Vacation preparations can involve a significant amount of work. In addition to choosing where you will vacation and what you will use for transportation needs, you have to figure out which hotel you will stay in. Making a bad choice will have a negative effect on your trip. Use the information in this article to book your room the best way.

Online travel sites like Orbitz and Expedia can help you find the lowest rates on hotel rooms. When making hotel reservations, be sure to include information regarding hotel loyalty programs in which you may hold membership. Don’t neglect to check for other discounts in which you may qualify, including AAA and AARP.

To enjoy a late-night meal with that special someone without having to leave the comfort of your hotel room, think about ordering some room service. It may cost more, but it’s convenient when you don’t feel like leaving.

Be sure to put all valuables, such as jewelry and electronics, in the hotel safe. Your iPad, watch, and other smaller, expensive items can be placed into the safe, then you can rest assured at their safety as you head out for a fun-filled day.

Take advantage of search tools online. These sites allow you to find great deals quickly. They also let you see what full price is, so you know you are saving money. Finally, you can also use these to help you learn what there is to do when you get to your destination.

When you arrive at your hotel, thoroughly inspect your room before unpacking. It should be free of any mildew or mold. Does everything work? Count how many linens and towels you were given and make sure there are enough for everyone traveling with you. If you have any problem with the room, report it immediatlely to have it fixed as soon as possible.

If you want to find the absolute rock bottom hotel prices, plan your trips weeks or months ahead of time. Quite a few locations will give discounts if you choose to book a room a month or more in advance. Doing this could save you up to 50 percent off your room, and this holds true with the more elite brands as well.

If you are traveling with a pet, it is best to find a pet friendly hotel ahead of time. Call the hotel to verify, even if it says so on the website. Make sure that you ask ahead what pet-friendly means to the hotel because this is a loose term that may still mean there are certain restrictions.

If you belong to AAA, see what kinds of discounts the hotel offers. You may be surprised that your auto club membership includes hotel discounts, but it does. You may be able to save upwards of five percent at hotels nationwide. It’s a way to save money that can add up fast.

If you like running and frequently stay in hotel rooms, be sure and pack up a GPS watch, along with your favorite running clothes. When you wake up and feel like a jog, simply toss on your gear and head out. Even jogging on pavement and alongside city avenues can provide you new perspective of any city that you visit.

Vacation “green” if you are worried about the environment. There are plenty of “green” hotels that take the environment into consideration. Some hotels are certified to be green. Some older inns just select one or more of several eco-friendly strategies to show environmental awareness. Talk to your travel agent about what you want to do and let them seek out a few appropriate hotels.

Hotel Transfer Costs

Make sure you know hotel transfer costs prior to booking a hotel room in order to avoid a large unexpected cost. Hotel transfer costs can be extremely large, especially in hotels that appear to offer an incredible deal on their room rates. You will save more by asking about such a thing in advance.

Sign up as an AAA member to make hotel arrangements easier when you are traveling. Members of AAA will get additional hotel discounts up to five percent, but you’ll also get discounts on rental cars as well. Many car rental agencies add perks, such as a child car seat at no charge, for AAA members.

Don’t make any long distance calls from your hotel room. Try using the Internet, instead. With a Wi-Fi connection, you can use Skype for your calls. You can still call family members, friends, and colleagues from your room without racking up tons of costly charges.

Check if a hotel you’re looking to stay at is non-smoking or smoking. If you are a non-smoker, you will enjoy a non-smoking room more. You may rent a non-smoking room, however, the smoke from the smoking rooms can still be present in the air and make your clothes smell like it. There are even cases where people are smoking in non-smoking rooms before you arrive. To be sure you don’t absorb cigarette smoke, think about staying at a nonsmoking hotel.

Allow Pets

Be aware of the pet policy of the hotel. If you are allergic to pets, avoid pet friendly hotels. Usually, hotels that do allow pets will have a strong odor coming from the linens as well as the carpeting. 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. Some hotels use the paid fees to clean the hotel more thoroughly.

Don’t ruin your vacation by choosing the wrong hotel. Be sure to plan ahead properly. Knowing how to get discounts and perks is the best way to get them. You will have fun on all parts of your vacation, even when you are at your hotel. Remember these tips as you plan your vacation.