Looking for the right hotel can sometimes be a fine line between quality and costs. No one wants to over pay for a hotel, but a hotel isn’t a bargain if the quality is poor and you are uncomfortable. The tips found below are here to help you save money and get a room that makes you quite comfortable.
When checking for good prices at hotels, refer to online travel sites like Orbitz and Expedia. If you have a hotel loyalty program your a part of, be sure you enter this information while looking through rates. If you have a membership in any other organization, put that down as well.
Prior to beginning a hotel search, try thinking about what accommodations you want and can afford. Figure out if the hotel’s location is more important than its price or if you limited to hotels under a certain price range. Also consider whether you need one that has items like spas and fitness centers or just a beautiful view.
To make sure that you don’t have an allergic reaction to the soaps and shampoos that you find in hotel rooms, bring your own, particularly if you have sensitive skin. While it’s nice to find the freebies, the rash that sometimes results is quite unpleasant. Take along your own things to keep things clean.
When you are staying at a hotel, it is a good idea to leave a small tip for the housekeeping staff. It is best to tip daily instead of waiting until the entire trip has come to an end since there is a chance that the same person will not be assisting you every day.
To keep from paying through the nose for dry cleaning services from a hotel, ask what the costs are before you send your clothing out. If you need cleaning done, it’s often cheaper to walk down the street to a nearby dry cleaner. People who are in town on business often benefit greatly from these savings.
Do you travel on a periodic basis and use the same hotel chain? If so, check out the loyalty programs provided by that hotel. Loyalty programs provide frequent guests benefits for booking with them on a regular basis. These loyalty programs allow you to earn free upgrades, late check outs and even free stays.
It is often helpful to choose a hotel that includes a free breakfast. While many of the breakfasts are not elaborate, they offer you a way to start your day off right without having to search for a place to eat. Many hotels offer a continental breakfast that includes, coffee, tea and pastries while others offer cereal, eggs, pancakes, waffles and other breakfast foods.
Avoid using the phone in the hotel to make any calls. If you do not have a mobile phone, it would be a good idea to purchase a prepaid phone to make calls during your stay. The only exception should be if free local calls are included in the room rate.
Before you make your hotel reservation, check to see if any fees will be added to your bill. Many hotels charge extra for parking, Wi-Fi and even room cleaning. These charges can make your stay more costly than you anticipated, so be sure to ask about them before you make your decision.
You can get a great room and spend too much, or you can save a lot and get a room that frankly scares you. But in between those choices is a wide variety of rooms that have the best of both worlds. So use the guidelines above to help you get the amenities you want at a price you can easily afford.
