david2 
Your vacation may be enhanced or ruined by your accommodations. A place that is very pricy can drain your finances and leave you with very little money to enjoy other things in the area. Read on to learn about finding a great hotel for a good price.
Do some research on travel websites before you book any hotel. These sites will allow you to see previous guests’ experiences at the hotels you are considering. Patron reviews can give you valuable information that will help you make a good choice.
Check out online travel websites in order to discover the best deals on hotels. Examples include Orbitz and Expedia. If you’re a member of a loyalty program of a hotel, make sure you input that data when checking out rates. You might also have other discounts from a membership in the AARP or AAA.
If you have a safe in your closet, then you should use it to keep your valuables safe while you are outside of the room. You can put your iPad, GPS watch, and other small, costly items into the safe, and then head out for the day with peace of mind about their security.
Make sure you check with any organizations of which you are a member. Some organizations offer discounts on hotels to their members. Many people don’t remember these discounts, which can save them 10% or more. They can save you plenty of money, especially for prolonged stays. For a week of vacation time that adds up to an extra day!
Make use of online tools to find a hotel. These websites can help you get great deals quickly. They also let you see what full price is, so you know you are saving money. They can also give you information on nearby attractions, too.
Don’t assume your hotel is pet-friendly. Put a call into the front desk just to be sure, no matter what it says on their website. Also ask exactly what they mean by pet-friendly, as there might be restrictions on certain breeds and sizes of pet that they allow on their premises.
Hotel Reservation
If you plan on taking a family pet with you to a hotel reservation, do three things in advance. Find out if the hotel will allow pets first. Pack a supply of plastic grocery bags with you – you will need to clean up any pet waste. When you go to make the hotel reservation, see if there is room on the end that would prevent the other guests from hearing a noisy pet.
If you belong to AAA, see what kinds of discounts the hotel offers. It may surprise you that AAA gives hotel discounts, but most of them do. You can save up to an additional five percent at certain hotels throughout the country. These savings quickly add up, especially if you are staying for multiple nights in a row.
If you run regularly, continue your routine when traveling by bringing running clothes and your GPS. Head out early in the morning after donning your running gear. Running down city streets or country roads can give you a fresh view of the place you are visiting.
If you travel often, consider signing up for a loyalty program with your favorite hotel chain. Loyalty programs provide frequent guests benefits for booking with them on a regular basis. You can often earn free upgrades, free stays, and complimentary late check out with enough points accrued.
Sign up for frequent guest programs at hotels. Many hotels offer membership programs that allow you to earn points for each of your stays. In time you may even get to stay there for free!
Green Hotels
People who care about the environment may be more comfortable staying in a hotel that is eco-friendly. Fortunately, there are many green hotels to choose from today. Many new hotels are constructed to meet green standards, earning green certification. Old hotels will change their practices to be more green. Talk to your travel agent in order to find the best green hotels for your needs.
The time you book the room will change how much you’ll pay. Hotels price rooms in part based on availability. If at all possible, do not book your room more than one day in advance. In this way, you will get good rates. Empty rooms don’t earn the hotel money, so they’re happy to cut the price and reserve a room.
Is your room non-smoking or not? If you are not a smoker, you might want to avoid hotels with smoking rooms. While it is possible to book a nonsmoking room, you can still be affected by the smoke from other areas. There are times when smokers end up staying in non-smoking rooms, and smoking in them. By choosing a hotel that does not allow smoking, you can completely avoid the smell of cigarettes.
If you smoke, learn the smoking policy of the hotel where you are staying. Some have smoking rooms. If so, you should avail yourself of this option. Certain hotels will charge you a steep fee if you get caught smoking in a room that is non-smoking. Be sure to follow the rules of the hotel.
You should always be aware whether or not the hotel allows pets. If you’re scared of pets or have allergies, you may not want to stay in a pet friendly hotel. Hotels that allow pets typically have rooms that have a pet odor in them. You may get charged extra for having a pet, but a lot of places don’t charge all that much. 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.
As already discussed, staying in an expensive hotel takes away from money you could spend on other things. Use the advice and ideas from this article so that you find the right hotel for your budget and your needs. Use these tips whenever you plan to stay in a hotel.