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Whether you stay in hotels for work or holiday purposes, one thing you'll notice is that some hotel experiences can be quite stressful. Any part of the process, from booking a room to staying in one, any part of the process can be anxiety-inducing for some folks.

Are you planning a hotel stay soon, either for work or as part of your next holiday? If the answer to either question is yes, take a look at these practical tips to help you make the whole hotel experience a pleasant and stress-free one for you:

1. Never Turn Up and Book a Room

The first thing you should bear in mind is that expecting to book a room at any hotel at your chosen destination is seldom a good idea. That's because there is a high probability that you may not have a room available to have and could mean you have nowhere to stay!

Instead, always book your hotel rooms in advance and take your booking confirmations with you when you travel. That way, if there are any issues, you've got proof that you've booked your hotel room in advance.

2. Don't Assume You'll Get Freebies

Some hotels offer guests complementary items like hot beverage making facilities, hotel robes, ironing facilities, and extra pillows and blankets. However, that's not always the case across the board. In fact, you may need to pay extra for the use of those items.

If you're someone that always wears a robe in the morning before you get dressed, bring your own. If you need to ensure your clothing gets pressed, ask in advance if you can have an ironing board and iron or pay for the hotel's ironing services.

3. Join a Hotel Loyalty Scheme

If you travel a lot and tend to stay at the same hotels, consider joining their loyalty schemes. Doing so can give you certain perks like reduced room rates, complimentary breakfast, or even free Wi-Fi.

Additionally, joining a hotel loyalty scheme also means you could more likely get better room bookings. That means your room could overlook a scenic part of the town or city rather than being adjacent to the brick wall of a neighbouring business!

4. Double-Check Your Booking Dates

It might surprise you to learn that many people often make mistakes when booking their hotel rooms. For example, they might select a check-in date when they're likely to be 35,000 feet in the air somewhere.

Before confirming any reservations, always double-check your booking dates and ensure they correspond to your travel itinerary. Otherwise, you could be wasting your money and adding undue stress to your hotel experience.

5. Pay With a Credit Card

One final point to consider relates to how you pay for your hotel room bookings. If you use a credit card instead of a debit card, you'll have certain guarantees, such as getting your money back immediately if fraud occurs due to a dishonest hotel employee.

Plus, some hotels may require an additional deposit to cover any damages, and the deposit only gets refunded at checkout.