There are thousands of hotels across the United States, from fancy five-star luxury resorts to shabby little roadside motels that haven’t changed in decades. Your trip experience depends on whether you are staying in a good hotel or a bad one. You will be able to use the following information to help ensure you select the right hotel.

Would you like to enjoy the comfort of enjoying an incredible evening meal with your loved one without having to dress up and leave your room? If so, consider using room service. Even though this will cost a bit more, the convenience and comfort are worth it.

Take advantage of online hotel searching tools. You can use such websites to discover great deals with ease and speed. They display the average rates of hotels so that you can see if the deal you are getting is good. These travel sites also list activities available in your area.

Always look for online deals before booking a hotel room. Many times, the person you book your room with will not tell you that you can get a discount online. This is why you should always do your research well online to find these hidden discounts. Websites like Travelocity and Expedia can be a great way to do research on hotels.

Always check the room before you begin to unpack your belongings. Is it clean and free of mold and mildew? Check the toilet, the shower, and the sink to make sure they are clean and function properly. Count how many linens and towels you were given and make sure there are enough for everyone traveling with you. If any issues are immediately prevalent, call the front desk that instant so they can address them or move you to another room.

Be aware of when you can check into your room. Many people forget the time, then they show up early and the room isn’t ready yet. Ask for an early check-in time if absolutely necessary.

To get the best prices on hotel rooms, start your trip planning weeks, or even longer in advance. If you book one or two months in advance, you can often receive a discount. That saves you 50 percent or more frequently!

Don’t assume your hotel is pet-friendly. Call the hotel to verify, even if it says so on the website. Also, find out if there are any size or breed restrictions.

Use your AAA discount at hotels. It may come as a surprise to find that an auto club membership offers hotel discounts, but that is the case. You can save more than five percent on hotels all over the country. These savings really add up.

If you are a person who travels often, it is a good idea to sign up for hotel loyalty programs. There are many benefits you may be able to get. The rewards can include free room upgrades, free meals and movie or show tickets tickets. The points can add up.

If you stay at the same chain of hotels often, look into their membership programs for frequent guests. Similar to how you earn points from frequent flyer programs, hotels offer you similar rewards for your stay. You can accumulate points that you can redeem for free hotel stays, discounts at restaurants, and all types of entertainment.

Join a loyalty program to get deals on your stays. That way, each time you stay, you accrue points that you can turn into vacation freebies when it’s time to take the family on an adventure.

Most customers skip on the research step and eventually purchase the first hotel reservation that they stumble upon. This can easily backfire and you can wind up paying a lot more for a room than you should. You do not want to book a bad hotel room, so read on to learn more about getting the right one.