Almost everyone has had the nightmare experience of booking a bad hotel. Doing so can cost money and time, and there isn’t anyone who wants that to happen more than once. Below are some great tips to help make sure that you book a budget friendly hotel that’s great for your need.

Find great hotel room prices by checking out travel websites like Orbitz and Expedia. If you are a member of a particular hotel’s loyalty program, remember to include that information when you are checking on rates. Also, you might be able to get some discounts offered by organizations that you might be a part of like AAA or AARP.

The organizations that you are a member of might be of help. Many organizations provide hotel discounts for members. These discounts can be as much as 10 percent or even more. If your stay will be for multiple nights, these discounts can save you lots of money. This can rack up a free night over the entire course of a whole week.

Never book a hotel room before seeking out online deals. Lots of times, when you book a room, they don’t tell you about online discounts. It’s your job to find them yourself. Websites like Travelocity and Expedia can be a great way to do research on hotels.

Inspect the room before unpacking. Make sure there is no mold or mildew anywhere in the room. Does everything work? Is the room adequately stocked with towels and linens? 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.

Know when check-in time is. Many hotel guests will forget their check-in time; therefore, they will arrive at the hotel just to discover that they cannot check in yet. Call the hotel desk and find out if your room has been prepared if you know that you’ll be arriving early.

Not every hotel allows pets. Be sure to ask even if the website says it’s ok to bring a pet. Always ask about what exactly a pet-friendly policy entails, as there could still be limits on breeds and sizes.

If your pet is coming to a hotel with you, there are a few things you need to do in preparation. Be sure that this hotel will be friendly to pets. For easy cleanup, make sure that you have brought along an adequate number of plastic bags. When you go to make the hotel reservation, see if there is room on the end that would prevent the other guests from hearing a noisy pet.

Are you a member of the AAA? If so, find out about membership discounts at hotels. Did you know that this membership entitles you to hotel discounts? You can save more than five percent on hotels all over the country. It really is a savings that adds up over time.

Pack your GPS and running clothes while on vacation. Head out early in the morning after donning your running gear. It will give you a perspective that you’ll never get while riding in a car.

If you travel often, it’s a great idea to enroll in a hotel’s loyalty program. They have benefits for those who frequently stay at a hotel. The rewards can include free room upgrades, free meals and movie or show tickets tickets. The points can add up.

The time you book the room will change how much you’ll pay. Hotel rooms are priced based on how many are available. When possible, you can often get a good price if you book a room at the very last minute. This will get you a great price on your room. Hotels don’t like to have vacancies so they often provide better prices.

Joining certain clubs that let you accrue points can help you reap major benefits from your regular hotel stays. This allows you to earn points each time you book a room. You can use these points to purchase perks in the future.

You can get great hotel discounts by becoming a member of AAA. The AAA membership fee is well worth the discounts offered by many chains, and renting a car will also be easier. In addition, free car seats are usually provided, which parents are certain to enjoy.

Avoid using the hotel phone to make long distance phone calls. You can use the Internet to make these types of calls. Many hotels now offer Skype connections via Wi-Fi. But the Internet is infinitely useful while traveling so it is usually worth it.

If you smoke, you should understand the hotel’s policy about smoking before you book a room. Many hotels have rooms designated for smokers. If your selected hotel does, ask for one. Some hotels fine guests if they find that they smoked in a designated non-smoking room. This means that you must be sure to obey the hotel’s smoking rules.

You should be aware whether or not the hotel allows pets. If you fear pets or have allergies it may be best to make reservations at hotels that have a strict no pets policy. Pet odor lingers. Some hotels only allow pets in certain rooms and charge more for the room because they do extra cleaning to ensure it is up to standards after each guest. The fee may be for any cleaning that needs to be done.

Nobody wants to stay at a bad hotel. The lowest of prices doesn’t compensate for a bad experience. Either way, your trip could be ruined. Be sure to do the right things when planning out your hotel experience. You can pick the best hotel for your needs and find discounts for it.