Do you plan on staying in a hotel? If so, there are many things you must plan out in advance in order to avoid a horrible hotel experience. You must pack and arrange for travel. On top of that, you must reserve a hotel room. Look at the article below for some great advice on booking your hotel the easy way.

Be sure to read online review websites prior to booking a hotel. Here, you can read what people had to say about their hotel stay. Consider what they say to help you make your decision.

Make sure you check with any organizations of which you are a member. You may be able to receive discounts on hotel through these organizations. A lot of people don’t use these discounts, and you may save 10% or even more. For extended stays, this can really add up. This can also net you a free hotel night.

Check online for great hotel deals. Many times, the person you book your room with will not tell you that you can get a discount online. It is your duty to perform due diligence. Websites like Orbitz, Travelocity and Hotels.com usually have some great discounts.

When get to your hotel, inspect the room before unpacking. Make sure there is no mold or mildew anywhere in the room. Do a quick check to ensure that the shower, sink and toilet are all in proper working order. Are there enough linens and towels? If you have any questions or notice any problems with the room, immediately call the front desk and report them so that they may be handled. You may also asked to be transferred to a new room if the problem is serious, such as mold or mildew.

Most hotels are not pet-friendly. Call the hotel to verify, even if it says so on the website. Also ask exactly what they mean by pet-friendly, as there might be restrictions on certain breeds and sizes of pet that they allow on their premises.

If you need to have a pet stay with you in your hotel room, do a few things ahead of time. Find out if the hotel allows pets. Also, bring a lot of plastic sacks like ones from the grocery store so you can get your pet’s messes cleaned up. When you make your reservation, request accommodations near the very end of the floor in order to not disturb other guests.

If you tend to return to the same family of hotels for your vacation, consider joining their membership reward programs. You should be able to earn points every time you are visiting one of the hotels. You can exchange these points for discounts and freebies at the hotel and its restaurant. You may also be able to use them on local amenities.

Environmentalists can now enjoy a green vacation. Green hotels can feature specialized recycling programs, may only use recyclable products and use environmentally friendly cleaning supplies. Green certification is something some of the newly built hotels are quite proud of promoting. Some hotels that aren’t that new will pick out some ways to be more eco-friendly so they can show they care. A good travel agent can help you find hotels that are environmentally friendly.

Join a loyalty program to get deals on your stays. This way, when you stay at a hotel, you can get points and then turn those points into free stuff that you can do with your family.

Aaa Membership

Get a AAA membership to facilitate the process of booking a hotel when you travel. If you do a lot of traveling, the AAA membership can pay for itself, and you can also get deals on rental cars. Parents can also often enjoy a free car seat that comes with some rentals.

To keep the kids in your family happy when you are on the road, call ahead and make sure that the pools in each hotel are 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.

If you want to inspect a hotel room for bed bugs, start with the bathroom. You probably won’t find any bedbugs in the bathroom. It makes a safe place to keep your luggage when looking for bedbugs elsewhere in the room. It is also the safest place for children and pets, too.

Determine what the policy on smoking is if you smoke. Many hotels still offer smoking rooms. You should try your best to book one of these if they are available. If you don’t, you can be hit with some major penalties for lighting up in a non-smoker’s room.

Reviews whether or not the hotel allows pets. You may wish to stay away from hotels that permit pets if you have allergies or you fear certain animals. These hotels sometimes have odors because the carpet and linens have absorbed them. Some hotels charge extra fees for pets, but some do not charge much. It might not cover deep cleaning.

If needed, always ask about the availability of a crib or roll-away at the time you reserve the room. Not every hotel will have these items available, and the ones that do only have limited quantities. 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.

Early Departure

If possible, do not check out earlier than your scheduled departure day. Hotels often charge early departure fees. Upon reserving a hotel room, you tie up that room in the hotel. This means that your early departure results in the hotel losing money. That’s why they will charge you a fee for early departure.

Finding a hotel to stay at is an important part of planning a successful trip. The right hotel will make your trip easier. The next time you book a hotel, keep all of this information in mind.