From small motels to five-star hotels, the US is home to thousands of accommodations. A great trip starts with a great hotel room. You will be able to use the following information to help ensure you select the right hotel.

Do some research on travel websites before you book any hotel. Here, you can read what people had to say about their hotel stay. These reviews can aid you in your decision about whether to book the hotel.

Compare prices at websites like Orbitz and Expedia to ensure that you receive the best available rate. Input your loyalty info when you are looking for rates online. Don’t neglect to check for other discounts in which you may qualify, including AAA and AARP.

If you have a safe in your closet, then you should use it to keep your valuables safe while you are outside of the room. This safe will store your small important items, such as your iPad, iPod, GPS, jewelry, etc. By doing this, you can keep these items secure and enjoy your day without fretting about someone stealing them.

In order to get the best prices for hotel stays, you will want to plan your trip several weeks or months beforehand. If you book one or two months in advance, you can often receive a discount. Doing this could save you up to 50 percent off your room, and this holds true with the more elite brands as well.

Book your appointment as far ahead of time as possible to guarantee you get the perfect couples massage for you and your significant other. Resorts that have masseurs often have very fully booked massage schedules, so it is important to plan ahead.

If you enjoy a morning run, try booking a hotel room that’s near the beach or an open park. If you want to jog early in the morning, don your gear and then go for it. No matter if you’re on city streets or down some roads, you can easily learn new things about a city doing this.

If you often stay at a certain type of hotel, ask about the “frequent stay” program. Like the programs for frequent flyer, these programs the hotel offer give you points whenever you stay with them. These points can be traded in for restaurant discounts, tickets to shows, free nights at the hotel, and much more.

People who care about the environment may be more comfortable staying in a hotel that is eco-friendly. There are plenty of “green” hotels that take the environment into consideration. There are plenty of hotels built today with strong environmental standards. Older hotels may choose to take “green” standards seriously, which is a great thing. Finding hotels that are environmentally friendly can be as easy as asking your favorite travel agent.

Get a AAA membership to facilitate the process of booking a hotel when you travel. Members of AAA will get additional hotel discounts up to five percent, but you’ll also get discounts on rental cars as well. In addition, free car seats are usually provided, which parents are certain to enjoy.

Never use the hotel phone for long distance calls. If you don’t have a cell phone or the Internet, buy a calling card to keep with you during your trip. A lot of hotels offer wi-fi, making it possible for you to use Skype. You can stay connected with friends, family and business colleagues this way, rather than making expensive long distance calls.

If you want to ensure happy kids while traveling, call the hotel ahead of time to check that the pools are open and in working order. Nothing is more frustrating than to have kids nagging you about swimming, only to find that the pool is closed.

If you are concerned about bed bugs, look in the bathroom first. This is where bedbugs are least likely to be. That makes it the perfect place to store your luggage while you inspect the rest of the premises for bedbugs. Put kids and pets in there, too.

Know your hotel’s policy on pets prior to booking with them. If you’re scared of pets or have allergies, you may not want to stay in a pet friendly hotel. These hotels sometimes have odors because the carpet and linens have absorbed them. Some hotels charge a nominal fee for pets, while others charge substantially more. Depending on the hotel, that fee may or may not be enough to cover extra cleaning.

Know that you may not be able to check-in early at some hotels. You need to plan appropriately to avoid waiting in the lobby all day. The room needs to be cleaned after the last guest leaves. Check with the front desk if you arrive early, but do not be angry if they can’t get you in early.

If you have a young child, ask for a crib when you call to make your reservation. Not all hotels will supply these things, and some may have limited quantities. Certain hotels will even charge a fee for these things. Make your needs known at the time you place your reservation so that you do not have any unpleasant surprises.

Don’t check out early, if possible. The hotel could impose a fee if you check out early. Booking a hotel room means the hotel is going to take that specific room off of their market. If you wind up leaving early, then they’ll be losing money for every day that you don’t stay. This means that they must compensate for that loss with a fee for early departure.

Several people jump on the first hotel they see. This approach may backfire. Staying in a grimy hotel is not desirable for anyone. In order to avoid this situation, put the above tips to use.