Staying in a hotel is one of the most expensive parts about taking a trip. Even if you stay in budget accommodations, costs can really add up when you take long trips. So today we are talking hotel perks! Lots of hotels offer benefits that help you save money on you total trip. Here are 6 Hotel Perks To Look for When Traveling.
These are perks that I think are worth looking for when you are booking a room. If the hotel you are investigating doesn’t offer at least one or two of these perks, skip it and find one that does! Your wallet will thank you.
:: Free Breakfast
Many hotels offer free breakfast. If you are traveling with your family, this can provide a significant savings. I find that extended stay hotels like Residence Inn offer the best breakfasts but you can also find free breakfast at other budget hotels. Eating a big breakfast also means you may not need a substantial lunch. You can get away with having a smaller meal and thus cutting costs on lunch as well. When we stay in a hotel with free breakfast, on our way out we always grab a piece of fruit to eat later in the day.
:: Evening Socials
The new thing in hotel perks is to offer an afternoon reception. This is typically aimed to help guests who are checking in or business travelers returning to their hotel after a day in the office. Residence Inn is one of the best. They just just launched a new Inn The Mix social series that offers free food and drinks to guests in the evenings at more than 700 Residence Inn properties. What sets their event apart from others? They feature local eats! By taking advantage of their program, not only can you skip dinner one night but you can also checkout local flavor. The event I attended here in Austin, Texas featured Louie Mueller BBQ. Yum!
:: Early Access Benefits
Many amusement park hotels offer guests early park access. This is a fabulous opportunity to take advantage of Disney, Universal, LEGO and other themed parks before they get too crowded. We stayed at Loews Portofino Bay last summer and one of their perks was early access AND fast passes to skip the lines. We took advantage of both and it was fabulous! We rode rides again and again with no lines. Then took a break during the hottest, busiest time of day. Hit the hotel pool, took a nap and went back in the evening refreshed. Thanks to great special offers it wasn’t much more to stay at one of these on-site hotels and we thought the perks were worth it.
:: Netflix Streaming
We all know about in-room hotel movies and how those can add up quick. When you are traveling with your family it’s so nice to be able to turn on the TV and let them watch while you are getting ready, packing or unpacking. It’s hard to keep everyone happy and civil in such a tight space. This is why I was THRILLED to hear about Marriott’s recent partnership with Netflix! Guests will soon be able to sign in to their Netflix account and stream your favorite shows and movies right there in your hotel room! It’s brand spankin’ new so it may take some time to trickle down to all the properties but you can find the participating locations here.
:: Free Internet
Some hotels charge as much as $14 per day for Internet. In this digital ages, everyone wants to be able to check email, broswe the Internet and do whatever else online. More and more hotels are offering free internet these days. I’ve gotten to where I dont’ stay at a hotel that doesn’t offer free Internet. If you find yourself in a hotel that doesn’t offer free access, check their loyalty program. Often hotels, like Marriott, grant free access to loyalty memebers. Simply signing up for a free account at checkin gets you online at no charge.
:: Hotel Loyalty Programs
Always sign up for the hotel loyalty programs. Most offer perks even for entry level members. You can stay on higher floors, get free breakfast, free newspapers, free internet, free bottles of water and more. Stay multiple times and you are well on your way to earning perks like restaurant credit, upgrades and even free nights.
These are my favorite hotel perks. What do you look for when you are booking a hotel room?
Nice post!! I think these perks are worth looking for when you are booking a room because they can help you save money on you total trip. I’ll definitely be returning to your advice in the future!