Traveling can be the adventure of your life. When you travel with loved ones or family, the experiences shared and memories created are sure to last a lifetime. Getting out of your comfort zone and exploring a new location can also bring its own little annoyances, but it teaches you to learn to think on the fly and solve problems. The more experienced you become, the more tricks of the trade you learn. Here’s the lodging secret every traveler needs to know.

It can be a stressful situation to find yourself in a new destination and have some problems with your hotels. Knowing that you have a place to stay that is comfortable and welcoming makes the whole trip that much more entertaining and relaxing. Regardless, sometimes problems arise and you need to know this secret:

be witty

At any time, there are a variety of ways you can quickly find the travel information you need so you and your partner or family aren’t stranded somewhere without warm beds to sleep on. Use this guide to help you find a place to stay during your travels.

1. Local online searches

Jumping online and doing a search for hotels near me can turn up some promising results. However, most of the results that emerge will be heavily paid by corporate chains and large hotel conglomerates. You may be able to find better deals by skipping a few pages and looking at the local results that come up. Downloading an app on your phone or tablet is also a good resource. You can often do a location sweep and find good options within a specific radius of where you are.

2. Try a travel website

There are some major travel sites that can help you book flights, find hotel packages near the city or airport that will be close by, or help you with discounts at restaurants and car rental companies. These sites can sometimes find special deals on hotels that aren’t normally advertised directly, so it’s always worth a try.

3. Locally operated bed and breakfast

When you go, do what you see. There’s a reason locals prefer to stick around and maintain their locally owned and operated bed and breakfast places. They often offer some of the best accommodations as well as amenities to help you feel at home. Most will offer a delicious breakfast in the morning, as well as places to grill, relax by a bonfire, swim or soak in a hot tub. In addition, the rooms are often designed to be more comfortable and are especially perfect for romantic getaways.

Now that you know the secret, get out there and plan your fun travel experience today.