Choosing the right hotel for your vacation is IMPERATIVE when aiming to have a fun and enjoyable trip. There’s nothing worse than coming back after a long day of being out only to be uncomfortable with your lodgings. A hotel room should be a sanctuary where you can recharge the proverbial batteries (literally and figuratively), take a quick nap if need be, and freshen up for a night out on the town. Then, of course, you want a nice night of sleep to attack the next day. This piece will provide you with four integral tips for the hotel-picking process.
Read Multiple Reviews
This one is a no-brainer. Take the advice of those who’ve stayed at these locations before you book. Not only that but cross-reference with multiple review sites. People tend to be very honest about their experiences when taking the time to actually write about them. You don’t want to be surprised negatively should you book a hotel — only to show up and be mortified by what you find. Do as much research as you can before making a sensible decision.
Location is Key
Before booking a hotel, look at a map in correspondence to attractions, restaurants, sights, and places you want to visit. Staying in the city center for most major cities is usually the right move — though it’s not always the smart thing. For example, despite it possessing some unique features, staying in Downtown LA is not — shall we say — the safest or smartest place in the Greater Los Angeles area. Additionally, you don’t want to be too far away from the action. If you don’t have a car, the Uber/Lyft rides will start to pile up. From an efficiency standpoint, being within walking distance of most things you’d like to see makes a huge difference. Familiarize yourself with areas before you travel anywhere. This includes doing research in terms of not booking a hotel in an area that might be ridden with crime or danger.
Available Amenities?
Each hotel has its unique quirks. Some may have world-class spas, pools, free breakfast in the morning, and upscale gyms. Others might not have any of those perks. When on the hotel website, peruse diligently to get a feel for what to expect. Calling the hotel directly and asking for amenities would also be an acceptable practice in trying to book a quality experience. Again, you don’t want to show up at your hotel and be negatively impacted from a mentality standpoint by what you find (then realize you’re stuck for multiple days at that location).
Gameplan With Your Travel Partners
This one is important. Before you even book anything, be on the same page with your travel partners — whether with family, friends, a significant other, or a colleague. Much of this will come down to price. If one wants a more opulent experience, whereas the other wants to budget, there should be a happy medium somewhere to book. Going in, all parties should be happy with the final result. Having resentment on a trip where you’re sharing a room is a recipe for disaster.
