subject: What To Consider When Choosing A Hotel [print this page] When traveling for business, or when going on vacation, choosing the right hotel is always important. Of course, you want to avoid hotels that are poor value for money, overbooked, chaotic and / or do not offer a lot of privacy or security. A bad hotel can make it almost impossible to enjoy what would otherwise be a very enjoyable trip. There are things that you can do to avoid the bad / poor value hotels though, such as considering each of the following before making a booking...
Booking Online : Many hotel-booking websites provide you with all the information that you need to know to make your choice before arriving at your destination. Moreover, you can arrive at your hotel with the security of knowing that you definitely have a room reserved for your stay. Most hotels accept online bookings up to 24 hours before arrival, so do not worry if you have left your trip planning late.
Reviews / Testimonials : Online hotel reviews and ratings are a great indicator of what you can expect from a hotel. A hotel review site will give you the full picture, as those leaving reviews and testimonials do not have a vested interest. Typing the name of your hotel plus 'review' into Google will tell you everything that you need to know.
Location : If you want to make sightseeing and shopping more convenient, it is best to select a hotel in, or near, the center of the town. You will end up paying a bit more for being centrally located, but that is balanced out by reduced transportation costs. If your budget limits you to choosing an out of town hotel, then look closely at local transport / car hire options before booking, to ensure that you will not be too isolated.
Cleanliness : Always consider cleanliness and sanitation when deciding which hotel to book. It is not at all recommended to try and save money by staying in a hotel that cuts costs by not providing an environment that is 100% healthy and clean environment. No-one enjoys staying in a hotel that is not clean, so do not risk it thinking that "it cannot be that bad". As a rule of thumb, you can always expect the larger hotel chains to be the cleanest.
Cost : Remember that with hotels you often get what you pay for. Of course, you will have a budget to work within for your trip, but your hotel is not the thing that you want to cut costs on. You should first decide what price range you can afford, and then pick one within than range that meets your individual or family needs.
