Whether you’re a seasoned solo traveller or just love the occasional getaway, taking a break and travelling is always beneficial! What makes it so unique is the blend of unanticipated experiences and the exhilaration of travelling to new locations.
Whether it’s a planned family holiday or a spontaneous solo journey, some aspects of travel are essential. This includes setting your schedule, hunting for affordable flight tickets, and looking for the best hotel deals. While air travel usually has few surprises, the same can’t be said for hotels.
The right hotel can enhance your vacation, while a bad one can ruin it. Everyone wants a pleasant place to relax when they’re on holiday. A hotel becomes your temporary home, so it should be comfy and welcoming. Thanks to the internet, it’s now easier to see, compare, and book hotels even before you travel. However, there’s always a catch! Online bookings are mostly reliable, but sometimes, what you see is not what you get. In this article, we will see 17 lists of what to look for when booking a hotel.
Table of Contents
17 Things to Look for When Booking a Hotel
Location
In the past, I’ve stayed in hotels that were poorly located, making it hard to walk around easily. I once stayed far from the city centre and spent a lot of time commuting. This taught me to always check a hotel’s precise location before booking. When my flight arrival time is at night, I always book near the city centre within a short walking distance. While many booking websites give short location descriptions, they often offer online maps for users. So it is a must to check the hotel location.
Internet
When I was a digital nomad, the Internet was as essential as breathing. If I didn’t have it, I’d feel so uneasy and it will badly hamper my office work and personal projects. Most hotels offer free WiFi, but some might ask for a small fee. Some hotels limit the number of devices you can connect. So always check WiFi availability in the hotel description also worth checking to review what other guests are saying.
Type of Booking
When booking hotels, we often just use our regular website or favourite hotel chain. While loyalty programs can offer good deals, it’s smart to compare prices on different sites. Booking options vary too. Some reservations allow free cancellations, useful if plans might change, but they might be pricier than fixed bookings. Check the costs for meal plans at hotels. In some places, it’s cheaper to book meals with your stay. In others, hotel breakfast might be too expensive for what you get.
Room Type
The design and size of a hotel room can make a big difference in how much you enjoy your stay. Room dimensions can change a lot in some hotels. If you’re unsure about the room you’ll get, it’s okay to contact the hotel before you arrive to ask about room layouts. If a hotel wants payment when you arrive instead of when you leave, feel free to ask to see the room before paying. If you want a bigger room, check its size in the details and see if they have a room layout for you to view. Or, pick a boutique hotel where you can choose your specific room, with its unique features, to avoid any unexpected issues when you check-in.
Amenities
A hotel’s star rating gives an idea about its comfort and features, but these ratings can be different in every country and might not always show the real quality. Features like elevators, a minibar, round-the-clock reception, and a pool can affect the rating, but they don’t tell you how good the hotel truly is.
Small details can make your stay better, like a socket near the bed for easy phone charging or a strong hairdryer in the bathroom with a long cord. However, some people prefer specific hotel chains because they consistently offer great features, like Westin’s special beds or Kimpton’s pet-friendly policy.
Cleanliness
Reviews are super helpful when checking how clean a place is. If you’re saving money and thinking about a room with a shared bathroom, see what earlier guests mentioned. If many found it dirty, maybe spend a bit more to avoid that. Also, read reviews for signs of unwanted pests like cockroaches or bedbugs. If there are problems, avoid that place until you’re sure it’s fixed.
Cancellation Policy
Before booking a hotel or rental, check its cancellation terms. This way, if your plans change, you won’t lose money. It’s important to understand these rules to avoid extra costs and worries. Many hotels let you cancel up to 24 hours before, but others might need 72 hours notice. Some might charge a fee, while others allow free cancellations until a certain time.
When using online booking sites, always check their policies too. They often let you filter for hotels with “free cancellation” to prevent unexpected charges for last-minute changes.
