Have you had trouble finding the right hotel accommodations in the past? You are in lots of luck. This article will help you learn about the basics of booking a hotel room. Continue to read if you want to learn more about it.

Find great prices at online travel sites like Orbitz and Expedia. If you belong to a hotel’s loyalty program, be sure to input that information when checking rates. You may also be eligible for deals that are offered to members of certain organizations, like AAA or AARP.

Be sure to put all valuables, such as jewelry and electronics, in the hotel safe. Your iPad, watch, and other smaller, expensive items can be placed into the safe, then you can rest assured at their safety as you head out for a fun-filled day.

The organizations that you are a member of might be of help. Some offer big discounts on hotel rooms. These discounts can be as much as 10 percent or even more. They can save you plenty of money, especially for prolonged stays. If you stay for a week, these discounts will almost add up for a free night.

You can use online travel sites to find great hotels. There are a lot of websites that have great deals and other useful tools to help you comparison shop to find the right hotel at the right price. They also can show you the average hotel rates, letting you see whether the deal is good or bad. Finally, by using these websites, you can learn the best places and times to take a vacation.

Make sure that you know the check-in time for the hotel that you book. 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.

If you are traveling with a pet, it is best to find a pet friendly hotel ahead of time. Call the hotel to verify, even if it says so on the website. Verify exactly what is meant by “pet-friendly” since certain breeds and pets over a certain size may not be allowed.

If you want to arrange for a couples massage at your hotel, be sure to book the appointment right away. The best professionals are often in high demand, so get in while you can.

See if you can get a hotel discount through AAA if you are a member. Your membership in this auto club has just such a discount available to you. You may save 5% or even more on nationwide hotels. These savings really add up.

Do you travel on a periodic basis and use the same hotel chain? If so, check out the loyalty programs provided by that hotel. They offer perks to folks who frequent their hotel. You can often earn free upgrades, free stays, and complimentary late check out with enough points accrued.

If you stay at the same chain of hotels often, look into their membership programs for frequent guests. These programs give you points every time you stay there. These points can quickly add up to many perks such as a free night, discounts at the hotel restaurants, spa deals and much, much more.

Environmentally Friendly

If preserving the environment is of interest to you, you can chose a “green” vacation. The great thing is there are plenty of green hotels you can select from. There are newer hotels that were built to be environmentally friendly. Older hotels can go green by making environmentally friendly choices in energy use. A good travel agent can help you find hotels that are environmentally friendly.

Find out about hotel transfer costs prior to booking a room to avoid hefty fees. Many times, rooms seem to be a good deal, but there are hidden fees for this service. Asking about this ahead of time helps you maximize your savings.

Being a member of AAA can save you money on hotels. AAA members not only get discounts at many hotel chains, it will also make it much easier to rent a car. If you have young kids, find out if they have a free car seat service.

Don’t make any long distance calls from your hotel room. Try using the Internet, instead. Hotels usually have Wi-Fi, so you can call using Skype. 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. Bedbugs are rarely seen in this room. This makes the perfect location to place your belongings while you inspect your hotel room for bedbugs. It can be a temporary haven for children and pets.

Remember, that early check-ins are a rarity in most hotels. Make your plans accordingly if you do not want to spend hours waiting in the lobby. Most hotels clean and prepare rooms at a certain time, so that they are ready for check-in. If you do get to the hotel early, ask at the front desk if you can possibly check in early, but there is a chance you won’t be able to.

If it’s possible, try not to check out before the departure date you had originally scheduled. If you do, then you could be charged an extra departure fee for early checkout. If you check out too early, the hotel will lose money because they remove the room off the reservation list. So make sure that you know the hotel’s policy on checking out a day or two early – it might cost you.

Finding a hotel will be much easier if you use the above tips. It isn’t too difficult to get, especially with these tips. Be patient and cautious and you will surely prevail.