Are you taking a trip soon and need to stay at a hotel? Would you like some helpful hints for finding a great hotel? If so, you are in the right place. This article has helpful information you need to know prior to booking a hotel stay.

Room service is great for late meals. Even though this will cost a bit more, the convenience and comfort are worth it.

Be sure to keep your valuables and electronics secure by locking them in your hotel room’s safe. You can use it to store your tablet and other expensive items to keep them secure.

Take advantage of tools provided online when searching for a hotel. Use these websites to your advantage! They can also allow you to look at the average rates of a hotel. On top of that, they can help you determine the cheapest destinations.

Know when you are able to check in and get your room. Sometimes there are people that don’t know when the room will be ready and so they aren’t sure of what to do with the extra time they have since they can’t check in. If you might arrive prior to check-in time, try calling the hotel and seeing if the room is available.

Don’t think that all hotels will be pet friendly. Call and ask before you reserve. Verify exactly what is meant by “pet-friendly” since certain breeds and pets over a certain size may not be allowed.

If you belong to AAA, see what kinds of discounts the hotel offers. You could also get a surprise that you have an auto club membership that gives you hotel discounts. You can save more than five percent on hotels all over the country. The more nights you stay, the more you will save.

If you want to keep up the running regimen you have while traveling you should get your GPS watch packed with some running clothes. For an early morning jog, get up and throw your gear on, and then head out the front door. Even if your route takes you through the street of a city, at least you will get a glimpse of the area you are visiting.

Sign up for frequent guest programs at hotels. You should be able to earn points every time you are visiting one of the hotels. With enough points you can get free rooms in the future. They may also offer discounts for shows, restaurants and other things.

Do you care about your environment? If so, a “green” hotel may be for you. The great thing is there are plenty of green hotels you can select from. Many new hotels are constructed to meet green standards, earning green certification. Some older inns just select one or more of several eco-friendly strategies to show environmental awareness. Ask your booking agent about green hotels.

When you book has a huge impact on your final bill. Rooms are typically priced according to availability. Try to always book your hotel room only a day in advance. This gives you the best prices in reserving hotel rooms. A room that’s empty loses money for the hotel; so, they usually cut the price.

Sign up for AAA to ensure easier hotel arrangements when traveling. If you do a lot of traveling, the AAA membership can pay for itself, and you can also get deals on rental cars. At some locations they even offer free car seats.

In hotel rooms, avoid calling long distance if possible. Try using the Internet, instead. A lot of hotels have free Wi-Fi that you can use to connect with people. 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, be sure you’re aware of what the hotel thinks of smoking where you’re staying. Some hotels offer smoking rooms. If they do, ask for this type of room. If you don’t, you can be hit with some major penalties for lighting up in a non-smoker’s room.

If you have to get a rollaway or a crib, you need to let them know when you’re making the reservation. Most hotels only have so many of these items to go around, and some hotels may not have any at all. Additionally, there may be an extra fee for these items. Talk about what you need when booking your room so you are not unpleasantly surprised.

If you book a room during a heavy occupancy period, don’t be surprised if you have a mandatory stay of a few days or more. Your hotel may charge you a fee to do so. If you reserve a room for a set number of days but check out a day or two early, that hotel may charge a fee because they couldn’t book that room. This is why they usually charge you an fee for early departure.

If a hotel is trying to “walk” you, then you’ll know what the rights are you have. You might find that a room you booked isn’t available when you arrive because they overbooked. When this happens, the hotel directs you to another property, “walking” you. Try not to let this happen to you, but if it is unavoidable, be sure that that you are getting a room that is at least as good as the one that you paid for.

This article shows that doing some research before reserving a hotel room gives you the best chance of staying at a great hotel. The information you got here is going to help you a lot when you need a hotel room. Use it to your advantage and enjoy yourself.

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