When traveling, whether it is a short trip or a lengthy vacation, you often have to find somewhere to stay while you are away from home. A hotel is the obvious choice, but not all hotels are equally nice. Find yourself a quality hotel at an affordable price with these tips.
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.
Put your electronics into the room’s safe. This safe will store your small important items, such as your iPad, iPod, GPS, jewelry, etc. By doing this, you can keep these items secure and enjoy your day without fretting about someone stealing them.
To save a little bit of money on the cost of your hotel room, whether you are booking over the phone or online, see if there is a discount for paying at the time of booking rather than waiting to pay at checkout. Often this can make the difference between queen and king beds, or between a room and a suite.
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.
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.
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.
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.
There are websites available that offer you an instant discount if the hotel you have booked decreases in price before your stay. You may end up with a good amount of money back in your pocket. The best thing about this type of site is that the opposite does not apply. If the rates increase, you will only have to pay the amount you were originally quoted.
Use social media to your advantage if you want to get fresh deals on hotel stays. Many hotels offer deals and freebies to people that “Like” their page. In addition, giving them praise on social media is a great way to snag an upgrade and/or a special rate that has not been advertised.
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!
Be aware of the check in and check out times for the hotel at which you are staying. If you arrive too early, your room may not be ready, and you may have to wait a few hours to access it. If you fail to check out by the appointed time, you may be charged for an extra day. Knowing the hotel policies with regard to check in and check out times can save you some aggravation.
If you are traveling with children, make sure you tell the front desk about your needs when you call to make a reservation. For example, do you need a pack and play? Make that known before you show up at the hotel. Also, ask if there is space in the room to set up a crib. You may need to ask for a larger room so that your entire family can be comfortable.
A good hotel is a valuable thing to find when you are on the road, far from home. The last thing that you want is to have to sleep in a smelly, run-down hotel where you do not feel safe. To make sure that you find the right hotel, just remember the tips you have read here.