You finally have time to take a vacation. You chose a vacation destination. Now, you are faced with the task of finding accomodations. There are so many options in hotels, just how should you go about finding and booking the right one? This article will give you some tips in the process.
To accommodate a small family without having to pay for more than one hotel room, look for a location that offers suites. Often the rates are competitive with single-room rates at other hotels, but the addition of a living area (and a fold-out bed) means that more of you can sleep comfortably.
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.
If you’ve left amenities at home, ask the front desk. Often you won’t need to go out to buy things like toothpaste and toothbrushes. The front desk typically has the staples available to customers at no cost whatsoever. Sure it’s only a few dollars saved, but every dollar counts.
What groups are you a member of? Some of these organizations will offer you discounts on hotel prices. The discounts could be 10% or even higher! This is especially useful if you plan to book a longer stay. It can add up to equal a free night!
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.
If you are out of the room for any length of time, protect the valuables you leave in the room. In addition to leaving expensive items in a safe, leave the television on when you are out of the room. That will make it look like you are still there and thieves will move on.
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.
If you are interested in “going green” when traveling, try going to a “green” hotel. Start by looking for these hotels online. There are several organizations that let you search for these hotels easily like Green Hotels Association and Green Globe. They will have a comprehensive list of green hotels in different locations.
Check out priceline.com and other online hotel discount vendors to help you find the best deals out there. These websites can really bring hotel costs down to rock bottom prices. Even upper scale hotels can be found for more affordable prices. There’s no reason you should be paying full rate.
Think about these three things if you plan to bring a pet with you during your hotel stay. Confirm that pets are allowed in the room you are staying. Be sure to have plenty of plastic bags on hand to make pet cleanup easy. When you make a reservation you should see if you can stay near the back of the hallway to keep other guests away from your pets when they are making noises.
Visit several online travel websites and compare hotel room prices. These online travel websites do not always offer the same price for hotel rooms at a specific location. By choosing two or three different online travel websites, you can assure you are getting the best deal possible. Also, booking close to your travel date will usually net you a better price.
To keep your running regimen up while you are traveling, pack your GPS watch and plenty of running clothes. For an early morning jog, get up and throw your gear on, and then head out the front door. Running down city streets or country roads can give you a fresh view of the place you are visiting.
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.
Finding the right hotel for your dream vacation can be tricky. If you don’t know what you are doing, you can end up overpaying for something that will not meet your expectations. This article provided tips that can help you make the right choice. Keep these in mind next time you have to book a hotel.