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Booking a hotel room can be overwhelming if you do not know what you are doing. Some preliminary research can really help. Set your budget, list what accommodations you want and begin planning. Remember the following advice as you conduct your search.
Prior to choosing and reserving a hotel room, check review sites online like TripAdvisor or Expedia. These sites will allow you to see previous guests’ experiences at the hotels you are considering. These reviews can aid you in your decision about whether to book the hotel.
Online travel sites like Orbitz and Expedia can help you find the lowest rates on hotel rooms. When making hotel reservations, be sure to include information regarding hotel loyalty programs in which you may hold membership. Also, you might be able to get some discounts offered by organizations that you might be a part of like AAA or AARP.
Room service can make your stay more enjoyable. While you’re likely to pay a little more, it’s worth having the convenience of staying in your room (and in your pajamas) while you wait to satisfy those nocturnal cravings.
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. Place all electronics there along with important documents, such as your passport or plane tickets.
Take advantage of online hotel searching tools. You will typically find websites that provide deals on certain hotel chains. You can see the average price of the rooms, and you can check to see how those rates stack up to the rates you’re being offered now. Finally, you can also use these to help you learn what there is to do when you get to your destination.
Search for hotel deals online. Often, the reservations clerk will not advise you that a better deal is available online. This is why you should always do your research well online to find these hidden discounts. Websites like Orbitz, Travelocity and Hotels.com usually have some great discounts.
When you arrive at your hotel, thoroughly check your room previous to unpacking. Is it clean? Are all bathroom fixtures in proper working order? Does your room feature the linens and towels you require? If there are any obvious problems, report them to the front desk immediately so that they can be taken care of or you can be moved to a different room.
Never make the assumption that all hotels allows pets in your room. Always call to ask, even if it says pet-friendly online. Ask what pet-friendly means at the establishment. There may be some restrictions.
If you want to keep up your running regimen on the road, make sure that your packing list includes lots of running clothes and a GPS watch. You can still enjoy your early morning jog while on vacation if you have your gear and the right room booked. Even if you are running down roads or down city streets, you’ll get a new perspective on the city you’re visiting before you’re done.
Timing matters when booking a hotel room. Availability sets pricing. Whenever you can, don’t book your hotel room until the last 24 hours. In this way, you will get good rates. 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.
Try to avoid long distance calling in hotel rooms. Try using the Internet, instead. Many hotels will give you complimentary Skype connections on their Wi-Fi. You can stay connected with friends, family and business colleagues this way, rather than making expensive long distance calls.
Call ahead to your hotels to make certain the swimming pools are ready for your kids. There is nothing worse than having to tell your excited kids they cannot swim.
It is usually not possible to check into your hotel early. Unless you’re okay with waiting for your room to be ready, plan your timing wisely. The hotel must clean each room prior to the next visitor taking it. You can request an early check-in ahead of time, but it may cost more.
If it all possible, never check out before your scheduled departure date. The hotel could impose a fee if you check out early. When a hotel room is something you book, they are taking it away from other people and will lose some money if you leave early. So make sure that you know the hotel’s policy on checking out a day or two early – it might cost you.
Beware of an establishment that attempts to “walk you.” If your hotel overbooks, your room may not be available when you get there. This means that you’re going to have to go somewhere else. Try not to let this happen to you, but if it is unavoidable, be sure that that you are getting a room that is at least as good as the one that you paid for.
Don’t take linens from your room! If housekeeping notices that you’ve taken towels or linens, you may be billed for those items. Ask if you can buy the linens from the hotel if you like them a lot.
Try to get a hotel upgrade without spending any money. You can do this by checking in exactly at your expected arrival time. Often your room has not yet been cleaned, so they might give you a room upgrade at no extra charge.
There’s plenty of different sources for bargain hotel rooms, as you’ve read above. So keep the advice from above in mind and start planning your next trip. You will be staying at comfortable hotel at a great price.