Blog
How to choose the best hotel accommodation at the best price?
Choosing a hotel can be overwhelming and exhausting. In this article, I have listed a few tips that will help make the process simpler so you can look forward to an exciting holiday retreat.
The most essential and crucial part of your travel planning is to make the right choice of hotel accommodation. Having the best place to halt at the end of an exciting and tiring day is an absolute must. Choosing accommodation is certainly not an easy task. It can be quite challenging for an international destination or the place you have visited before.
The first step is to decide what you want from the hotel accommodation. Are you looking for just overnight stopover with basic facilities or lavish high-class luxury hotel accommodation with all the amenities on the tip of your finger? How much would you like to spend? What kind of environment do you like, such as “romantic atmosphere” or “party vibe”?
It is a good idea to stay closer to the central area (city) or tourist spots
Try and find the accommodation closer to the places you would like to visit so that you can save time on travelling from your hotel accommodation—another advantage of living in a central area to have access to all basic amenities. Nightlife, if you choose to stay far from the main town, you may miss out just because your hotel is too far.
The atmosphere of the location
The ambience of the hotel is the most important thing to consider is the location of the hotel. You don’t want to land up in a hotel which is not family-friendly and clean. Make sure you read the reviews of the hotel and do research about the hotel before booking. Check if accommodation is suitable for family and friends.
Check what amenities hotel accommodation offers and what you will need the most in a hotel
All the hotels do not offer similar amenities. Most hotels will offer amenities such as breakfast, air-conditioning, parking, Wi-Fi, Airport pick up & drop up, Smoking –Non-smoking room. It is always better to check if there are any costs associated with these services. Every hotel has different facilities on offer. Based on your personal choice and needs, you can categorise the hotel and select the hotel accordingly. E.g. some people want an airport pick up and drop up facility whereas some people prefer to have free breakfast at the hotel. Some people prefer to have smoking rooms, while others might prefer to have a non-smoking room.
- Most hotel websites will list the amenities provided in the hotel room rates such as a room with breakfast included or without breakfast. Look carefully before booking so get the right room. Same goes for Smoking or non-smoking room.
- Regarding car parking, most hotels will generally advise on the price if included car parking or not. Occasionally hotels will advertise that they have parking. Still, sometimes the hotel has an arrangement with a third-party garage that isn’t located on-site so always check these things with the hotel over the phone or via email.
- Check with the hotel if they offer Wi-Fi connection and charges involved, pool accesses, toiletries etc.
- The most important part is to take note of the check-in and check-out time as it differs from hotel to hotel and location, so it is always better to check well in advance.
Check the hotel price and rating
Review the chosen accommodation ratings as it will give a rough idea if the hotel is worth staying. Ensure you are getting value for your money, especially if you are paying a lot more for your hotel. Explore the hotel website and read the reviews to know precisely what you’re spending on. Shockingly, expensive accommodation doesn’t mean they are better than cheaper hotels. It might sound pricy just because of the location, the view and amenities.
Read and emphasise on latest reviews published
While researching on the hotel, It is recommended to read the guest reviews published within last year. Reviews on most popular sites such as TripAdvisor, Google can be tricky to interpret. Some reviews posted five years ago can be misleading as a lot can change in five years, like a change in ownership, staff, the hotel’s interior, facilities given by the hotel so on. So it always a good idea to refer to the latest review to have a clear picture of the hotel.
Pay attention to the reviews, and do your research. However, the most vital is to keep your priorities when selecting accommodation.
What type of client hotel has?
It is important to find out what type of guest stay at the hotel. This information will help you to decide if the hotel is suitable for you. You can find guest information on the various hotel review website. Types of hotel accommodation that are inclined to be visited by backpackers are different from the type of hotel accommodation preferred by business travellers. You will often be chosen to stay with guests similar to you.
Check for a hotel Loyalty program
It is worth to see if the hotel has a loyalty program if you travel a lot then. Hotel love repeats, frequent customers and often give rewards to their loyal customers. With a loyalty program, you may earn points, and you may get rewarded with a free stay or some freebies from the hotel. Several hotels are aligned with frequent flier programs, so there is a chance to earn points toward that by staying in a particular location. You will be able to find the list of qualifying partners on the hotel website. Some airlines also have this information available of their portal and often have tie-ups with popular hotels. Check with your airline if they offer any special rates.
Check hotel website
Most of the hotels update their website from time to time when a hotel changes policies, adds any amenities such as a new restaurant or spa or any other updates on undergoing renovation. It is always best to practise to check the hotel website or contact the hotel directly.