One of the most important parts of booking a trip is the hotel room. Staying in an expensive hotel, can break your budget. The tips and tricks below will help you keep your wallet fat and your trip fabulous.

Make sure you check out online review websites prior to making a reservation for a hotel. These websites have reviews and comments from people who have recent experience with their stay. Other customers can give you some valuable insight and help you choose the right place to stay.

When checking for good prices at hotels, refer to online travel sites like Orbitz and Expedia. If you are a member of the hotel’s loyalty program, don’t forget to add that information as you check rates. You can also get additional discounts from any organization you are apart of, such as the AAA or the AARP.

Use the closet safe to protect your electronics. Place your iPad, GPS and other small electronics in the safe when you are not in your room.

Check your hotel room prior to unpacking. It should be free of any mildew or mold. Check the shower, toilet and sink to ensure they work properly. Are linens and towels in ample supply? If you notice any deficiencies in your room, immediately call the front desk so you can resolve these issues, or if the problems are too severe, move you to another room.

Find out the exact time for check-in and check-out. If you don’t know when you can check in, you may find your room is not ready when you arrive at your hotel. If you might arrive prior to check-in time, try calling the hotel and seeing if the room is available.

Taking a pet on a trip requires some extra responsibility. Confirm that pets are allowed in the room you are staying. Bring along lots of plastic bags for clean ups. See if you can stay in a room toward the end of a hall so your pet does not disturb guests.

If you go out to travel quite a bit, it’s good to get signed up for a hotel’s loyalty program. They give people benefits if they go to that chain often. You will be able to earn stuff like a free upgrade, an allowance to check out late, and even free stays when you get enough points.

If you tend to stay at the same hotel a lot, see about signing up for their frequent guest program. Many hotels offer membership programs that allow you to earn points for each of your stays. These points add up to restaurant discounts, free nights, tickets to a show, spa treatments, and more.

The amount you pay for the hotel room is determined by when you book it. Hotels price rooms based on availability. Don’t book a room more than a day in advance. This will net you the best price when it comes to hotel rooms. Empty rooms don’t earn the hotel money, so they’re happy to cut the price and reserve a room.

To keep from having an unwanted major expense on your hotel bill, ask about the cost of hotel transfers before booking them. Hotel transfer costs can be extremely large, especially in hotels that appear to offer an incredible deal on their room rates. You can increase the amount you save by simply finding this information out in advance.

Get a membership to AAA to make booking hotel arrangements a breeze when you travel. A membership with AAA not only provides you with hotel discounts but a guaranteed piece of mind when trying to rent a vehicle. Those who have small children will be pleased to find car seats available for free.

Never use the hotel phone for long distance calls. Use the Internet, instead. Most hotels offer Wi-Fi, but you will probably need their password and may have to pay a fee to use this service. This will help you converse with those back home without racking up a lofty bill.

If you are planning on staying in a hotel room with your children, make sure you call the hotel in advance to ensure they provide a working pool or some other fun activities for your children to do. There are few things as frustrating as showing up to a hotel, with your kids chomping at the bit to get in the pool, only to have it closed for repairs.

Ascertain whether or not the hotel you plan to stay at allows smoking. If you are a non-smoker, you will enjoy a non-smoking room more. You may be able to ask for a non-smoking room, however smoke can still travel through the air, settling on your clothing. It is not unheard of for those who smoke to stay in non-smoking rooms and proceed to smoke. Choose a non-smoking hotel to a smoke smell on your clothes.

Know what the pet policy is before you book. If you fear pets or have allergies it may be best to make reservations at hotels that have a strict no pets policy. These hotels sometimes have odors because the carpet and linens have absorbed them. Some hotels charge a nominal fee for pets, while others charge substantially more. The fee charged may not be adequate to cover the extra cleaning needed to completely remove the odors.

Be aware that you can’t normally check-in early at your hotel. Therefore, don’t show up hours in advance, or you may be sitting around waiting for a while. The room has to be cleaned ahead of your check in. Should you arrive early, ask at the desk if it is possible to check in, but do not be surprised if they say no.

Making a reservation at an expensive hotel can really blow your travel budget and put a strain on your finances. With the advice you have read here, you can find a decent hotel at a reasonable price. Refer back here the next time you are making travel plans.