weHow do you go about reserving hotels in New York? Below are a few things to know.
Age for a New York Hotel
The minimum age for reserving hotels in New York is eighteen (18) so that the hotel room contract or room reservation can be legally binding between you (the guest) and the owners of the hotel.
Amenities for a New York Hotel
Hotels and booking sites will list numerous amenities (fridge, indoor & outdoor pool, microwave) online but when you arrive at the hotel, you may find that the “budget” room that you reserved does not feature any or all of the amenities unless you pay an additional charge or upgrade the room. Be sure to speak with the hotel as well then you are planning to book. Do you have a fear of heights? If you have acrophobia, seeing photos of the exterior along with the interior of the building can let you know if it is one that you should reserve or not.
Booking sites for a New York Hotel
Below are just a few sites (with new sites being created daily) for reserving hotels in New York.
* DHR.com ($30+)
* Bing.com
* Booking.com
* CheapTickets.com
* Expedia.com (Packages)
* Expedia.com.au (Packages)
* Hotels.com (Free Stay)
* HotelsCombined.com
* Hotel.info
* HotelReservations.com
* HotelRoom.com
* Hotwire
* Kayak.com
* MoreHotels4Less.com
* OffAndAway.com (Auction)
* Orbitz.com
* Otel.com
* Priceline.com
* Travelocity.com
* Venere.com
* Wego.com
* Yahoo.com
Check in for a New York Hotel
As for check in, this may be eighteen (18) twenty-one (21) or twenty-five (25) years old so be sure to find out before booking as you may not be entitled to a refund upon cancellation. If a hotel has a mini-bar in the room, there is a high chance it will be for twenty-one (21) and older guests. Are you under twenty-one (21) and need a hotel? If so, here are some hotels for teens in New York where you will be allowed to stay as long as you are eighteen (18) or have an adult (who meets the hotel’s minimum age) submit a consent form.
Deposits for a New York Hotel
When reserving hotels, you may be asked for a deposit which will be applied to your bill. Deposits are as low as US$1.00 on a credit card and may be as high as the full amount of days you plan to stay. Should you need to depart early, the hotel will credit you for the unused days providing it is stated in the contract you signed. If it is not stated in the contract you signed, you may forfeit any refunds or will be subject to the hotel’s cancellation fees or higher daily rates. Please note that hotels or booking site may not charge a cancellation fees but if you book a marked down room, it may be attached to a no refund policy.
Fees a New York Hotel
Hotels charges fees to their guests so it is important to find out about these fees whiles considering your stay there. Such fees are for changing the dates or cancelling your stay at their property, having your vehicle parked on the property or parked and retrieved by an attendant, room deliveries, wake up and outgoing telephone calls.
Identification for a New York Hotel
Before reserving hotels in New York, you should know that you will need to present upon your arrival an unexpired Government ID so be sure it add it to your “things to bring” list for your stay. This can be your passport, driver’s license or non-driver’s identification. Having these before booking will reduce your chances of rescheduling your reservation which can incur fees.
Lifestyle for a New York Hotel
When reserving hotels in New York, in your search, you should make sure that they are affiliated with the International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA) as they will be proud to welcome lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) guests.
Occupancy for a New York Hotel
Due to the policies set by the hotel and safety requirements imposed by local laws, you will be limited in the number of guests per room so when you are are the process of reserving a room, you should look for indications to the number of guests per room. This can be identified by “double occupancy” or “single occupancy” in the description or amenities section and also by a select number from a drop down list. Marriott’s are reasonable hotels to choose if looking to have six (6) guests per room.
Packages for a New York Hotel
When reserving hotels in New York, you may find additional discounts when also reserving flights to New York. This is where a travel site or travel agent will come in handy.
Payments for a New York Hotel
When reserving a hotel, the hotel will want you to have a credit or debit card when booking the room. This stays on file as a safety net for the hotel should they find items stolen or damage once you leave so it is important to monitor your accounts once you left the hotel. A good way to do this is email or text alerts from your institution. When it is time to check out of the hotel, the hotel may insist cash (a few small hotels do so see their terms when booking) cashier’s check or a money or postal order. If any of the alternate payment options fail, your card that is on file will be billed along with any fees the hotel incurred.
Rewards for a New York Hotel
Planning to visit the State of New York often? If you will or will stay in hotels frequently, consider rewards programs. This can be AAA, AARP, the hotel’s or your credit/debit rewards program.
Stay for a New York Hotel
When are you supposed to leave your hotel room? Hotels have a check in and check out times and they also count the days on the calendar a bit different so it is important to ask before booking so that you will not be subjected to change fees.
Tips for a New York Hotel
When reserving a hotel, keep in mind things that may make you irritated during your stay. By thinking upon these things in advance, you may be able to eliminate or reduce the problem from happening. One of the complaints most guest have at a hotel is noise. If you are a light sleeper, you may want to have your room on high floors away from the noisy street and parking lots. For inside the hotel, rooms further away from the elevator and ice machine will be best at guests tend to congregate at these areas during their stay.
Views for a New York Hotel
When reserving a hotel for views overlooking New York landmarks, attractions or parade route, it is important that you contact the hotel verbally so you can speak to a representative who can hold a specific room for you. If you schedule online, the hotel will not know what you need and you may end up with a room that is on the wrong wing or side or the route or will be too low to see what you need. Also, your view can be blocked by trees and other buildings.
Join us in our New York Forum if you have any comments or questions.
Steve Pringle
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