What is the best way to find a hotel for your next vacation? A lot of people just look in the hotel directory. However, there is more to it if you want to find the perfect hotel that you can afford. Continue to read to learn how you can go about it.
Find great prices at online travel sites like Orbitz and Expedia. If you are a member of a loyalty program, use that info when checking rates. You may also be eligible for deals that are offered to members of certain organizations, like AAA or AARP.
To ensure that you get the best service from the custodial staff at a hotel, leave a few dollars each morning for each bed that you use. This nominal cost will help you get rooms that receive the little extras, such as a towel or two more, or even an extra pillow.
To keep your family active and engaged when you are in a hotel far from home, talk to the concierge when you check in to get a list of nearby attractions. At the end of each day, sit down and map out a plan for the next morning. This gives you more vacation time and less time sitting in front of a television waiting to decide what to do.
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.
Use your hotel room’s safe to keep your valuables secure. Place your iPad, GPS and other small electronics in the safe when you are not in your room.
If you travel often and prefer one hotel brand, consider signing up for a loyalty program. These programs offer free room upgrades, a free night’s stay after so many days and other advantages. To get the most from this service, sign up to be alerted of specials the hotel may run from time to time.
Make location a top priority when it comes to searching for hotels. If you are going to be staying in a city and want to sight-see, it may not be wise to stay in a hotel 30 minutes away from all the action. Ask the hotel about attractions close by or look up their location 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.
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.
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!
You don’t want to make too many long distance calls while you’re staying in a hotel room. Make use of the Internet, instead. You will probably find that your hotel has Wi-Fi and Skype. You will be able to stay in touch with family and friends while you are away without the additional expense of costly phone calls.
Check with the hotel to make sure the pools are ready to go if you are traveling with children. Showing up at your hotel and finding out the pool isn’t in working order can ruin an otherwise great trip.
Talk to a travel agent about potential hotel deals. You may think you’ll be paying more by going through a travel agent, but more often than not the opposite is true. Travel agents typically have access to unpublished deals not only for the hotel, but also for airfare and vacation activities.
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!
The best hotel does not necessarily have to be the most expensive. If you know the right approach, you can find really great hotel accommodations at a price that is affordable to you. You do not have to settle for something substandard. Apply the advice here, and you can find great accomodations without breaking the bank.