7. Finding and Booking Accommodations
In this chapter, you’ll discover how to use the various websites and mobile apps to find and book accommodations almost anywhere in the world. You’ll learn
How to determine your accommodation wants and needs
Where to find and book accommodations using a travel service’s website or mobile app
Strategies for saving money on accommodations when you travel
Pitfalls to avoid when booking accommodations online
You have more options than ever before when it comes to choosing accommodations. In most places, you’re no longer limited to staying at a traditional hotel or motel. Some of your other options include
• Airbnb (or a similar option) rentals
• Bed & breakfasts (B&Bs) or inns
• Boutique or independently owned hotels
• Timeshare properties (even if you’re not a timeshare owner)
• Vacation home rentals
Regardless of which option you choose, you can use your Internet-enabled computer, smartphone, or tablet to quickly find the perfect accommodations. However, based on your decision, you’ll want to use the appropriate tools to ensure you’re able to find what you need at a price you can afford.
Many services, including AAA Travel (www.aaa.com), AARP Travel (travel.aarp.org), Expedia, Kayak, Orbitz, Priceline, and Travelocity, let you compare rates across many hotel and motel chains. These tools enable you to see what traditional accommodation options are available during the dates of your travel and compare their offerings based on things like quality, price, location, and amenities. You can also use specialty online travel services such as Booking.com, GetARoom.com, Hotels.com, and Trivago.
Airbnb
For a change from a traditional hotel, motel, or B&B, try Airbnb, which includes properties throughout the world. Refer to Chapter 3, “Getting to Know Some Popular Travel Tools,” for more information about this service.
Define Your Accommodation Wants, Needs, and Budget
After you decide where you’re going, you need to decide where you’ll stay. For most people, the default option is to find a traditional hotel and book a basic room. However, if you’re willing to put in some time to research options, you can book much more unique, comfortable, and memorable accommodations to fit your budget.
Considering the Extra Fees
When you’re shopping around to find and book accommodations and comparing rates among options, you’ll probably notice the low prices. These rates you find online and in apps are often up to 60 percent off the rates published by the actual hotels or motels. To be able to offer these low prices and appear competitive, many hotels, motels, and other types of accommodations offer a lower nightly rate but charge a mandatory fee—sometimes called a resort, per-guest, or per-night fee—that is not part of the displayed rate.
Regardless of which service you use, determine whether one or both of these extra fees will be added to your bill. Then, take into account the state and local taxes that will be applied to your final bill. Depending on how you make your reservation, you might also be charged a booking fee.
The following are some other charges you may incur:
• Cleaning fee (for example, if you smoke in a nonsmoking room or bring a pet to the hotel)
• Extra cot fee
• Late-checkout fee
• Parking fees
• Pay-per-view/on-demand movie fees
• Telephone local and long-distance charges
• Room service dining fees
• Reservation change or cancellation fees
• Wi-Fi Internet charges
Understanding Payment Terms
With some travel services, the compromise for receiving a deeply discounted rate is that prepayment in full is sometimes required when you book your accommodations, and your reservation can’t be changed or refunded. Resort fees, per-guest fees, and other charges might be added to your bill later; you pay for these charges upon checkout.
Before booking accommodations, make sure you understand and agree to the policies related to changing or cancelling your reservation, and understand that regardless of how you prepay for the reservation, you typically need a major credit card (in your name) to check in to the hotel.
Most hotel chains have their own credit card that allows you to earn points toward free accommodations for every dollar you spend using that card, whether for everyday or travel-related purposes. Using one of these cards to make hotel reservations also often entitles you to special perks, a room upgrade, or some type of discount. So, if you enjoy staying at hotels or motels operated by a specific chain, such as Hilton, Marriott, or Sheraton, consider applying for that hotel chain’s credit card.
Understanding the Accommodation Ratings
Accommodations are often rated using a star-based system of between one and five stars. However, not all hotels, motels, and travel-related services rely on the same system. Thus, if you look up a hotel on one service, it might be referred to as a three-star hotel, but on another service that same hotel could be referred to as a four-star hotel. Make sure you know whose rating system is being used, and understand the rating system’s guidelines for what constitutes a three-, four-, or five-star hotel.
In general, unless you’re looking for ultra-low-cost, no-frills accommodations, avoid staying anywhere that’s earned only one or two stars, regardless of which rating system is being used.
The AAA Rating System
For more than 80 years, AAA has been using professionally trained inspectors to review hotels, motels, and B&Bs throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean and then award each inspected property a diamond-based rating. Every year, more than 28,000 hotels, motels, and B&Bs are rated, and fewer than 0.4 percent receive the much-coveted five-diamond rating.
