When it comes to selecting accommodations, what might be right for me may not be right for you, but with my tips, I can help you choose your ideal hotel when planning the next trip.
Hotels are in the “Eye of the Beholder”
When it comes to travelling, I have had my share of hotel “hits” and “misses.” You see, guests staying at the same hotel at the same time could come away with totally opposite opinions.
For me, some positive hotel experiences have been a surprise while negative experiences were simply the result of poor timing, mis-information, or just a bad recommendation.
A few years back, while attending my niece’s wedding in New York, the invitation included a specific “hotel block” with an attractive discounted rate. I never took a second thought about it. Within minutes of arriving at the hotel, while still at the front desk checking in, an unshaven elderly man clothed in a robe and pajamas at 3pm in the afternoon showed up at the desk asking for towels.
That immediately ignited my anxiety, an uneasy feeling that continued as we walked into our first floor, antiquated hotel room with an old rug and a musty smell. We survived that long weekend but lesson learned. Even with a recommendation, research, research, research.
Hotels are Not “One Size Fits All”
Every traveler has a different set of hotel parameters. Are you looking for a specific location in city limits or deep in the woods? Do you want a simple hotel or an all-inclusive resort with extensive amenities and non-stop activities? Will a traditional guest room suffice or are you looking for a spacious suite?
The list goes on and on.
For me, I’m usually looking for a comfortable bed with a clean bathroom. However sometimes I plan a vacation where I want to relax and be pampered, so a hotel with an onsite spa, swimming pool, and hot tub are non-negotiable amenities.
Every travel opportunity necessitates a bit of your own analysis and planning. What is good for one traveler may not be good for another. The right hotel is the one that best “fits” your needs and matches your travel expectations.
Here are some tips and guidelines that I have been using to select the perfect hotel … for me and my family.
Create a Travel Budget
Before you start researching hotels and you fall in love with a boutique hotel that is far outside your travel budget, crunch the numbers first.
Calculate your total travel budget and determine what monies you want to put aside for the accommodations. Take that number and do some math to come up with a reasonable per night hotel rate.
If you have a specific hotel in mind that you have been dreaming about visiting, hotel prices vary based on season. This may persuade you to travel during off-peak seasons.
Your travel budget will help you narrow down your options and avoid overspending. Once you have a per night rate, you can start a search for hotels within your price range. I typically begin with hotel rates under $200.00 per night but with experience, I know that decent hotels in metro cities would be much higher.
Also consider that some higher priced hotels could disappoint you while some cheaper hotels may impress you. I’ve experienced both scenarios.
Setting the travel budget leads to my next step to finding a good hotel, selecting the most convenient locale.
Choose a Convenient Location
I think that selecting the location is probably one of the most obvious travel variables. You see, I know which specific tourist attractions that I want to visit, so I choose accommodations that are in walking distance or at least, near public transportation.
I sometimes choose to stay right in the heart of the city, and other times, I look for a hotel that’s set in a quieter locale yet with easy access to the city highlights.
If I’m looking for a beach vacation or a visit to a National Park, I try to find a hotel that is steps from the sand or a cabin at the base of the mountain.
In the past, I’ve had to give up on a particular hotel location because it was inconvenient to the nearest airport and the hotel didn’t offer an airport shuttle. Or we’ve found the perfect hotel but it was so far from the interstate or highway that it added hours and hours of extra driving.
Determine a convenient location and you will be given a decent amount of hotels to choose from.
Look at Travel Ratings
As I mentioned prior, each traveler can view a hotel with a completely different perspective. One of my quickest steps to selecting a hotel is to peruse the travel ratings. I prefer finding hotels with at least a 4-star rating on popular travel sites.
Then, I take those 4-star hotels and take into consideration how many reviews were written for that hotel. A high rated hotel that only has hundreds of reviews is not as reliable as a highly rated hotel with thousands of reviews.
I’m not saying that a 3 star hotel is bad, I’m just saying that some locations have multiple 4 star hotels so I filter my options down with those favorable selections first.
The next step is to take those hotels and start reading the customer reviews.
Read Hotel Reviews Carefully
This step is probably what takes the most time for me in my hotel selection process.
I read the most recent travel reviews first. There is no need to read a review from a prior year. A lot can change in the day to day functions at a hotel regarding staff attitudes, bed comfort, and Wi-Fi speed and reliability.
I don’t jump to conclusions right away. I read the good, the bad, and the sometimes ugly reviews. If I see a repeated negative comment, I still have to evaluate whether it’s justified.
