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Staying in a hotel can be fun, right? You can swim in the pool, try out all the free toiletries, order room service -- and someone else will even make your bed in the morning. A weekend getaway can be very relaxing. But there are things about hotel life that can sometimes make your stay less enjoyable, like high prices or rooms that aren't exactly spic and span. Being aware of these 10 things -- which hotels would almost certainly prefer to keep under their hats -- can save you money, help you avoid unpleasant surprises and give you have the best hotel stay possible. The advent of the Internet has meant great things for travelers looking to save a bit of money on hotels. At the very least, it's easier to compare the rates on different dates, or see which days of the week are generally less expensive. If your travel plans are flexible, check out the "deals" section of the Web site -- you can often get higher savings by combining airfare, hotel accommodation and other amenities.
Instead, do a little research about their published rates, and then call the hotel front desk directly. Ask what specials the branch has right now, and whether it honors discounts like AARP or AAA. The clerk will be able to tell how many reservations the hotel has for that particular block of time, and if it's not very full, the branch probably will be to give you a better rate to ensure a reservation. If you're a member of that hotel's rewards club, be sure to mention that -- if you aren't, ask about signing up to see if that lowers the price even more. Take advantage of the free amenities, like continental breakfast, and see if there are any deals to be had on the rest. For example, if you notice that the parking lot is full, ask the staff if they'll give you a discount on the daily rate.
Some hotels charge a "daily amenities fee" that covers a wide variety of services, like access to Wi-Fi, complimentary cocktails, printing and newspaper delivery. If your hotel charges a fee like this, be sure to ask for a list of the included amenities when you check in. That way, you can be sure to take full advantage of what you've already paid for. You don't have to make your bed, vacuum or clean the bathroom -- someone else does everything for you. But as tidy as it might look, is it really clean? It's important to remember that hundreds of people pass through an average hotel room over the course of a year, and that it's practically impossible to erase all evidence of a room's prior occupants. On the whole, that's nothing to worry about. But there are a few places in your hotel room that merit a bit more caution. Drinking glasses, for example -- you might not want to trust that they've been properly cleaned.
Fox News reported in 2007 that a hidden camera investigation of several Atlanta hotels revealed that glasses often go unwashed, or else treated with potentially harmful substances. Hotel housekeepers have some of the most underappreciated jobs in the hospitality business. They are also among the lowest paid, according to a Market Watch report. So, leaving a tip for the person cleaning your room is a nice way to supplement his or her income. Most housekeepers probably won't give you exceptionally poor service just because you don't leave a tip, but you might get exceptionally good service if you do. Depending on how expensive the hotel is, and how messy you're leaving the room, anywhere from $2 to $5 is appropriate. Remember to leave a tip every day, as opposed to just when you're checking out. You might have different housekeepers over the course of your stay, and you want to tip all of them equally.
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