You can view these ratings using the AAA Mobile app for smartphones and tablets, or using the TripTik Travel Planner website (http://ttp.aaa.com/TripTik). The ratings also appear in all of AAA’s printed and online travel guides. For a current list of all AAA four- and five-diamond rated hotels, visit www.aaa.com/Diamonds.
Using the Reviews
Although you can rely solely on star- or diamond-based ratings for a location, another tool available to travelers are customer reviews. Many travel services publish ratings and reviews from travelers, and several services, like TripAdvisor.com, focus on providing extensive traveler reviews.
By investing a few minutes to read a handful of reviews for a hotel, motel, or B&B before making your reservation, you can learn about the experiences past travelers have had and get a good idea about whether the hotel offers a clean, safe, comfortable, accessible, and friendly environment that’s worth the nightly fee.
Selecting the Right Location
One of the more important decisions you need to make related to accommodations is about the location and accessibility to transportation. After all, you want to be close to your intended destination(s)—not several miles or more away from it.
Especially when you’re using an online travel site that saves you 30 to 60 percent on accommodations but has a no-changes-or-cancellations policy, make sure the location works for you prior to booking.
Choosing Amenities
The list of popular amenities offered at hotels, motels, inns, and B&Bs is often extensive, but some amenities are more useful than others. Determine in advance which amenities are the most important to you, and seek out accommodations that offer them. When you’re shopping for accommodations, check the detailed listings for properties to find a summary of offered amenities.
For no additional fee, most accommodations offer handicap-accessible rooms as well as rooms with bathrooms that are wheelchair accessible. It’s often possible to contact a hotel (after making a reservation) to request a room on a low or high floor. In some locations, you can also request smoking or nonsmoking rooms or special rooms for people with allergies or chemical sensitivity.
The following are some other amenities that might be available, free or for an additional fee:
• In-room Wi-Fi
• A flat-screen television with cable programming
• A gym/workout facility
• Premium bed linens and towels
• An in-room mini bar
• Iron and ironing board
• Free on-site parking
• Continental breakfast
• A bathroom that includes a bathtub or whirlpool (instead of a walk-in shower)
Four- and five-star hotels tend to offer higher-end amenities, such as complimentary bathrobes. A three-star hotel typically offers basic soap and shampoo in the bathroom, whereas a four- or five-star hotel will upgrade these amenities to luxury name brand products.
The Resort Fee Covers Additional Amenities
Even though you might not be staying at a full-service resort, many hotels and motels now charge a daily resort fee, which is mandatory. This fee typically gives you access to additional amenities at the hotel, such as a daily newspaper delivered to your room, free local calls, free Wi-Fi Internet access, and admission to the hotel’s gym.
Understanding Vacation Home Rentals
Several online travel services allow you to seek out and book hotels, motels, or vacation home rentals. Unlike a hotel or motel, with a vacation home rental you get an entire house, condo, or apartment that is fully furnished and typically is equipped with a full kitchen, multiple bedrooms, multiple bathrooms, laundry facilities, and a separate living room.
An Ideal Accommodation Solution for Families
If you’re traveling with your entire family or your extended family, a vacation home rental is often a more economically viable and comfortable solution than booking one or more traditional hotel or motel rooms.
Not only do vacation homes give you and the people you’re traveling with much more living space and privacy, they also allow families or extended families to stay together while saving money by preparing meals instead of eating out and doing laundry so you pay less in airline baggage fees.
With a vacation home rental, travelers can have their own bedrooms and bathrooms—whereas they have to share bedrooms and bathrooms in a hotel—which gives them more personal space, comfort, and privacy. These things can ultimately make traveling with family members more enjoyable and less stressful.
You can typically rent vacation homes by the week, although some can be rented for a minimum of three to five nights. Depending on the number of people you’re traveling with, a multi-bedroom vacation home will often cost less than booking one or two separate or adjoining hotel rooms.
Vacation rental homes are listed in some of the travel services previously discussed, but there are also online services and mobile apps dedicated only to this type of accommodations, such as the following:
• FlipKey (www.flipkey.com)
• HomeAway (www.homeaway.com)
• Homes for Vacation Rental (www.hometogo.com)
• Tripping.com (www.tripping.com)
• VacationHomeRentals.com (www.vacationhomerentals.com)
• VRBO (www.vrbo.com)
Considering Renting a Timeshare Unit
When you’re planning a trip with your entire family or extended family, another way to save money on accommodations is to book a unit with a timeshare resort. Most timeshares resorts, including those operated by major hotel chains, allow you to book a timeshare unit even if you’re not a timeshare owner. Often, the rates are more competitive than rates for hotel rooms that offer less space and fewer amenities.
