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If you want to know how to choose the right hotel, this list will give you the right tools for short or long term travel. Of course, a good night sleep is main priority, but you will want to also consider the following notes. Keep reading for the top 10 hotel booking tips for your next trip.
Is the hotel of choice close to attractions, restaurants, public transportation and easily accessible? If not, how much are the additional transportation costs going to be? It may just be more convenient and possibly the same price to choose a central location. If you do plan on staying outside of the city centre, research the specific area beforehand. Finding out the sketchy areas of a city is something you will want to know before you book and explore. Lastly, be sure to check the exact location on maps – side streets can actually be really inconvenient or hard to find in bigger cities.
Price isn’t as straightforward as having a low, medium, or high budget, there are other things to consider. Including additional fees, city taxes, breakfast, deposits, and exchange rates. Now these may be small charges but they do add up. Especially if you are on a limited budget. On the other hand, sacrificing a good nights sleep for a bit of savings usually isn’t worth it. Also, be aware that if you are booking a hotel in high season, prices will reflect that. More so in popular destinations like Paris, Rome, Vienna, and even budget friendly destinations like Bangkok.
Plans might change, and they usually do when it’s too late. With this in mind, opt for a good cancellation policy, one that will allow changes or last minute cancellations. Note that there are different policies out there, even if you are booking on the same website/app. With this in mind, find out that specific hotel policy before booking. In fact, some may allow cancellations up to the day before while others might have a no refunds policy. Again, cancellations are usually unexpected circumstances like emergencies, flight changes, etc. Without a doubt, the safest bet is to have a good cancellation policy in the first place.
Check in and check out times are normally around the same times. Such as check in after 3pm, and check out at noon. But, there are definitely some hotels with earlier and later times, so it is always good to check. Additionally, find out the receptionists working hours, because this could also effect your plans. If you are heading from one hotel to the next, you might have a few spare hours, so make sure one of the hotels has a luggage storage option.
For frequent travellers, and those booking multiple hotels, being a part of a loyalty program definitely has its perks. For example, Hotels.com will give you a free night every 10 nights – worth the average of those 10 nights. Whereas Booking.com offers you better nightly rates the more you book. Also, there are credit cards that offer points or money back on travel purchases. Unquestionably, tier programs are a good way to go, as you might get perks like free breakfast, room upgrades, welcome gifts, and more. In fact, signing up for a loyalty program still has its perks even if you are only booking a hotel once a year.
Why Booking.com is the best
• You don’t have to pay upfront
• User-friendly app
• Reputable website
• More savings the more you book
For these reasons, Booking.com is one of the best ways to book hotels. Use this link to book your next hotel and support this site at the same time (at no extra cost to you)!
On any booking website you will find a variety of stays such as hotels, hostels, guesthouses, and more. In addition, there is also Airbnb for those looking for entire apartments or houses to themselves. If you are booking long-term, this may be the way to go. Note, I have used Airbnb plenty of times but I do prefer hotels as there are better cleaning policies and cheaper rates. Also, with airbnb you don’t exactly know what you are getting into with the host and property – it can be a mixed bag. Undoubtedly, every type of accommodation has its pros and cons, so it’s best to think of what you prefer. Do you want the benefits and service from a hotel room? An entire apartment with a kitchen on Airbnb? A bunk in a budget friendly hostel? Or a cozy bedroom in a guesthouse?
Reading reviews is a good way to get a better sense of the hotel’s vibe. In general, there are three things you should look for: reviews in the last year, ratings, and recurring issues or patterns. If the same issues are brought up, like cleanliness, noise, wifi, comfort, and service, then there’s a pretty good chance that you will experience those same things too. As for ratings, 8.0 and above is a safe bet, and 9.0+ will probably get you everything you want and possibly more. Moreover, if you find a place you want to book but it has low ratings, check to see why people are docking stars/marks. It could be because of something the hotel can’t control, something unreasonable, or something that really wouldn’t be a problem for you.
Hotel amenities are what make an okay stay into a good or great stay. Nowadays you see hotels offering plenty of products and services to please guests. In most cases you should have your basic amenities like air conditioning, heating, towels, soap, etc. Additionally, such things as tea and coffee, a kettle, a safe, shampoo, and a workspace have become hotel standard. Are these important for your stay? How about airport shuttle, laundry, housekeeping or wifi? Many hotels offer all of these amenities plus more, though some only have the basic amenities and that’s it! That being said, having all these amenities isn’t absolutely necessary but they sure do make for a more comfortable and convenient stay.
The hotel facilities are another aspect that could add to the enjoyment of your stay. For example, a pool, a spa, a restaurant, leisure activities, games, a gym, balconies, and common areas. As well as the convenient spaces like parking and luggage storage. I have found that a place that offers many facility and amenity perks are usually trying to go above and beyond for the guest. Whether you need them or not, having them is a bonus. However, do you want all these perks for an “all-inclusive” stay or do you just need a bed to sleep in?
Last on this list is the appearance of the hotels through online pictures. What are they showing? What are they not showing? Does it look clean or kind of grubby and not appealing? If the pictures look off or not so nice, the room often feels the same way in person. Whereas, some properties have strict cleaning measures that are noticed right away. In most cases, the pictures will look better than in real life. Be sure to look at both the hotels pictures and the reviewers pictures as the latter’s will provide a better look at what you can expect.
In short, check all information or at least think about your priorities and make sure they can be accommodated for your ideal stay. Thanks for reading the top 10 hotel booking tips and be sure to add your name to our newsletter list for upcoming travel news and advice!
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