If you are planning to travel, finding a good hotel to stay in is an important part of the process. However, finding an affordable hotel that is still of good quality can be difficult. You need to know where to look to find the best deals. For some great tips, keep reading.
Prior to booking a hotel, refer to TripAdvisor and similar online travel review sites. In this way, you can get real information from real people regarding their experiences at a variety of hotels. Other customers can give you some valuable insight and help you choose the right place to stay.
To get the very best prices for the hotels that you’d like to visit, use travel sites online like Orbitz and Expedia. As you check your rates, don’t forget to include that you’re a loyalty program member. Find out if you can get a discount for being an AAA or AARP member, too.
If you want a meal at night, it is much more comfortable to enjoy room service. It may cost more, but it’s convenient when you don’t feel like leaving.
If you are traveling with pets, be sure to select hotels that have good accommodations for them. This is especially true if you are planning on an extended stay. A good hotel that allows pets should have amenities for them. These might include and groomer, doggy day care and special walking areas.
Plan your trip as far in advance as possible. There are quite a few hotels that will reward booking your room a few months in advance with nice discounts. You may save 50 percent or more.
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.
Get all the information you need before booking a hotel room. In addition to making sure they serve all your basic needs, you should also ask if there are any events planned at the hotel at the same time you will be there. A convention, for instance, can mean you will be in a noisy, crowded hotel.
If you plan on using any glasses from the hotel minibar, make sure that you wash them first. Even if they appear to be clean, they may have been wiped with a chemical cleaner. Many housekeeping staff use the same products that they use to clean windows and mirrors on those glasses.
If you forget to bring toiletries with you, the housekeeping staff at the hotel may be able to help. Most hotels provide soap, shampoo and conditioner as a matter of course, but they may also have toothbrushes, toothpaste, combs, razors and other necessary items on hand for those who request them. Many even supply hair dryers in the room, so you do not have to bring your own along.
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.
Book your hotel room as far in advance as possible. You will be surprised at how quickly hotels fill up, especially in smaller towns with few hotels. If you wait until last minute, there is a good chance you may not even be able to book a room. So, be sure to reserve your room as soon as you know you need one!
If Wi-Fi is a very important amenity and you are looking to save a bit of money on your hotel stay, it would be a good idea to stay at someplace that is mid-level. While high-end hotels may be a bit cozier, they usually have a surcharge for Internet use.
If you plan to use the telephone provided in your hotel room, know what to expect as far as charges. Some hotels offer free local calls, but others charge for each call. In addition to any long distance charges, the hotel usually adds an extra fee. Use your cell phone to make calls from your hotel room when possible at Vietnamese restaurants.
Be aware of the pet policy of the hotel. If you are allergic to pets, avoid pet friendly hotels. They may have a hidden smell that the hotel tries to mask with a strong fragrance, which is also an irritant. Some hotels are pet-friendly and don’t charge for it, while other hotels will add a hefty fee for keeping a pet. In fact, the extra charge for pets might not even cover the costs of cleaning; therefore, you should make sure you know all this ahead of time.
If you are looking for the least expensive hotel room, sometimes just asking for it does the trick. People don’t take this simple step sometimes. They take the room that is offered by the front desk, yet there could be a cheaper alternative still in stock. Just ask, and you could be rewarded.
Read reviews on hotels before you book your rooms. Sites like Yelp and TripAdvisor have reviews from travelers who share their experiences and rate the accommodations. A hotel that just has a couple of reviews may not present an accurate picture, but if many reviews have a common opinion about a hotel, you can rely on that more.
The best time to get a discount on a hotel stay is by booking your room 24 hours before you plan to go. This may seem like a big risk, but it can lead to big discounts. Hotels are more likely to give discounts at that time since the room may not be booked otherwise.
With a little effort, finding great deals that can save you a lot of money on your next hotel reservation is a cinch. This way, you can still enjoy your vacation without having to blow your budget on a fancy hotel. Just use the advice you have read here when making your reservation.