When you are planning to travel, whether it is for a family vacation or a business trip, a hotel reservation needs to be made. However, this is not a decision that should be made hastily. Choosing the right hotel is important if you want to really enjoy your trip. Keep reading for some good advice on doing so.
You can find a lot of great deals on hotels if you go online and check out some of the travel sites out there. Join the loyalty program for any hotel chain that you love and believe you’ll stay with often. Also, as an added bonus, you may get discounts from other companies such as AAA or AARP.
Make sure you put your valuables inside the safe in your hotel room. You can put just about anything in there, as long as it isn’t too big, and you won’t have to worry about it.
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.
To get the lowest price on accommodations, plan your trip in advance. Some hotels have great discounts when you book a couple of months in advance. With elite brands, this can translate into savings of up to 50 percent.
If you plan on bringing your family to a hotel, you should look for family-friendly policies and special deals online. Try using family vacation review sites. You can find many family hotels and resort reviews. Searching through these sites should help you also locate deals to make your trip more enjoyable and affordable.
Find out what perks are offered on hotel club floors before deciding the extra premium isn’t worth the cost. At some hotels, staying on a club floor can mean benefits like free food and even full meals. Factor up the potential expenses of paying for those on their own, and you might see that an upgrade can actually save you money.
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 you book has a huge impact on your final bill. Hotels price their rooms based on how many rooms are available. Try booking your hotel room within 24 hours of your stay. This will get you the best hotel rates. A room that’s empty loses money for the hotel; so, they usually cut the price.
It is not a good idea to place the “maid service needed” sign on your door at a hotel. This is a dead giveaway that you are not in the room. It can attract people who want to steal your valuables. It is better to notify the desk when you need maid service than to leave out the sign.
If you are looking for deals on a hotel room, you may have to go straight to the source yourself. Many hotels do not post ads all over the Internet offering discounts. You usually have to find them yourself. Simply call potential hotels and ask them if they have any promotions or discounts.
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!
To avoid spending $2 or $3 each time you want a soda at a hotel, throw a six- or twelve-pack into the car when you head out on the road. For almost as much money as that one soda, you can have a dozen of them chilling on ice in the room, or in the mini-fridge.
To check a bed in a hotel room for a bedbug infestation, look for certain things. You want to check the mattress and even behind the headboard for these signs. These include blood stains or small black dots that appear to be like mold or even ground pepper. Alert hotel staff the instant you find anything suspicious.
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.
If you just make a reservation at the first hotel that you find, you could end up having to stay in a real dump. Don’t ruin your vacation by staying in a cut-rate, run-down hotel. Instead, take some time to find a great hotel by making good use of these tips.