Sooner or later, you will have to book a hotel. Whether your stay involves business or pleasure, you must know what you are doing when it comes to selecting a hotel. This article has advice that can help.

Check for online reviews before making any reservations. These provide you with first-hand information about people’s recent experiences at each hotel. Consider what they say to help you make your decision.

Consider ordering room service during your stay. While it may cost more, it is more convenient to remain in your room while satisfying your hunger.

If you take a lot of electronic gadgets with you on a trip, lock them up in the safe when away from the room. This safe will store your small important items, such as your iPad, iPod, GPS, jewelry, etc. By doing this, you can keep these items secure and enjoy your day without fretting about someone stealing them.

Check with any membership programs for deals. Many clubs, groups and organizations are able to get members discounted hotel rates. You may save ten percent or more. This is especially useful if you plan to book a longer stay. This can rack up a free night over the entire course of a whole week.

Prior to making a hotel reservation, do some research online in order to discover the best deals. Hotels don’t usually advertise their lowest rates, so you may have to ask. It is your responsibility to scour the Internet for these savings. Check out websites such as Jetsetter, RueLaLaTravel, and SniqueAway.

When you get to your hotel room, look over the room before unpacking. It should be free of any mildew or mold. Does your shower, sink, and toilet work in the right way? Are there enough of the right linens? If you see any issues, be sure to tell the front desk. This way, they can fix the problems or switch rooms for you.

Make certain you know when your check-in time is. People sometimes forget when they will be let into their rooms, showing up early only to learn that their room isn’t ready yet. Therefore, if you anticipate arriving early, call the hotel in advance and see if it is possible to check in early.

Planning for a trip months or even just weeks in advance can often get you a better rate for your hotel room. If you book one or two months in advance, you can often receive a discount. Even some elite chains will offer discounts as much as half off.

If you’d like to bring Fido on your next trip, you must make some advance plans. Ascertain that your hotel is really pet friendly. Be sure to have plenty of plastic bags on hand to make pet cleanup easy. Finally, ask the hotel staff if you can have a room on the far end away from guests so that you don’t interfere with their visit.

If you’re interested in the massage services of a hotel you intend to stay at, reserve your appointment ahead of time. Most of the time, the most reputable masseuses will be booked, so plan early in order to have the most enjoyable experience.

If you are someone who travels a lot, signing up for any hotel loyalty programs is probably a good idea. They provide rewards to those who stay with them often. You can get a free upgrade, restaurant gift certificates or even a free stay!

Discuss what a hotel transfer will cost you prior to actually booking anything. A transfer can sometimes come with a substantial hidden cost. Asking about this beforehand will help to maximize your savings.

If you want to ensure happy kids while traveling, call the hotel ahead of time to check that the pools are open and in working order. Nothing is quite as frustrating as arriving at a hotel with children clamoring to jump in the pool only to find that it is closed.

Look into the smoking policies in the hotel you are considering. If cigarette smoke bothers you, look for a hotel that doesn’t have smoking rooms. Even if you stipulate that your room should be non-smoking, second hand smoke can still enter your room. Even if a room is designated as nonsmoking, sometimes people smoke in there anyway. Instead of choosing a non-smoking room, you can actually find an entire non-smoking hotel if you really want to avoid nasty, secondhand smoke.

Learn about the smoking policies if you smoke. Hotels normally have rooms set aside for smokers. So be sure to request one of these rooms. If you smoke in a room designated as non-smoking, a big penalty can come along with it.

Let the hotel know if you will be needing a crib or a rollaway bed. Some hotels don’t provide these things, and the ones that do usually have a limited amount. They may charge extra for this. Talk about these issues as you reserve your room.

Don’t use the hotel bedspread if you can avoid it. Although the blankets and sheets are cleaned when guests check out, sometimes the bedspread on top will not be. That can make it rife with germs and bacteria and who knows what. Remove the bedspread and use your own travel blanket or comforter, instead.

Do not drink the bottled water that is offered in the rooms. After checking in you may be thirsty and tired. You can be tempted to casually open that bottled water beckoning on the mini-fridge. Hotels take advantage of their guests by charging ridiculous pricess for bottled water. Check if the gym offers free water. If not, hit a convenience store and save some money.

As was stated earlier, most people will stay at a hotel at some point in their lives. It’s necessary to do some research before you book. So keep the above tips in mind to get a great hotel room with a price that makes it even more enjoyable.