Hotel Review
Recent surveys show that 91% of people aged 18 to 34 trust online hotel reviews as much as they trust recommendations from friends or family. This is evident from the popularity of sites like Yelp, Google Maps, and TripAdvisor among travellers. Before you book a short trip or choose your next remote work spot, it’s vital to carefully go through these online reviews. Always look at the date and reviewer profiles to ensure the feedback is genuine. It’s recommended to read at least 5 to 10 reviews, including both good and bad ones, before making a booking. This gives insight into the hotel’s service quality, cleanliness, and overall vibe. The negative reviews can also give you a heads-up on common issues you might face. Steer clear of hotels or rentals that don’t have any photos or reviews.
Check-In / Check-Out
Before booking, see if the hotel’s reception is open all day and night. This is handy if you’re coming very early or late. If you think you’ll be late because of flight issues or traffic, find out about late arrival rules. If you want to arrive early, ask if they have free rooms. Some hotels let you come early if a room is free, but if it’s taken, you’ll wait until it’s cleaned after the previous guest leaves. Also, see if there’s a fee for staying past the normal departure time. If you book online, share your coming time with the hotel using their contact info.
Luggage Storage
After checking in, take care of your bags and important items. Some travellers say they’ve lost things when they leave their hotel or hostel. Although many places offer luggage storage for free, always ask to be sure. If the place you’re staying at doesn’t have storage, look up nearby options. Bringing your own lock to secure your bags is a smart move.
Hotel Toiletries and Facilities
Believe me, it’s frustrating to find out a hotel doesn’t offer toothpaste. I even once had to work from my bed because the room lacked a desk! These details weren’t mentioned on the reservation websites.
That’s why reaching out to the hotel before your stay is beneficial. Don’t hesitate to inquire about meals, personal care items, and available amenities. This will help you be better prepared.
Hotel Room Size
Many people have mentioned concerns about room sizes in hotel reviews. While room size isn’t my top priority when picking a hotel, it does impact the overall stay. Regardless of whether it’s an affordable or a 4-star hotel, considering the room’s size is essential.
Hotels should offer comfort. If they don’t, they shouldn’t be labelled as hotels! Always focus on what matters to you and stand by those choices.
Special Needs
Travellers often have specific needs at hotels. If you have a pet, you’ll want a hotel that welcomes animals. People with disabilities might need amenities like elevators or modified restrooms. Always ensure a hotel meets your safety and convenience needs before booking.
Check Air Conditioning
You might think all places have A/C, but not always, especially in other countries. If you need A/C, check if your hotel or place to stay has it.
Safety Considerations
When you’re heading to a place you’re unfamiliar with, it’s vital to prioritize your safety. This is particularly crucial for women travellers. Before booking online, check for security measures like on-site security personnel, barriers, and CCTV cameras. Reading reviews can give insight into how safe the property and its surroundings are. Also, joining online travel forums can offer real experiences from those who’ve visited before.
Extra Charges and Taxes
Some hotels or accommodations in certain areas may have taxes not covered in the initial booking price. When booking online, be mindful of any extra fees to avoid unexpected charges upon check-in.
Always check real Photos
Unless you’re visiting a highly reputable hotel, don’t trust all the photos on their hotel website. A place might look great in photos but be different in reality. These photos are mainly to attract customers and may not show the full truth. Instead, read the hotel reviews, and check real photos posted by guests on review websites.
Conclusion
Choosing the right hotel can make or break a trip. Even though it’s easy to book online, travellers should be careful and do their homework. When picking a hotel, think about its location, Wi-Fi, booking type, room size, and what it offers. Reading real guest reviews is a must to confirm if the hotel is as good as it claims. Cleanliness, how they handle cancellations, check-in and check-out times, baggage storage, and any extra costs are also important. If you have pets or special needs, check if the hotel can accommodate them. Don’t just trust the hotel’s pictures; look at photos from other guests too. Being smart and well-informed can lead to a great stay, making your trip unforgettable in a good way.