Whether it is business or pleasure, finding the right hotel room is essential. A bad hotel can put a damper on your whole trip and keep you from enjoying your stay. So take the time to learn how to find a great hotel at a perfect price. here are some tips to get you started.
Check out online travel websites in order to discover the best deals on hotels. Examples include Orbitz and Expedia. Are you a member of a certain hotel’s membership program? If so, make sure you put this information into the travel site. If you have a membership in any other organization, put that down as well.
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.
Look at organizations you’re part of for discounts. Some may offer discounts on hotels. People frequently forget these discounts are available, and they can be 10 percent or more. For extended stays, this can really add up. That can give you close to a completely free night when it adds up.
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.
To avoid having to iron your shirts when you unpack everything in your hotel room, pack your polo and dress shirts more carefully. Use a hanging bag, and stack your dress shirts together. Then, starting with the shirt in back, bring the arms around, stacking the arms and wrapping them around keeps your shirts in place.
To get the best prices on hotel rooms, start your trip planning weeks, or even longer in advance. Many locations offer discounts if you are willing to book more than a month or two ahead of time. Even high end hotels can offer you a substantial savings this way.
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.
It is not a good idea to place the “maid service needed” sign on your door at a hotel. This is a dead giveaway that you are not in the room. It can attract people who want to steal your valuables. It is better to notify the desk when you need maid service than to leave out the sign.
Use Twitter to your advantage. Prior to booking your hotel, tweet the property and see if there are any discounts available. Social media is becoming more popular than ever, and hotels use this medium to get the word out about the specials they have out there. If you aren’t very familiar with tweeting, you can simply use the search function on Twitter.
Avoid making long distance calls from the hotel room phone. Look to the Internet, instead. Many hotels now offer Skype connections via Wi-Fi. This can be a much cheaper option than calling from a hotel room and getting hit with lots of fees.
If you have a little one with you, remember that hotel rooms aren’t usually set up for babies. Don’t forget to pack a few things so that you can baby proof the space. For example, an outlet cover is small but it plays a big role in keeping your child safe.
There are many hidden fees that can substantially increase the cost of your hotel stay. For example, many hotels deliver a newspaper outside of your room and charge you for it. To ensure you are not charged for any unwanted items carefully read the contract before signing for your hotel room.
To avoid the unpleasant surprise of a costly pet deposit when you check into a hotel, ask about pet policies and fees when you book the room. That gives you the flexibility of choosing a hotel that is more pet-friendly and keeps you from having a huge fee that you pay just because it’s too inconvenient to switch hotels at the last minute.
Funding the right hotel can be easy when you know how to do it. Using the hints from above are the perfect way to find the right hotel and a price that makes it even better. So remember the advice from above when looking for a hotel and you can enjoy your stay even more.