Almost everyone stays at hotel at some point, whether it is a trip for work or pleasure. 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 should prove to help out quite a lot.

Online travel sites like Expedia or Orbitz can help you get the best price for rooms at the hotel you would like to stay at. Are you a member of a certain hotel’s membership program? If so, make sure you put this information into the travel site. You may also be able to get good discounts due to AAA or AARP membership.

Look for a closet safe in your hotel room, and use it for any expensive electronics you may have brought with you. Place all electronics there along with important documents, such as your passport or plane tickets.

The Internet is a great place to research hotels. These websites will help you find good deals quickly. Not only will they show the best deals, but they’ll also include extra information about the rooms, floor plans, and even reviews from other customers. Finally, they can also help you figure out when you want to go on your vacation and what you want to do there.

Always look for deals online when reserving a hotel room. Many times, the person you book your room with will not tell you that you can get a discount online. So you should always search on your own for discounts prior to booking. Sites, such as Jetsetter, will let you know of any discounts available.

Make certain you know when your check-in time is. Many people show up before check-in time only to find out their room isn’t ready. Ask for an early check-in time if absolutely necessary.

You should always start planning any serious trip months or weeks ahead of time. This will help you book early and get the best prices. If you chose to book a month or even two ahead of your arrival date, you can get great discounts. You may even be able to cut the price down by half!

If your pet is coming to a hotel with you, there are a few things you need to do in preparation. Confirm that pets are allowed in the room you are staying. Make sure you bring along plenty of plastic bags to dispose of any pet waste. Ask for a corner room so that your pets’ noise doesn’t bother anyone else.

Auto Club

Always see if your AAA membership can get you a discount on the hotel you intend to stay at. You may not know that your membership to the auto club includes discounts on hotels. Membership in AARP, a union, an auto club or even being a police officer can get you a discount. The more nights you stay, the more you will save.

Bring your running clothes with you on your trip. When you wake up and feel like a jog, simply toss on your gear and head out. Even if you’re running down the city streets of roads, it will give you a new perspective of the city that you’re visiting.

Make sure you know hotel transfer costs prior to booking a hotel room in order to avoid a large unexpected cost. If the rooms are cheap, the transfer could ruin the deal. Inquiring about this in advance will maximize any savings.

Joining certain clubs that let you accrue points can help you reap major benefits from your regular hotel stays. When you stay at a hotel, you get points you can use later on.

Don’t make long distance calls on your hotel phone. Rather, use a web tool. Skype connections are available in many hotels these days using Wi-Fi. This will help you converse with those back home without racking up a lofty bill.

When you first arrive, inspect your hotel room’s bathroom. This is the last room they are likely to be. So, that means it’s the best place to stash your luggage and other belongings as you inspect the remainder of your suite. It is also a safe spot for your pets and kids.

Is your room non-smoking or not? If you’re someone who doesn’t like cigarette smoke, you may want to find a different hotel. The smoke flows through the hotel and can stick to you. Smokers don’t always respect the fact that the room they are renting is a non-smoking room. If you don’t want to smell like cigarettes, consider staying at a hotel that’s non-smoking.

You should always be aware whether or not the hotel allows pets. If you dislike or have allergies to pets, steer clear of hotels that allow pets. If the hotel does not have good cleaning practices, you may be bothered by pet odors. Some hotels have an extra fee for pets, and the charge is not much in some places. Depending on the hotel, that fee may or may not be enough to cover extra cleaning.

If you need an extra bed or crib, make sure you discuss this when making your reservation. Not every hotel will carry them, and the ones that do may not have enough to go around. Additionally, you may need to pay an extra fee. Ask about this before you finalize your reservations, to make sure your needs are fully met.

It you’re able to, try not to check out until it’s time for you to depart. The hotel could impose a fee if you check out early. By booking a room, you are preventing other potential guests from staying in the hotel. Therefore, by leaving early, you are costing the hotel extra revenue. This is why they usually charge you an fee for early departure.

Clearly, we all have to stay in hotels at some time. Whatever your reason for having to stay at a hotel, you should do your homework. So keep the above tips in mind to get a great hotel room with a price that makes it even more enjoyable.