Hotel selection can make or break your travel experience. Doing your research will allow you to find the ideal accommodations. Here are some helpful tips that will guide your search!
When selecting a hotel, it’s essential that you know when their last renovation occurred in order to avoid staying at a dated property that’s crumbling away.
1. Location
Hotel selection should be an integral component of your travel experience, whether for business or pleasure. In this article from Feet Do Travel, they discuss the significance of hotel location as a key factor and how to select the appropriate one for you.
Prioritize access when booking your hotel. Don’t book something that’s hard for you to reach! To help, examine maps that display where it stands in relation to where you plan on visiting and read online reviews from fellow travelers – if they often complain of noise issues it may not be an ideal location for you.
2. Amenities
When selecting the ideal hotel, it’s essential that you know exactly what your priorities are. Prioritize what amenities matter most and write out a list – this will allow you to narrow down your choices more quickly and save you time in your search process.
At hotels, most facilities offer standard amenities like shampoo, soap and towels for their guests’ comfort. But to set yourself apart from competition and make their stay truly special, consider offering special touches that make their guests feel extra-special.
These amenities can range from a diffuser with custom scent, an eye pillow, chronotherapy and music to providing sustainable products such as artisanal soaps. Furthermore, offering free WiFi and complimentary breakfast will help build loyal customer bases and turn occasional travelers into lifelong customers of your hotel.
3. Price
Accommodation expenses make up a large proportion of travel costs, making it essential that you know how much money you want to spend and filtering search results accordingly. Doing this will prevent options beyond your financial means from showing up and ensure you get maximum value for your dollar.
Choose hotels outside of major chains whenever possible; boutique hotels often provide similar services at much more reasonable rates, saving both time and money over the course of your trip.
Another way to save on hotel costs is booking during off-season. Prices typically increase on weekends and during special events or holidays; also consider calling or emailing the hotel directly and asking them for deals directly; according to Pavini this could even result in an upgrade since staff will have a more accurate picture of their occupancy at that point.
4. Reviews
When reviewing hotel online reviews, it is essential to look for both positive and negative comments. While individual negative reviews might not be deal breakers, common themes should serve as warning signals; for instance, solo travelers citing unreliable internet connections or business travelers noting lack of second lock on room doors could serve as red flags.
Be sure to examine both guest photos and professional images; hotel-supplied ones could contain outdated or even falsified imagery, while guest photographs are more likely to provide accurate snapshots.
An immediate review response demonstrates how seriously hotels take guest feedback, showing they are listening and willing to act when necessary, which is vital in terms of guest retention and gaining new leads.
5. Rooms
According to Whitewater Hotel, finding a hotel room that meets all your needs is key to having an enjoyable travel experience, as outlined on their blog. When searching for hotels, take into account your travel plans and amenities such as refrigerator and mini bar; prioritize these when searching. Also keep an eye out for hotels with great reviews so as to maximize your chance of success on this adventure!
When reading reviews of hotels, make an effort to look for ones written within the past year. Things change rapidly in hotels over time, including changes to management or decor which could significantly impact its rating.
Be sure to request your desired room when booking; most front desk agents have the authority to grant requests at their own discretion. Some hotels even offer upgrades for guests who ask nicely, such as flowers or hors d’oeuvres – this little extra could make all the difference when finding the ideal hotel!
6. Check-in time
Hotel check-in times might seem like a small detail, but understanding their workings can make your journey much smoother. From understanding why standard timings exist to techniques for navigating them more effectively, this article from Feet Do Travel enables travelers to appreciate and navigate hotels more effortlessly during their stay.
Parents traveling with young children often strive to arrive early so they can settle into their rooms and eat dinner before their fussy kids meltdown, in order to maximize the time available for exploring and enjoying their vacation.
Traveling on weekdays can also be advantageous, as hotels typically experience lower hotel booking volume on these days and have more opportunity to relocate rooms and accommodate early check-in requests. But remember, if you plan to arrive later than expected it’s always wise to inform the front desk in advance so they can accommodate you accordingly.
7. Check-out time
Before booking a hotel, it’s wise to double-check their checkout time. Depending on the length and timing of your trip, this knowledge can give you peace of mind that everything runs smoothly.
Hotels will usually indicate their checkout times on their websites and in your confirmation email, however late checkout requests may not always be possible as housekeeping will already have been in your room preparing it for the next guest.
When asking for a late checkout, it’s best to do it the afternoon or evening prior to departure day. This gives hotel staff a better sense of their occupancy for that day and may make accommodating you easier; plus it reduces stress for everyone involved and offers you one more chance to check over everything (ie beds under beds, shower curtains and electrical outlets etc).
8. Pet policy
When traveling with pets, it’s essential to find a hotel that offers pet-friendly accommodations. This means providing them with their own area for relieving themselves and other amenities that help your animal feel at home.
Hotel accommodations might include towels and sheets to cover beds or upholstered furniture, along with special cleaning supplies in case accidents happen en route. Such supplies could make all the difference for your pup’s comfort during travel.
Hotel chains may also provide other amenities specifically tailored for pets such as dog parks, beaches and trails to allow them to expend some energy before heading back home. These amenities can help your animal adjust more easily to the unfamiliar environment they will find themselves in before returning home.
9. Food
Hotels often provide some type of food service, from full restaurants to snack vending machines and everything in between. While this food may range from delectable to undigestable depending on which hotel is being considered, it’s wise to research all available options prior to renting the room.
If you want to save money on hotel food, bring easily prepareable snacks and meals from home or visit local grocery stores to stock up on affordable ingredients for pasta primavera, tacos or sandwiches.
Check with the front desk about using small appliances such as rice cookers or slow cookers in their rooms to save on food expenses; just be careful that any such appliance doesn’t violate fire codes or put hotel safety regulations at risk.
10. Parking
Hotels offering parking are essential for many travellers, particularly those renting cars. Before selecting one to stay at, be sure to use online maps and reviews to assess its proximity to local attractions, restaurants and shops.
Be wary when reading reviews; they may no longer reflect reality. Remodeling projects that were mentioned two years ago might already be complete; just because a hotel offered free breakfast in 2018 doesn’t guarantee it does now.
Finding a hotel to meet all of your needs and expectations can be a difficult challenge, but using these tips to assist your search, you should find exactly the hotel for your trip!