Trying to choose the right hotels, especially in unfamiliar territory, can seem like a daunting task at times. Perhaps you would like some helpful advice that can put you in the right direction. It doesn’t have to be difficult when you know what to look for in a good hotel that will treat you right.
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 belong to any organizations, find out if they get any discount from certain hotel chains. Some offer big discounts on hotel rooms. Discounts of 10% or more are often available, and people sometimes forget that they are eligible to claim them. This can lead to a great amount of money saved, especially for those spending multiple nights at the hotel. This can mean a lot of savings over a full week stay.
To help your family get into the hotel as comfortably as possible when you are pulling in for a late-night checkin, pull the car under the porte cochere, and leave the engine running while you go inside to check in. Even if you don’t get lucky enough to get to have a room close to the front and have to drive to another entrance, this minimizes the traipsing that they have to do.
Utilize the Internet when searching for a hotel. There are a lot of websites that have great deals and other useful tools to help you comparison shop to find the right hotel at the right price. Hotel search websites also let you see the regular rates of hotels, so you can compare and see whether a supposed deal is really a good one. These travel sites also list activities available in your area.
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.
Always check for online deals prior to booking your hotel room. Lots of times, when you book a room, they don’t tell you about online discounts. It is your responsibility to find any available discounts. There are many travel websites that offer discounts.
Check your room when you arrive. Is the room mildew-free and otherwise clean? Do the plumbing fixtures function properly? Do you have enough towels and linens? Any problems that you notice should be reported to front desk staff right away. That way, they can be rectified or you can change rooms.
In order to get the best prices for hotel stays, you will want to plan your trip several weeks or months beforehand. A lot of hotel locations offer discounts for reservations a month or more in advance. With elite brands, this can translate into savings of up to 50 percent.
If you’re training for a marathon and have a weeklong business trip planned, there’s no reason to let your running slip. Look online for local running groups in the city where you are going to stay, and join them for their social runs. If there aren’t many groups, look for local running stores, as they also offer social jogs.
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.
The cost of your hotel will vary depending on when you make your reservation. Hotels price rooms based on availability. Whenever you can, don’t book your hotel room until the last 24 hours. This can net you a great deal. If the hotel never rents the room they’ll get zero dollars for it, so most of the time they will give you a steep discount on it.
Become a AAA member if you want to make arranging hotel accommodations a bit simpler. AAA offers their members good discounts on hotels, car rental and other aspects of travel. People that have young kids will get a car seat for free in a lot of different places.
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.
Planning your travels is not always so simple, and this includes lodging, meals, attractions and more. In order to find yourself staying a hotel suitable to your needs, be sure you’re following the advice that has been given. A hotel should be a place of relaxation and comfort not a hassle.