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. A great hotel room can create a memorable trip, but a bad one could make your vacation a disaster. For help finding the right hotel, keep reading.

Prior to making reservations, research hotels on sites like TripAdvisor. This gives you first-hand accounts of people’s experiences in each hotel. Other customers can give you some valuable insight and help you choose the right place to stay.

Use Orbitz or Expedia to find a great deal. If you are in a hotel loyalty program, put your information in. Also, you may be eligible for discounts through other organizations to which you may belong, such as AARP or AAA.

If you take a lot of electronic gadgets with you on a trip, lock them up in the safe when …