Reserving a hotel room can be overwhelming with the wide range of locations, amenities, and prices available. Just a bit of work beforehand is critical. Think of how much you are willing to spend, consider what amenities you want, and research away. Remember this advice and your stay will be wonderful.
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.
If you want a nice meal at night with your special someone, and you are too comfortable in your room to go out, order some food through room service. This will cost you a little extra, but the convenience it provides is worth it.
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.
Use sensible safety and security precautions when you stay at a hotel. Find out where all the fire exits are in case of an emergency. Also, note where the nearby fire extinguishers are located. If you have any valuables, keep them in the safe at the desk or in the room.
Keep your electronics secure by using the hotel safe located in your hotel room. Place all electronics there along with important documents, such as your passport or plane tickets.
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.
When traveling with children, be sure the hotels you choose offer features the kids will enjoy. A playground on site is very helpful. A pool with plenty of shallow area and/or a kiddie pool will provide great play time. Also check to see if the hotel you are interested in offers a child care service.
Know your check-in time in advance. If you are early, your room may not be ready. Call and ask if you think you’ll be early.
If you often stay at the same hotel chain, check to see if they offer membership to frequent stay programs. Like the programs for frequent flyer, these programs the hotel offer give you points whenever you stay with them. These points can quickly add up to many perks such as a free night, discounts at the hotel restaurants, spa deals and much, much more.
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.
If your looking for a good vacation hotel, ask around among your friends. Be sure to do this especially if you’ve got friends that love to travel. They’ll often have excellent tips to help you find the best hotels with the best deals around. Plus, they’ll love sharing what they know!
If you are planning on staying in a hotel room with your children, make sure you call the hotel in advance to ensure they provide a working pool or some other fun activities for your children to do. If you arrive at your hotel and the pool is closed, your kids will be very disappointed.
See what the pet policy is at the hotel. If you fear pets or have allergies it may be best to make reservations at hotels which do not have a pet-friendly policy. Not to mention, you’ll definitely notice unwanted smells in the floor or in the linens if you don’t own a pet yourself. Some hotels charge extra fees for pets, but some do not charge much. The fee may cover the extra cleaning or it may not, it all depends on the hotel in question.
Many hotels now give you a towel card at the time of check-in. These cards are exchanged for a beach towel to be used in the pool area. On your last night, turn your towel back in and get your towel card back. If you do not, you may be charged as much as $25 at check-out time.
These tips should help you get the ideal room for your budget and needs. As you plan, keep these tips in mind. You are likely to have a comfortable stay and pay a price you are happy with.