Most timeshare resorts require a minimum of a three-, five-, or seven-night stay, but the nightly cost for the timeshare unit is typically equivalent to a three- or four-star hotel in that same area. However, unlike a traditional hotel, a timeshare offers a handful of advantages:
• A typical timeshare unit is located close to popular tourist attractions or vacation destinations. For example, you’ll discover dozens of timeshare resorts within a 10-mile radius of the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida.
• Most timeshare units offer multiple bedrooms and bathrooms to accommodate four, six, or even eight (or more) guests.
• Timeshare units include a full kitchen (or kitchenette), so you can save money by preparing one or two of your meals each day rather than dining out.
• Timeshare properties typically have resort amenities, including a swimming pool, tennis courts, on-property restaurants, and other activities.
• Most timeshare units contain a washer and dryer, so you can conveniently do laundry and ultimately pack less (to save money on airline baggage fees).
• Timeshare units tend to be much more spacious than traditional hotel or motel rooms because they include a separate living room, dining room, and patio or porch.
• If you book a timeshare through a major hotel chain and you’re a member of that hotel chain’s loyalty program, you earn points for your stay, or you can redeem points to stay at the timeshare resort for free.
• Timeshare resorts are often updated and refurbished more often than hotels, so you’re more apt to have more modern or more recently renovated accommodations.
The best way to find and book a timeshare property (if you’re not a timeshare owner) is to call the resort directly or visit the company’s website. The following websites help you find and book units within timeshare resorts throughout the world:
• Disney Vacation Club (www.DisneyVacationClub.disney.go.com)
• Hilton Grand Vacations (www.hiltongrandvaations.com)
• Marriott Vacation Club (www.marriottvacationclub.com)
• RCI (www.rci.com/resort-directory)
• Sheraton Vacation Club (http://sheratonvacationclub.com/timeshare)
• Timeshare Adventures (www.timeshareadventures.com)
• Wyndham Vacation Club (www.wyndhamvacationrentals.com)
Remember, you do not need to be a timeshare owner to stay at a timeshare resort. Also, during your stay, you are not required to participate in a sales pitch to become a timeshare owner. However, if you opt to participate in an optional sales presentation (which typically lasts about one hour), you’ll be awarded with something like an additional discount for your stay, a free meal, or free tickets to a local theater or tourist attraction.
Find and Book a Marriott Vacation Club Timeshare Unit
This example demonstrates how to book a timeshare unit at a Marriott Vacation Club in Orlando, Florida. The steps for booking a timeshare unit are pretty similar on any other service you use.
Using your computer, launch your favorite web browser. Enter www.marriottvacationclub.com in the address field.
Click the MVC Rentals option, and then select Find and Reserve.
Click the pull-down menu to select your desired destination (Country, State, City).
Manual Entry
On some sites, you’re asked to type the location rather than choose a destination from a menu.
Select which property you want to stay at from the Property Name field.
Select your check-in date.
Select your check-out date.
Choose the number of bedrooms required. Your options are typically one, two, or three.
Choose the number of guests per room.
Provide your email address in the Email field. (Not shown.)
Click the Search button to continue. (Not shown.) You see a list of available timeshare units.
Click the Rate Details or Room Details option to view additional information about what’s being offered.
Click the Special Rates option to determine whether you qualify for a discount. For example, from Marriott Vacation Club, people over the age of 62 or AAA members qualify for a 15 percent discount.
If you’re a member of Marriott’s loyalty program, enter your membership number in the Rewards Number field to earn points for your stay.
Click the Select button associated with the listing you want to book. Alternatively, use the Edit Your Search options to select a different timeshare resort property or unit configuration. It’s also possible to modify your Check In or Check Out dates.
Make specific requests and review your reservation details on the Review Reservation Details screen. Be sure to read the reservation cancellation policy that’s displayed on this screen. Click the Continue button to proceed.
Fill in the appropriate fields with your name, address, email address, phone number, rewards program membership number, and credit/debit card payment details.
Click the Book Now button to complete your reservation. You see a confirmation screen and receive a confirmation email almost immediately. (Not shown.)
Considering B&Bs
For a romantic getaway or a quiet retreat for solo travelers or couples, another alternative is a bed & breakfast (B&B). Some services, like Booking.com (www.booking.com/bed-and-breakfast/index.html), allow you to include B&B establishments in your accommodation search or narrow down your search for this type of accommodation.
A typical B&B offers only a handful of guestrooms, and the owner(s) of the establishment serve as your host. Breakfast is included. What’s nice about these accommodations is that each guestroom is often uniquely furnished and decorated, so the experience is very different (more home-like and comfortable) than staying at a chain hotel.
What’s an Inn?
An inn is similar to a B&B, but it offers more guestrooms and may or may not include breakfast.
