The worst part about a trip can be the place you stay at. If you have had no luck in the past finding a good hotel, or if you are just looking for solid ideas on where to stay, then you’re in luck! The following article is for anyone interested in knowing how to find that perfect hotel for you. Keep reading for solid tips about hotels.
To minimize your travel expenses when you are staying near a resort area like Walt Disney World, choose a hotel that offers a complimentary shuttle to nearby attractions. In this sort of area, you shouldn’t need to rent a car. Instead, use a cab to get to your hotel and then use the shuttle to enjoy the fun.
To save a little bit of money on the cost of your hotel room, whether you are booking over the phone or online, see if there is a discount for paying at the time of booking rather than waiting to pay at checkout. Often this can make the difference between queen and king beds, or between a room and a suite.
When traveling with children, be sure the hotels you choose offer features the kids will enjoy. A playground on site is very helpful. A pool with plenty of shallow area and/or a kiddie pool will provide great play time. Also check to see if the hotel you are interested in offers a child care service.
If you are interested in “going green” when traveling, try going to a “green” hotel. Start by looking for these hotels online. There are several organizations that let you search for these hotels easily like Green Hotels Association and Green Globe. They will have a comprehensive list of green hotels in different locations.
Find out what perks are offered on hotel club floors before deciding the extra premium isn’t worth the cost. At some hotels, staying on a club floor can mean benefits like free food and even full meals. Factor up the potential expenses of paying for those on their own, and you might see that an upgrade can actually save you money.
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.
To keep your incidentals at a minimum, especially when you are staying at a hotel outside the US, ask about the cost of wireless Internet before you check in, and especially before you log in the first time. Some hotels don’t disclose the costly per-minute costs of Internet access, but they will certainly show up on the bill.
Avoid making long distance calls from the hotel room phone. Make use of the Internet, instead. Skype connections that are accessed through Wi-Fi are offered by many hotels. You will be able to stay in touch with family and friends while you are away without the additional expense of costly phone calls.
Be sure you know what the hotel smoking policy is if you smoke cigarettes. Some have smoking rooms. If the hotel has one, ask for this kind of room. If you smoke in one of the hotel’s non-smoking room, you can be charged hefty fees.
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.
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.
When seeking reservations, don’t forget to ask for a crib or cot if you need one. Some hotels do not offer cribs or rollaways; while others have a limited number of them. They may charge extra for this. Talk about what you need when booking your room so you are not unpleasantly surprised.
To get the most out of a hotel room on a business trip, look online at the various choices to see which places offer a free happy hour. At the end of a long day of meetings, having a free margarita or beer at your hotel before getting ready for dinner can be quite pleasant.
Before you think you got the best price deal on that hotel, look into whether there are resort fees that you’ll be charged. These fees can be up to $25 or more a night. Over a week, that’s a lot of cash that you weren’t expecting to pay. Be sure you know what to expect.
As you can see from the above article, choosing hotels can be complicated especially when you are unfamiliar with what they have to offer. Don’t get caught staying at a bad hotel, use the advice given here to help make your next hotel stay a good one. Keep these tips in mind when you go looking for a place to make reservations.