subject: Discover The Best Motel In Invercargill [print this page] http://www.invercargillmotel.com http://www.invercargillmotel.com
How to find a good motel in the Invercargill area
There are many things to consider when choosing a motel.
1.)Location relative to your requirements
2.)Rates / tariffs
3.)Facilities offered
4.)Service provided
5.)Booking the motel
6.)Arriving at the motel
An important consideration:
In your dealings with the motel of your choice,
before you have even booked the room, is the
motelier / manager courteous and polite, warm
and welcoming?
This is a very important consideration. You want to enjoy your home away from home;
whether you are on business or holiday, staying several nights or just one, you want the experience to be as relaxing and stress free as possible. If the motelier enjoys the job, the quality of service and attention to details will be much better.
If the answer to the question is No, then do not go any further. You will not want to
stay at that motel.
This free guide offers some good questions to ask,
points to ponder, and things to think about before
making your booking.
Location
This can be an important factor when booking a motel. If you desire a good nights sleep, clearly you will not want to stay on a very busy road, or close to a rowdy hotel or night club. If you have your own vehicle, you have more flexibility and can choose accommodation a little further away from the busy centres; sometimes only a few streets further away will make a considerable difference in terms of quietness. If you are reliant on public transport, you may wish to choose accommodation that has proximity to bus or train stations. Many airports run shuttle services to guest accommodations, or the motel may have its own shuttle service. These are all points to consider when choosing the location of the motel.
What will it cost?
What is the tariff?
Ask what the room rate per night is. For some, this will be one of the most important factors in making their choice; for others, it will be of lesser importance. Most motels charge a base rate for 1-2 people, with a surcharge for each additional person. If there is more than one person staying, it would be wise to check that the quoted tariff covers the number of people using the room. Be honest about the number of people staying; moteliers may refuse you the room and keep your deposit if you are not.
Many motels will discount the usual nightly rate if you stay more than one night. Some will give a free night if you stay several nights. It's worth finding this out before you book the room.
Are you on business? If so, ask if the motel has a Corporate rate. Many motels, especially those that cater to the Corporate trade, will provide a better rate for you if you are on business as this can be a good source of repeat business for the motel.
Be aware of extras that may be added. Some of the 'cheaper' motels have hidden extra costs; for example, you may pay the basic room rate but find that you have to pay extra to use the television, the telephone, to get an electric jug, and so on.
What Is the Cancellation Policy?
Most motels will have a cancellation policy. Note that cancellation policies vary from motel to motel so it is important to check this before making the booking. Many motels will allow a full refund or no charge to your credit card if the cancellation is received no later than 24 hours prior to your stay. Others will have scaled charges based on the number of days the cancellation is made prior to your stay. A small number of motels will charge you for your full booking even if you provide more than adequate notice of the cancellation.
Will they require a Deposit?
Typically, a booking is not confirmed unless the motel has received either a deposit or your credit card details as security. However, this also varies from motel to motel, so it pays to check when making the booking.
What type of payments do they accept?
This also varies; however most reputable motels will accept credit cards, eftpos, or cash.
Many motels will not accept cheques, although they may accept company cheques from businesses that have charge accounts with the motels.
What facilities does the motel offer relative to your requirements?
It is a good idea to consider your personal requirements before making the booking.
Do you just want a clean basic room for one or two people with a comfortable bed and bathroom facilities for an overnight stay? Or are you planning to stay several nights?
Do you require cooking facilities?
Do you want full cooking facilities, or will you eat out? Do you need a microwave?
Or do you just want tea & coffee facilities in the room because you plan to order in?
Do you require room service breakfast; check if the motel provides cooked / continental breakfast - and is this extra? (Note that most motels will charge extra for this service, although you can also get package deals that will include a breakfast).
What bed configurations do you require?
As a single guest, do you prefer a single or double bed? As a couple, do you prefer twin, double, queen, or king bed? If you have your family, do your require separate bedrooms? Check with the motel that the bed configuration in the room you are booking suits your requirements as this can be an important factor in the comfort of your stay.
Servicing of the rooms
If you are staying more than one night, is the room serviced daily? Is this a full service or just changing the towels? If you are paying full room rate per night, you should be getting a full service daily during your stay. What time of the day is the room serviced?
Check In & Check Out times
Although most motels have a standard check out time of 10am, it is wise to check this with the motel when making the booking to ensure this is correct. Some motels will charge a fee for late check out, especially if it has not been arranged the night before. This is normal business practice as the motel often has a tight schedule to maintain between one guest checking out and another checking.
