5 Things to Check When Choosing a Hotel

5 Things to Check When Choosing a Hotel

Traveling the world is a great way to broaden the mind. You might be planning to go on a gap year with just the clothes on your back, or you may be looking to get a week away from the rat race. If you are one of the latter, this post is for you. A large factor that decides whether you enjoy your holiday is the accommodation, and with sites like booking.com and Airbnb, you are spoilt for choice. However, not all hotels are created equal so these are things you should check out before booking your trip.

What Do You Want out of a Hotel?

You take a holiday for your own well-being, so the most important factor you need to consider is whether the hotel you are considering meets your own requirements. Do you want food provided on-site? Do you want a large chain or do you prefer a smaller accommodation where the staff will give you all the attention? Are you looking to stay up late and party or are you planning to keep to yourself and enjoy a quiet time away? All these things need to be considered and more. You may not take a holiday that often, so you should make sure you will enjoy the place you are staying. You won’t regret taking the time to ensure your hotel offers everything you need. Some additional things to check your hotel provides, if they are important to you, include:

·         Free Wi-Fi

·         Parking

·         Air Conditioning

Is Your Hotel Close to Where You Want to Go?

You may have found the perfect hotel that offers everything you need, but its no good if it's over an hours drive from the places you want to see. You can work around distance to an extent but explore your transport options beforehand. If you want to eat out, where are the restaurants? Check a map, and see where your chosen hotel is in relation to the main attractions, and if far away, see how easy it is to get to them. While considering the area, it is worth your time trying to understand what the actual neighborhood is like. Some areas are just better than others, and it's wise to know whether you should be careful wandering the streets late at night.

Check The Reviews – Good and Bad

You might find the perfect hotel, but always check the reviews left by previous customers. Check for patterns of bad reviews, bad food or lack of cleanliness, for example. Make sure to pay extra attention to the reviews left within the last year, as these will be the ones that reflect the current state of the hotel. If there is a pattern of bad experiences, stay clear.

Does The Hotel Meet Your Budget?

When looking for a hotel, its very easy to overspend for convenience. If you have the cash to spend great, but traveling on a budget is my specialty so here are my tips. Check the average price for hotels that meet your needs and set your budget around that. Some amenities are charged extra, like breakfast for example. A 14 Euro per person breakfast is an unnecessary cost when there is a bakery right across the road. As explained in another article of mine, price comparison sites take a commission so you can often save money by booking directly through the hotels own website.

Check The Small Print

Finally, before making your booking, check the small print of the terms of your chosen hotel. They may offer parking facilities, but they may be located offsite, or it could just be street parking. The check-in and check-out times might not work to your schedule (if so its always worth checking if the hotel staff can make an exception). It might be something as small as the fact that they don’t accept your brand of credit/debit card. Taking the time to check now will save you hassle on arrival.

Planning In Advance Leaves More Time For You To Enjoy Yourself

It may seem tedious to go through all these details, but a terrible hotel experience will overshadow your entire holiday. Taking the time to make sure everything about your chosen hotel meets your expectations and requirements, is a sure-fire way to a relaxing holiday.

Do you check out your hotel in advance? Have you ever had a bad experience with a hotel?