A substandard hotel stay is downright insulting when you consider how much a hotel costs. It doesn’t matter if the hotel has overcharged you or you were given bad service, these types of things can affect your stay in a big way. Don’t let this happen to you, read this article and learn all you can.

Online travel websites can offer you a great deal on hotels with lots of choices, all on the same website. Are you a member of a certain hotel’s membership program? If so, make sure you put this information into the travel site. Also, you may be eligible for discounts through other organizations to which you may belong, such as AARP or AAA.

Make sure you check with any organizations of which you are a member. Some groups provide members with discounts on certain hotels. These discounts can be as much as 10 percent or even more. This can add up to big savings, even more so if you will be staying for many nights. It can add up to equal a free night!

When thinking about the type of hotel you would like to stay at, there are plenty of options to consider. The cost is important but hardly the only factor to keep in mind. For example, you might want a room that is in walking distance to gym, or a hotel that has free Wi-Fi. Shop around for a hotel that has the features that are most important to you.

Take advantage of tools provided online when searching for a hotel. Use these websites to your advantage! They can also provide you with the average rate for a room at a particular hotel, so you can see if your offer is really a good deal. They might even offer some decent entertainment venues that you should experience while you’re in the local area.

Check your hotel room prior to unpacking. Is it tidy and sanitary? Does everything work? Do you have all the towels and linens you need? If there are any obvious problems, report them to the front desk immediately so that they can be taken care of or you can be moved to a different room.

Plan your trip in advance for the best rates. A lot of hotel locations offer discounts for reservations a month or more in advance. This will allow you to save up to 50 percent even when staying at an elite hotel.

Always remember to pack running clothes and any thing else you need for exercising while on your trip. You can still enjoy your early morning jog while on vacation if you have your gear and the right room booked. It will give you a perspective that you’ll never get while riding in a car.

If you travel a lot, you should consider joining hotel loyalty programs. They provide benefits to anyone who stays at a hotel chain frequently. You can often earn free upgrades, free stays, and complimentary late check out with enough points accrued.

What you will be charged for a room, depends on when it’s booked. Hotels give rooms a price based on what’s available. Try booking your hotel room within 24 hours of your stay. This will get you the best hotel rates. Empty rooms don’t earn the hotel money, so they’re happy to cut the price and reserve a room.

If you must make a hotel transfer, find out about the fees. If you’re getting what appears to be a nice deal on the room, these types of hidden charges can sometimes surface. Ask the hotel representative ahead of time to make sure you get the most savings.

Membership programs offered by hotel chains help members who travel a lot get the best rooms during their stay. 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.

Steer clear of long distance calls while in a hotel. Use the Internet, instead. Skype connections that are accessed through Wi-Fi are offered by many hotels. You can still call family members, friends, and colleagues from your room without racking up tons of costly charges.

Call the hotel before you arrive to make sure the swimming pool is 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. This is the least likely place for bedbugs to be. Therefore, you can put your luggage here while you look over the remainder of the room. Kids and pets can safely wait there too.

If you are a smoker, know the smoking policy for the hotel in which you are staying. A lot of hotels have rooms designated for smokers. If that is the case, you should ask for one of those rooms. There are hotels that will charge you quite a bit if they find out that you were lighting up in the room that wasn’t for smoking. This is why you should stick to the rules.

Find out what the policy on pets is. You may wish to stay away from hotels that permit pets if you have allergies or you fear certain animals. They may have a hidden smell that the hotel tries to mask with a strong fragrance, which is also an irritant. Many hotels charge a fee for staying with a pet, but it might not be a lot. It might not be adequate to the cost of cleaning demands.

If you want avoid bad hotel stays, consider this article’s advice. Now you know exactly what to look out for. Your hotel stay should be relaxing to you, not an unhappy experience.