Everyone needs to book a hotel room at some point. Whether you will be staying in one for personal reasons or business reasons, it is important to know what to look for in a hotel. These tips will help.

Use online travel sites, such as Expedia and Orbitz, to find the best prices at the hotels you want to stay at. If you are a member of a loyalty program, use that info when checking rates. Don’t neglect to check for other discounts in which you may qualify, including AAA and AARP.

Think about using room service if you want to enjoy late-night dining without needing to leave your hotel room. Even though this will cost a bit more, the convenience and comfort are worth it.

Check out the search tools offered by online travel sites. These websites will help you find good deals quickly. They will also let you know what people pay on average when they go to that hotel. This lets you figure out if the deal you’re getting is a good one. They also can help with figuring out when the ideal time to go on vacation is and what you can do once you are there.

Prior to making a hotel reservation, check for deals online. Usually, when you try to book a room over the phone, the clerk will not let you know that there is a better deal online. That’s why it’s always your duty to search the web for better deals whenever you are booking a hotel room. Use popular websites such as Jetsetter, SniqueAway, or RueLalaTravel.

Inspect your room before unpacking your bags. Is the room free of mildew and mold and clean? Are all bathroom fixtures in proper working order? Make sure you have the linens, bath supplies and towels that you will need. If you notice any problems, report them immediately. If your issues are not resolved, ask to move to another room.

Know the check-in times. If you don’t check, the room may not be ready when you arrive. Call the front desk to find out if it is alright for you to arrive before check-in.

If your pet is coming to a hotel with you, there are a few things you need to do in preparation. Make sure the hotel is actually pet-friendly. Bring along lots of plastic bags for clean ups. When making your reservation, ask for a room at the end of the hall to spare other guests your pet noise.

If you are an AAA member, check into your membership hotel discount. You may not have known that, but it’s true. There are discounts at hotels around the country of 5 percent or more. It really is a savings that adds up over time.

Try out a green vacation. There are many hotels that feature green amenities. There are plenty of hotels built today with strong environmental standards. Eco-friendly strategies are also now commonly adopted by many older hotels. A good travel agent can help you find hotels that are environmentally friendly.

How much you pay for a hotel room depends on when you book your room. Hotel rooms are priced based on how many are available. If you can, don’t make your reservation more than one day prior to your stay. You’ll end up with a great deal this way. Hotels would rather discount the price because an empty room does not earn them any money.

To make reserving a hotel easy, use AAA. AAA offers their members good discounts on hotels, car rental and other aspects of travel. People that have young kids will get a car seat for free in a lot of different places.

Don’t make long distance calls on your hotel phone. Use your cell phone or the Internet. Hotels usually have Wi-Fi, so you can call using Skype. You can stay connected with friends, family and business colleagues this way, rather than making expensive long distance calls.

When you feel the need to check the room in your hotel for signs of bed bugs, begin in the bathroom. This is the place where you are least likely to find them. This makes the perfect location to place your belongings while you inspect your hotel room for bedbugs. It is a good place for pets or children to wait for a couple minutes as well.

Make sure to ask up front if the hotel allows smoking or does not. If you’re not a smoker, it may be wise to stay away from rooms that are for smoking. You could still get a non-smoking room, but smoke can flow through the air and settle on your clothes. In addition, some smokers will rent out non-smoking rooms and smoke in them. If you don’t want to smell like cigarettes after leaving your hotel room, you might want to look for a non-smoking hotel.

Early Check

Remember, that early check-ins are a rarity in most hotels. Plan to arrive at the proper check-in time so you don’t find yourself wandering around the hotel’s lobby for hours. It is usually necessary for hotels to service your room prior to allowing you to check in. If you should happen to get there early, ask at the desk about early check-in, but your request may not be granted.

If a hotel is trying to “walk” you, then you’ll know what the rights are you have. When you check-in, you may discover the room you secured isn’t actually available. They might try and send you to a different hotel. If you can’t avoid this, then make sure you are getting a room that is still worth the value that you have already paid.

As you have seen from this article, a lot of people need to stay in hotels. Regardless of the reason that necessitates a hotel stay, you must be informed before you choose a hotel. You’ve just read some really great advice; now, put it to good use and have fun!