4 Things to Look for When Choosing a Hotel

With so many hotels and so little time, how do you choose the right hotel for you and your family? When planning your next vacation, destinations are often the first priority in your mind — and rightly so, as you do need to know where you are going before securing accommodations. But you also need a good night’s sleep in order to enjoy your vacation. From hotel reviews to security, read on for tips on things to look for when choosing a hotel.

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4 Things to Look for When Choosing a Hotel

From there, you make administrative decisions. For people who are seasoned and experienced travelers, this idea is nothing new or revolutionary. However, it is important to understand how to squeeze the most out of your travels. Backpacking and residing in hostels might be fun when you’re young and with your friends, but when you are traveling with children, or simply want a little more comfort, hotels are the way to go.

But what should you look for in a good hotel? Log on to any booking site and literally dozens to hundreds of hotels are available in nearly every tourist destination, and the price is not always a great judge of quality.

This guide will help you keep a solid attitude towards your accommodation habits, helping you focus on what truly matters during your travel experiences.

1. Read Hotel Reviews

 

Thank goodness for the internet. All hotels, such as the Ritz Carlton in New York, the Holiday Inn, or the Wyndham Garden Wichita Downtown hotel, should all have wonderful and all-encompassing reviews that suggest their quality.

We suggest reading five average hotel reviews and five positive reviews. Specifically, search for common themes to give you a clearer picture of the hotel and any possible issues.

For example, if someone docks points for a lack of natural light in the room, that might just be a condition of the day they visited and not the quality of the hotel.

If hygiene has continually become an issue, then you should stay well clear.

You might even comment on the review of an active member, asking them for further clarification if you are concerned.

TravelingInHeels Tip: For honest hotel reviews from travel writers who have visited AND stayed at hotels, B&Bs, and resorts across the world, be sure to check out Hotel-Scoop.com.

2. Sort and Filter Hotels by Price and Amenities

Few travelers have the luxury of an unlimited budget for a vacation.

No matter which of the best hotel booking sites you use, keep your budget in mind by first filtering hotels by price.

My budget usually lies somewhere in the middle, but I still might browse those hotels at the bottom of the list — just in case there are some great deals.

Next, filter hotels by amenities. When I’m traveling with the grandkids, pools are #1 on their list, and WiFi is my #1 (and of course, the grandkids agree!)  Also for me, I like an on-site restaurant, hotel bar, and/or spa options.

Next, sort your list and start browsing. Maybe the price is the most important thing, or maybe you want to sort by the review ratings (see #1 above). Now review the choices in the order that’s most important to you and your family.

3. Noise

It can be worthwhile to check the surrounding area of the hotel to make your decision. While the hotel might be pitch-perfect, it can be truly upsetting to discover a nightclub right outside of your room. Or your location for a quiet retreat actually also hosts a thriving nightlife.

Different people require different things at a hotel, and there’s no reason why you should relegate yourself to a different location if you can handle noise. At the very least, bringing some memory foam earplugs with you can completely erase this problem.

Traveling with children or grandkids?  Need quiet time for your children or better half? Then it might pay to consider the location your hotel is in, and how noisy it’s likely to be.

4. Security and Safety

Larger, corporate brand hotels often already have taken security and safety into consideration for their guests. But, independent and definitely smaller boutique hotels or B&Bs may sometimes be lacking in security.

Of course, you shouldn’t expect a private military to protect your room, but it’s always worthwhile to know your information and a spare key to your room is in safe hands.

Private security staff working for the hotel, or at least strong doors, protective entrances, and a CCTV system should be well worth it in the event of an emergency.

Also, check the integrity of fire exits and ventilation ducts. It might sound overkill, but it’s perfectly reasonable to inquire about this before entering and staying at a hotel, particularly if you are bringing your family.

Finally, check the reviews once more, and even archived news postings about the hotel. Anything strange or suspicious in the history of a hotel might cause you to take your business elsewhere, and look for more family-friendly and secure accommodations.

Do your homework with these 4 things to look for when choosing a hotel. Then relax and be confident in choosing your well-researched hotel. Then, go ahead and enjoy the things that matter most – your well-earned vacation and spending time with your family.

What is one of the things you look for when choosing a hotel?  Share with us in the comments below.