One of the most important things to consider when planning a trip away is where you will stay. Hotels come in many forms from luxurious 5 star spa resorts to basic 2 star B&Bs and it’s important to take your time to compare your options in order to find the perfect accommodation. Below are five of the most important factors to consider when choosing a hotel .
Location
First, you need to consider what type of location is right for you. Do you want a hotel within walking distance of all the major attractions? Or are you happy with a remote hotel away from all the hustle and bustle? In destinations with lots of attractions spread out over a large area, you may want to consider which type of attraction is most important to you. For example, some cities may have areas that are known for their nightlife and other areas that are known for their history. Great views from your hotel room window could also be important. A hotel overlooking the water such as this riverside hotel in Bangkok could allow you to wake up to amazing vistas. Other hotels may lack good views and this could potentially affect the atmosphere.
Rating
Most hotels are ranked from 1 star to 5 stars. This determines how basic or how luxurious they are. 1 star hotels may have nothing more than a bed in the room. 5 star hotels are likely to have rooms with luxurious bathrooms and balconies. The star rating does not affect the quality of customer service or cleanliness – a 1 star hotel can still be clean and have friendly staff, but is simply likely to be very minimal. This is why it can still be worth looking at the reviews.
Amenities
While the star rating can help you understand what level of amenities to expect, it can still be worth taking a detailed look at what’s included before you book a room. This includes the room facilities and shared facilities. Some of the amenities that could be important to find details on include:
- Food: Does the hotel have a restaurant? And is food all-inclusive?
- Drink: Is there a bar at the hotel?
- Parking: If you’re driving, parking could be necessary. Check that it is free.
- Wi-fi: Most hotels have wi-fi, but it’s not always free to use and wi-fi quality can vary.
- Pool: Is there a pool? And how big is it?
- Gym: For those who want to stay fit on vacation, a gym could be useful to have.
- Entertainment: Entertainment could be important for some guests. If you have kids, check if there is kids’ entertainment.
Reviews
What do previous guests think of the hotel? As already mentioned, the hotel rating doesn’t always give you a full picture of the quality of a hotel, so it’s worth looking at online reviews. If they’re mostly positive, that’s a good sign!
Price
Along with the cost of getting there, accommodation is typically the biggest cost when travelling. Fortunately, hotels come in an array of price ranges to suit all budgets. The location, rating, amenities and reviews are all likely to affect the price (expect to pay a lot for a centrally-located, positively-reviewed 5 star hotel with five pools and a spa). When you book your trip could also make a significant impact, and is something worth carefully considering. Most hotels are cheapest during weekdays out of peak season (a February Tuesday-to-Thursday stay in New York could cost a lot less than a July Friday-to-Sunday stay in New York).
