Nothing ruins a road trip faster than rolling into town late at night only to find that all the motel rooms are booked up for a nearby conference. Sleeping in your car may be adventurous when you're young, but most of us would much rather stay in private place where we can undress, clean up, and sleep in privacy. To make sure you always have somewhere to sleep during your road trip, make reservations. Here are some tips for how to make reservations during a unique vacation like a road trip.

Many people do not plan their routes when they're on a road trip, and this is what gets them into trouble. They have no idea when they'll get to the next town or whether there will be any vacation rentals available when they get there. You can avoid this type of situation simply by planning out your route. Choose which roads you will take and have an idea where you want to stop each night. This will allow you to make a booking at a hotel or motel in that town or city. Or try reserving a stay at a private residence from Airbnb.ca.

Because road trips are so unpredictable, make sure you find out what the hotel's late arrival policy is when you're booking. A flat tire or a side trip to a fun attraction could set you back a few hours, and you don't want to be locked out of the office, unable to check into your oceanfront cottage rental because the owners have gone to bed. Even if the office closes early, most proprietors will make arrangements for you if you tell them you're going to be late. At the very least, make sure they don't give your room away after a certain time of day.

If you're stopping overnight in a big city, make sure you find out where to park. Most hotels will have underground parking garages or their own, but beach condos rented from an agency may not come with a parking space. Ask the proprietor where you can put your car to ensure its safety. In some parts of the city, you may be risking theft or vandalism if you park on the street. In other parts, you might be towed away when the morning rush hour sets in. Remember: it's a road trip. If there's one thing you need, it's a car.

Some other things to look for when you're looking at which place for rent you should book into is the amenities. Since you're only stopping overnight, you probably won't need a laundry service or a concierge. You may, however, want a pool or gym where you can get some exercise after being cooped up in the car all day. A continental breakfast or restaurant is also a good idea so you don't have to drive around looking for food at rush hour.

You can also browse through private rentals on popular travel sites like Trip Advisor.