Sooner or later, you will have to book a hotel. You should know how to look for a nice hotel, either for vacation or for business. These tips will help.

Online travel sites like Orbitz and Expedia can help you find the lowest rates on hotel rooms. If you are in a hotel loyalty program, put your information in. Also, you might be able to get some discounts offered by organizations that you might be a part of like AAA or AARP.

Make sure you put your valuables inside the safe in your hotel room. You can place your small, expensive items such as your iPad in the safe, so you can enjoy your day knowing they are safe and secure.

Always see if you can find deals online when you’re thinking of getting a hotel room. Usually, when you try to book a room over the phone, the clerk will not let you know that there is a better deal online. That’s why doing a bit of research pays off, so you are aware of discounts and specials. Look at Jetsetter, Enrovia and Hotels.com.

Be sure to look at your room before unpacking your suitcase. Is the room clean? Do you see any mold or mildew? Do a quick check to ensure that the shower, sink and toilet are all in proper working order. Make sure you have the linens, bath supplies and towels that you will need. If you have any problem with the room, report it immediatlely to have it fixed as soon as possible.

Don’t assume your hotel is 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’re taking a pet to the hotel, do some things beforehand. Find out if the hotel will allow pets first. 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 a reservation you should see if you can stay near the back of the hallway to keep other guests away from your pets when they are making noises.

If you want a nice massage for you and your loved one, book that as early as possible. Most of the best masseurs will be reserved by name ahead of time. You’ve got to get in your reservation early to get the best masseur or masseuses.

Pack your GPS and running clothes while on vacation. So, make sure you have your running gear and shoes and you will be set to jog anywhere. You’ll get plenty of good exercise and a better understanding of the city around you.

If you travel frequently, you can maximize your hotel benefits by looking into reward programs from large hotel chains. Each hotel stay can accrue points towards vacation perks.

Never use the hotel phone for long distance calls. Use the Internet, instead. A lot of hotels offer Skype connections over Wi-Fi. In this way, you can stay in touch with friends, relations and colleagues without racking up a big phone bill.

If you’re traveling with kids, be sure that you check on the pools to ensure they’re open and in service. There is nothing worse than having to tell your excited kids they cannot swim.

GUests should be aware whether or not the hotel allows pets. If you have pet allergies or the noise from pets bothers you, you might want to avoid these hotels. These hotels may also have an odor due to the smells sinking in the floor and linens. Some hotels are pet-friendly and don’t charge for it, while other hotels will add a hefty fee for keeping a pet. It might not cover deep cleaning.

Be aware that you can’t normally check-in early at your hotel. Make your plans accordingly if you do not want to spend hours waiting in the lobby. Hotels use these in between hours to make sure rooms are cleaned and ready for the next occupant. If you can’t avoid being early, ask the front desk to make an exception, but be prepared if they can’t accommodate you.

Do not check out prior to your agreed upon departure date if you can avoid it. If you do, then you could be charged an extra departure fee for early checkout. The room is not marketed by the hotel and you will have to make up that lost revenue. You may end paying for a day you don’t use the room. Therefore, some will charge the early departure fee.

For hygienic purposes, you may want to avoid using the bedspread that the hotel provides. Most hotels only wash the sheets on the bed; however, the bedspread is normally not washed. That means it could harbor contaminants you don’t want to be in contact with. Remove the blanket and use one you brought from home to stay safe.

Don’t be tempted to open bottled water! When you get checked in you might feel thirsty and a little tired. This can tempt you to consume bottles of water from the mini-fridge. Hotels are aware of this; therefore, their bottled water prices are very expensive. Check if the gym offers free water. Or, to be sure you save money, you can just pack a few water bottles from home.

People have to stay in hotels from time to time. Regardless of the reason why, research is necessary. This article has given you all you need to know about getting a fantastic hotel, so you should use this advice to your advantage.