Check in times are often flexible with many motels being able to offer a check in time reasonably early in the day due to not being fully booked. However, other motels specify a check in time not before 2pm. Again it pays to check when making the booking.
Telephone
Nowadays, many people use personal cell phones when travelling and therefore do not require the use of a telephone in the motel. However, for those who may need to make phone calls from the room, it is worth checking the motels charging rate for calls as this can add a considerable cost to your account if you make several calls.
Internet
Internet facilities offered vary widely from motel to motel, with some of the smaller motels having no internet available - check if there are internet cafs nearby - to the larger motel complexes that have dial up and / or broadband available in the rooms, or may have a small internet caf within the complex. Do you prefer wireless broadband? Charge rates for internet also vary greatly, so it is a good idea to check this when making the booking. Some will provide free internet access while others will charge a fee per 24 hrs, other may charge an hourly rate.
Sky Television
Although many motels these days do offer Sky Television, some do not, so if you prefer to have this facility available, check this before booking the room. Also check what Sky channels are available.
Access facilities
Do you require wheelchair access facilities? If so, do they have an appropriate room available for the night/s you wish to stay?
Cot / Highchair
Travelling with a baby? Does the motel provide cots & highchairs, and what do they charge for the use of them? Do they provide clean bedding for the cot?
Room heating / electric blankets
If you are staying during the cooler months, does the motel offer adequate heating facilities and electric blankets for all beds? If you are staying during the hotter months, does the room have air conditioning or a ceiling fan? Is it adequately ventilated?
Hairdryers / Electric Shaver
Does the motel provide portable hair dryers in the units? If you use an electric shaver, does the motel provide the appropriate hot point?
Lighting
Does the room provide good lighting in all rooms, including good reading lights?
What external facilities does the motel offer?
Parking
Does the motel have off street parking? If so, is it free? If you have a larger than average vehicle, can the motel accommodate this, or will you need to park elsewhere? If you don't have your own vehicle, require pickup from public transport, does the motel offer a courtesy vehicle, and if so, is it free or what are the charges involved in its use?
Swimming Pool and / or spa
Would you prefer to stay at a motel that has a swimming pool or spa pool? If so, check the facilities offered by the motel and ask if there are any charges for the pool use. Does the motel provide extra towels for pool use, and do they charge extra for them?
Barbeque / Trampoline / Tennis court
If you are on holiday and staying several nights, would you like to have the option of using barbecue facilities; if so, check what the motel offers. Do you have young children who would enjoy using a trampoline to work off some of their excess energy? Would you enjoy a game of tennis? And are these facilities important enough in your choice?
Business facilities
If you are travelling on business, do you require the use of a conference room or a small
meeting room? Will you require catering? Generally only the larger motel complexes
cater these facilities. Do you simply need adequate desk space in the room itself?
Elevator / stairs
Check if the motel rooms are all on ground level. If not, is there an elevator? If you have difficulty using stairs and there isnt an elevator, will they guarantee you a ground floor room?
Security
What security does the motel offer for you and your property? Is it located in a safe
neighbourhood? Is there good external lighting?
What other services does the motel offer?
Dry cleaning / Laundry service / Ironing Board
Does the motel offer a dry cleaning service? Do they have a guest laundry? Does this also include a clothes dryer? What are the charges for using the guest laundry? Be aware that these costs vary and can be quite expensive. Do all the rooms have an Ironing board, do you need to request one, or do you need to trek down to the guest laundry to iron your shirt?
Local Attractions
What are the local attractions? Are they of interest to you / your family? Are they located nearby to the motel you are choosing to stay in? Are the motel staff knowledgeable about these attractions and able to offer advice and information? Can the office make bookings for you?
How to Book a Motel
Now that you have narrowed down your choice of motels to a select few that appear to fulfill your most important requirements, you are ready to make the booking.
You can book motels through several media direct contact with the motel, through a travel agent, or through a variety of online sites such as Wotif, Jasons, AA, or the motels own website if they have one. Be aware that booking online will often be a cheaper option
than booking directly with the motel; however, there is also the likelihood that you will be given the cheaper rooms, which may not have all the facilities you desire.
What to do on arrival at the motel.
Confirm the room is ready for you. Ask to view the room. You have the right to see what you are paying for. Check under beds, behind the refrigerator, and in the bathroom, when inspecting the room, this is an indicator of cleanliness. Be aware that if you have pre-booked the room, if you are not satisfied with the state of the room and wish to cancel the booking, it is probable that the cancellation policy will apply even if you have a very legitimate concern about the state of the room.