For example, complaining that the outdoor swimming pool was closed for inclement weather, is not the fault of the hotel. Having a guest room with poor air conditioning is legitimate but the other 299 rooms had adequate cooling.
With that being said, a negative review could also be a red flag so heed the warnings that there could be an ongoing issue. This has been especially eye-opening when a past traveler mentions an astronomical daily hotel fee added to a low daily room rate, cleanliness issues, or the potential nuisance of a remodel that’s happening on the hotel property.
So now that you considered the hotel rating and read reviews, let’s move onto the next factor, “a picture is worth a thousand words.”
To Judge or Not Judge a Book By Its Cover
Okay, so a hotel is not a book, but I do think a hotel’s exterior is an important factor when I select a hotel.
After I’ve read travel reviews and I have multiple hotels in contention, I perform an online search to look at photos of the hotel property. This immediately weeds out the rundown or old-fashioned hotels, and oftentimes, you can see what is around the property.
One time I thought I found a good hotel until I noticed that a city train ran right behind the building. I did not want to contend with train noise during my vacation.
Another time, I investigated what the hotel meant by “close to highway” and I realized that the hotel entrance was part of the highway exit and there was a busy gas station on the premises.
The photos are especially helpful if you’re looking for a hotel with beach access. A photo will show you if it has access out the back door right onto the sand or in some cases, you have to walk across a busy street to gain “access” to the beach entrance.
Photos are a great way to narrow your hotel choices down in a particular location.
Be Picky About Hotel Amenities and Activities
To keep the search for the perfect hotel for you, or as close to perfect as possible, you may still have a long list of potential hotels.
This is the step that you can get a little selfish about your travel wants and needs.
If you’re looking for an ocean view, spa treatments, multiple restaurants, room service, golf courses, pickleball courts, or hiking, biking, and skiing trails on the premises, go for it!
I do appreciate hotels with complimentary Wi-Fi, parking, and breakfast. While not all free breakfasts are impressive, saving money is always a good thing when traveling.
Different hotels offer different amenities, activities, and services, so what’s important to you? If you need pet-friendly accommodations, narrow the search down to those that will welcome your furry friend with open arms.
I find the most accurate way to handle this task is to make a list of my desired must-haves and determine which hotels on my list, if any, meet the criteria.
Does the Hotel Offer Guest Rooms and Suites?
I’m not going to lie, I love hotels that offer ALL SUITES! I enjoy the extra space and as long as the hotel meets my budget, location, and must-have hotel amenities, I’ll take a suite over a room any day.
But my advice to you is that you should really determine how much time you’ll actually spend in the hotel room. A small room at a cheaper rate may be all you need if you’re planning to spend a full day at a theme park or on the beach.
Sometimes we travel with our friends so a 2 or 3 bedroom suite is necessary. That helps us narrow down the hotel list to those with hotel suites that can accommodate up to 6 guests.
Inside a room, you may be looking for specific amenities like a kitchenette, a coffeemaker, a refrigerator, a walk-in shower, or a jetted tub. If you’re traveling with children, you want to find a place that can offer you a crib or cots.
It’s okay to be selective and find a hotel that meets your requirements.
Final Thoughts: Peace of Mind
I want to make it clear that paying a higher price for a hotel does not always make it the “right” choice. The same holds true that the most affordable option may not always be the most practical option.
However, you can’t put a price tag on “peace of mind” while traveling.
Knowing that you’re staying in a safe part of town or in close proximity to the destination highlights that you’ve been dreaming about seeing, is worth every penny.
Takeaways: Choosing the Right Hotel
The hotel you choose can make or break your travel plans. With so many options available, my best advice to find the right hotel for you is to do your research and consider the following takeaways:
- Your travel budget
- Optimal hotel location
- Check ratings, reviews, and property photos
- Onsite hotel amenities and activities
- Hotel room or suite?
- Must-have guest room amenities
- Peace of mind
Author Bio: Originally from Long Island, New York, Donna Wright now calls Deland, Florida her home. An avid traveler, she has journeyed by air, land, and sea, to many cities in the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean to exciting destinations like California, Arizona, Las Vegas, San Diego, Myrtle Beach, Lake Tahoe, Reno, and more.
This content is provided for general informational purposes only and should not be considered travel or consumer advice. Inn amenities, prices, policies, and availability may change. Readers should verify all details independently and use their own judgment when planning travel.