No Kids Allowed
Some people prefer staying at a B&B because children and pets are often not allowed, so the accommodations tend to be more peaceful.
There are online services and mobile apps that focus exclusively on B&Bs around the world:
• B&B Finder (www.bnbfinder.com)
• Bed and Breakfast Directory (www.napopo.com)
• BedandBreakfast.com (www.bedandbreakfast.com)
• iLoveInns.com (www.iloveinns.com)
• The Bed and Breakfast Directory (www.thebedandbreakfastdirectory.com)
B&B Ratings and Reviews
Unlike hotel and motel chains, B&Bs tend to be independently owned and operated. From the various directories and websites that help you find and book B&Bs, you can typically read ratings and reviews from past guests to help you choose the best place to stay.
Finding and Booking Traditional Hotel or Motel Accommodations
When it comes to finding and booking a traditional hotel or motel room, you can compare rates between many different hotel and motel chains (as well as independently operated hotels and motels, and boutique hotels) using a general travel service or one of the online services that focus exclusively on booking hotel reservations. Another option is to visit the website or use the mobile app for a specific hotel or motel chain, which allows you to find available rooms only with that specific chain. This option typically allows you to qualify for senior, AARP, AAA, corporate, or loyalty program discounts as you make the reservation, plus you can take advantage of online-only promotions or sales from that hotel or motel chain.
Whichever option you choose, it’s a good strategy to create a free account with the website or mobile app and then create a profile that includes your name, address, phone number, loyalty program membership number(s), email address, and credit/debit card information. When this information is entered and stored, booking reservations in the future is much faster and more convenient.
Find and Book Accommodations
The process of finding and booking a hotel room using one of the online travel services that specializes in hotels is similar, regardless of which service you use. There are many online services you can use to shop for and book hotel accommodations, such as GetARoom.com, Hotels.com, Hotwire.com, Orbitz.com, Priceline.com, or Travelocity.com. Here are the steps to find and book a hotel using the Hotels.com online service (via a computer):
From your computer, launch your favorite web browser and enter www.hotels.com in the address field.
Enter your destination information in the Search field. You can include a city; city and state; city, state, and country; a specific address; the name and location of a particular hotel/motel (such as the Ritz-Carlton, New York, New York); or the name of your favorite hotel/motel chain and location information.
Click the Check In field and provide your desired check-in date.
Click the Check Out field and provide your desired check-out date. The number of nights you require accommodations for is automatically calculated.
Choose either Work or Leisure in the Traveling For section. (Not shown.)
Click the pull-down menu displayed below the Rooms heading and choose your desired room configuration.
Click the Show Deals button.
You see a comprehensive listing of available rooms at various hotels/motels that meet your search criteria. Click the hotel name to view more information about that property.
Property Ratings
Hotels.com offers a star-based rating for each listing and sometimes gives an average TripAdvisor rating.
Fine-tune your search by adjusting any of the options listed below the Narrow Results heading. For example, choose to view only hotels with a specific rating or that are within a specific distance from a nearby attraction or landmark.
Scroll down to view additional search filters, such as Accommodations Type, Amenities, Themes/Types, and Accessibility Features. Click any of these options to further narrow your search. As you change sort filter options, the listing of available accommodations updates automatically.
Click the Choose Room button that’s associated with a specific listing to book your reservation.
You see a detailed description of the hotel/motel, including a listing of amenities offered and ratings and reviews of that property. A summary of your quoted nightly rate and overall reservation cost is also displayed.
Scroll down to view specific room configuration options available for the selected hotel. Select the room type you want, and click on the Book button to continue.
Nightly Rates
Which room configuration you choose affects the quoted nightly rate. Room configuration refers to the number and size of the beds in the room. For example, some rooms have one king-sized bed, two queen-sized beds, or two twin beds. Also, remember that the displayed rate does not include the hotel’s daily resort fee, if applicable, or taxes.
Fill in the First and Last Name fields, and then scroll down to enter payment details for the reservation.
Scroll down to enter your billing address. If you want, register for the Hotels.com Rewards program, which allows you to earn one free night of accommodations after booking 10 nights with Hotels.com. (Not shown.)
Review the Reservation Terms and Cancellation Policy, which varies based on which hotel/motel you are booking with.
Click the Book button to finalize your reservation. You receive a confirmation number and a confirmation email for the reservation.
Prepare for Check-In
When you arrive at your hotel, be mindful of the posted check-in time (which is often after 3:00 p.m.). If you’re early, you can request early check-in, although your guestroom might not be available.
Even if a reservation is prepaid, be prepared to present your driver’s license (domestically) or passport (for accommodations abroad), as well as a credit card in your name. It’s a good idea to have your reservation confirmation available, either in printed form or accessible from your mobile device’s screen.
