When you’re planning a vacation, there’s a lot of hard work to be done before you even leave the house. You need to pack your bags, put gas in the car or maybe purchase airline tickets. It likely also includes making a hotel reservation. You are about to find out helpful tips for helping you to book a room.

Prior to reserving a room at a hotel, look on the Internet for reviews. One great site is TripAdvisor. Reviews allow you to read about recent experiences at a hotel. What people say about a hotel can help you figure out where you should be staying.

You can find good deals on hotel rooms using online travel sites. Join the loyalty program for any hotel chain that you love and believe you’ll stay with often. You may also be eligible for other discounts through any memberships you have with organizations such as AAA and AARP.

Room service can be a great way to have a private, comfortable meal. Room service generally costs more than ordering out; however, it is nice to be able to order a meal in the middle of the night if you so choose.

Keep your electronics secure by using the hotel safe located in your hotel room. You can stash your expensive electronics and jewelry in the safe and go about your day without worry.

Many things must be considered when choosing the right hotel. The cost is important but hardly the only factor to keep in mind. A gym, pool, free breakfast, free wireless Internet, free local calls, and all kinds of other things may be important. Look for the hotel that gives as many of the extra you desire as possible.

Know the check-in times. Some people end up waiting for their room to be available because they forget to check this critical detail. If you find you will be arriving early, call the hotel in advance and find out if you will be allowed in.

Plan your trip as far in advance as you can to ensure best rates. If you can book a couple of months early, a lot of locations will give you a steeper discount. You may even be able to cut the price down by half!

Don’t make assumptions about pet policies of hotels. Ask the hotel if pets are allowed, no matter what their site says. Be sure you know what pet-friendly means because there could be specific restrictions on sizes or certain breeds of dogs.

If you’re thinking of taking your pet to a hotel with you, there are some things you need to do first. First, find out if the hotel allows pets. In addition, you will need numerous plastic bags and cleaning supplies so that you can make sure you clean up any messes your pet makes. When you make your reservation, request accommodations near the very end of the floor in order to not disturb other guests.

Always see if your AAA membership can get you a discount on the hotel you intend to stay at. You may be surprised that your auto club membership includes hotel discounts, but it does. You can save five percent or more on certain hotels. It really is a savings that adds up over time.

Hotel Rooms

How much you pay for a hotel room depends on when you book your room. Availability dictates the prices of hotel rooms. Whenever you can, maker your room reservation no more than a day ahead of time. This gives you the best prices in reserving hotel rooms. Hotels would rather discount the price because an empty room does not earn them any money.

In order to avoid any surprise charges, inquire about hotel transfers prior to booking. Many times, rooms seem to be a good deal, but there are hidden fees for this service. Ask the hotel representative ahead of time to make sure you get the most savings.

If you wish to get a lot out of a hotel stay, especially if you’re traveling for your business, get a membership program and join it like what the Marriott or Choice Hotels offers. This allows you to earn points each time you book a room. You can use these points to purchase perks in the future.

Try to avoid long distance calling in hotel rooms. Use the Internet, instead. You can access Skype with the Internet connection at your hotel. Use these to keep up with loved ones or colleagues back home from the comfort of your hotel room instead of racking up costly phone calls from the nightstand.

If you smoke, learn the smoking policy of the hotel where you are staying. Most hotels have designated smoking rooms. Therefore, if you are a smoker, always ask for a room that allows smoking. If you smoke in one of the hotel’s non-smoking room, you can be charged hefty fees.

Do not drink the bottled water that is offered in the rooms. You are very likely to be tired and thirsty when finally arriving to a hotel. You may decide to reach for that bottle of water calling to you from the mini fridge. Hotels are well aware of this, and the bottled water they provide is far more costly than it is elsewhere. Sometimes you can get a free water bottle in the hotel gym. What would be best is if you just packed your own bottles.

When traveling, booking your flight and hotel together will save you money. A lot of travel online sites feature serious savings for anyone who bundles things together. Make sure you do your research, though, to ensure you are getting a good deal.

Getting a good hotel booked will be a very important part of any trip. No matter why you are traveling, staying at a good hotel makes the whole trip more enjoyable. Remember the tips from this article when you go to make a hotel reservation.