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.
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.
Use sensible safety and security precautions when you stay at a hotel. Find out where all the fire exits are in case of an emergency. Also, note where the nearby fire extinguishers are located. If you have any valuables, keep them in the safe at the desk or in the room.
When searching for a hotel, consider “bundle” packages. For example, if you have to fly to your location, look for a bundle that includes both your hotel room and your airfare. You should save quite a bit of money that way, but make sure to always double-check the regular room rate to ensure you are getting a good deal.
If you know that you will need to make phone calls from your hotel room, check to make sure you will have free Wi-Fi service. Rather than using the in-room phone, and getting charged an arm and a leg, use an Internet phone service that is free. For example, both Skype and Line are possibilities.
If you run regularly, continue your routine when traveling by bringing running clothes and your GPS. Get up early and dress for a jog in the early morning. 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.
If you are planning to stay in a hotel for an entire week or longer, ask the hotel about long term price discounts. Hotels will often have weekly and monthly rates which are unpublished. These can offer significant price breaks for your hotel stay. Be sure to mention it upfront.
If you don’t have your heart set on a certain hotel, try using a website like Hotels.com. These types of sites let you put in bids and then return a list of hotels in your price range. The only drawback is that they may not reveal which hotel you have booked until after you have committed to staying there.
Consider joining a membership program if you travel often. Each hotel stay can accrue points towards vacation perks.
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.
To avoid spending $2 or $3 each time you want a soda at a hotel, throw a six- or twelve-pack into the car when you head out on the road. For almost as much money as that one soda, you can have a dozen of them chilling on ice in the room, or in the mini-fridge.
To keep sand out of your hotel room when you are staying at the beach, make sure that you and the kids stop at the hose or faucet at the entrance of your hotel on the beach. If there isn’t one at your hotel, find one nearby, and then either dry your feet off and slide them into your shoes, or walk barefoot back to your hotel.
If you are particular about cleanliness, you probably shouldn’t use the hotel bedspread. The bedspread is one item that does not usually get washed between bookings. That means it could harbor contaminants you don’t want to be in contact with. Remove it from the bed before you use it.
Rely on ratings and reviews more than overall stars. Star ratings can be very deceiving these days. It’s better to rely on what honest people have to say about the hotel. Ratings and even more importantly reviews offer that. Dig through them before deciding on which hotel to stay at.
To ensure that you get the very best out of your hotel stay, check the online reviews, not just for the brand but for your particular location. Within a brand, there can be significant variances in terms lf quality. Make sure that your stay is as satisfying as possible by researching your room.
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.