child. You want to make sure that someone can’t just walk up and leave with your little one.
Now that you know how to pick a great hotel, you can start planning your vacation. Just think about how much fun you are going to have, and this task will be a piece of cake. You will surely book a great hotel. Have a great time on your vacation wherever you go!