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Getting The Most From Your Hotel Stay - Some Tips For Travelers

Your hotel choice can be the very thing that determines whether your trip is enjoyable or whether is is a horribly overpriced mistake. If you want to keep from making an expensive, regrettable choice, then keep reading. Below you will find everything you need to know about finding a great hotel at a price that is right for you.

Room service is one of the best parts about a hotel. How else could you possibly enjoy a midnight snack without leaving your bed? This service comes at a premium, but you can stay comfortable in your room while enjoying you eats.

To ensure that you get the best service from the custodial staff at a hotel, leave a few dollars each morning for each bed that you use. This nominal cost will help you get rooms that receive the little extras, such as a towel or two more, or even an extra pillow.

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.

If you are a member of a frequent flyer program or travel a lot, try joining a hotel loyalty program. You can earn points and use them toward your upcoming stays. You can also gain airline miles if the hotel is a partner of a frequent flier program. Check the airline or hotel website to see what you're qualified for.

If you've left amenities at home, ask the front desk. Often you won't need to go out to buy things like toothpaste and toothbrushes. The front desk typically has the staples available to customers at no cost whatsoever. Sure it's only a few dollars saved, but every dollar counts.

When booking your room, get exactly what you want. If you want a good view, make sure you get one. If you want to be away from the pool area, make sure you get that as well. Look at a layout of the hotel before calling or booking so you have a good idea of what to expect.

The timing for your booking of a hotel room has much to do with what you pay. Rooms are often priced in accordance with availability. Try to book a specific room at least 24 hours ahead of time, but it's even better if you book weeks ahead of schedule. This will allow you to get a great price on a hotel room. Empty rooms don't earn the hotel money, so they're happy to cut the price and reserve a room.

Check out priceline.com and other online hotel discount vendors to help you find the best deals out there. These websites can really bring hotel costs down to rock bottom prices. Even upper scale hotels can be found for more affordable prices. There's no reason you should be paying full rate.

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.

To save money on a trip when you are traveling with a large family, choose a hotel that offers a free breakfast. Even if it's just continental fare, you're saving a significant amount of money by cutting out having to pay for that one meal each day on the road.

Be aware of the pet policy of the hotel. If you're scared of pets or are allergic, you might want to stay away from pet-friendly hotels. These hotels sometimes have odors because the carpet and linens have absorbed them. Some hotels charge extra fees for pets, but some do not charge much. If the hotel allows animals in any room, then you may want to book elsewhere if you have allergies.

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.

Here is a simple tip to help you make sure you don't leave any valuables behind in your hotel room. After checking the bathroom, drawers and closets thoroughly, take all the bed linens off the bed including sheets, blankets and pillows. Refold the linens carefully checking the bed and surrounding floor area to find any items that may have fallen out of your suitcase or pockets during your stay.

Remember, that early check-ins are a rarity in most hotels. If you are going to arrive early, plan on doing something to fill your time. Usually, hotels have your room cleaned prior to check-in time. Having said that, don't hesitate to ask the front desk about checking in if you do arrive early; however, you shouldn't expect to be able to do this. The best thing you can do is arrive on time.

To check a bed in a hotel room for a bedbug infestation, look for certain things. You want to check the mattress and even behind the headboard for these signs. These include blood stains or small black dots that appear to be like mold or even ground pepper. Alert hotel staff the instant you find anything suspicious.

Check with the hotel to make sure the pools are ready to go if you are traveling with children. Nothing is more frustrating than to have kids nagging you about swimming, only to find that the pool is closed.

When booking hotel rooms on a discount site, keep in mind that you will not be given any of the best rooms at the hotel. Since many discount site users are not likely to visit again unless a similar deal is presented, the better rooms are saved for guests who are paying full price.

Planning a trip should be a pleasure and your stay should even more pleasurable. So finding the best room at the right price is essential to your enjoyment. By using the hints from above, you will be able to find a comfortable and enjoyable hotel at a price that is right for you.