7 Things To Check Before Booking A Place To Check In

For those travel enthusiasts among us, choosing a place to stay might be the most pivotal aspect of planning a trip. Typically, almost all airlines and rent-a-car services offer the same service quality and don’t significantly impact your travel experience. However, a hotel having cramped, unclean rooms with a dull view, no Wi-Fi, and a non-functional shower can easily ruin your mood.

What’s bothersome is that you’d still have to pay for the room! Also, you must look for any hidden charges before you book your spot, particularly if you’re tight on budget. Some hotels offer a pretty low base rate but without extra amenities. Such resorts/hotels end up more costly than a place offering those as complementary facilities.

With the rapid advancement in technology, we’re now able to preplan our entire vacations online. Today, most people depend on the internet for most of their travel bookings instead of pesky travel agents. You’ve got your travel destination in the palm of your hands, literally!

If you want to get the best bang for your buck in terms of price, services, and location, follow along with these hotel-booking tips:

1. Check The Location

We can’t stress this enough. Try to double-check your hotel location before you check-in. Often, hotels will boast about the local attractions in their city but conceal key facts like being next to a noisy public commute station or in a sketchy neighborhood. Honestly, it isn’t their responsibility to disclose any negative aspects of their location to you.

You need to check their location’s safety and practicality on your own through Google maps. Make sure the hotel you plan on booking is near all major tourist attractions. You don’t want to be walking 5 miles in the sweltering heat wearing your expensive travel dresses, do you?

For instance, if you’re considering a family vacation in Pigeon Forge next summer, it’s best to look up places to stay in Pigeon Forge on your smart-device before planning further.

2. Check If There’s Free Breakfast

Don’t sleep on breakfast charges! The price inclusive full/continental breakfast that many hotels provide can hugely affect your per-night rate, particularly when compared to others charging 20$ dollar per buffet.

You can generally learn about this service by directly calling the reception or browsing the hotel’s website. For individuals worried about their budgets, this is a necessary query. Most travelers prefer having breakfast at their hotels, but some like to explore local cafes for breakfast options. But, when convenience is concerned, nothing compares to a complimentary breakfast.

3. Check Reputation and Reviews

The best approach in any situation is to gather as much information as possible. The same strategy applies when choosing a hotel for a pleasant stay. Going online to check the hotel’s reputation and reviews is an excellent place to start. There are some things only the property’s previous visitors can tell you. For instance, the hotel could have subpar food, 18th-century style rooms, low-speed Wi-Fi, and noisy hallways. Additionally, you could be pleasantly surprised too.

It’s a red flag if the hotel has several bad reviews, and it’s safe to cross it off of your list. Reading user reviews also lets you know if a particular hotel is under construction or if something’s out of service. Since there’s the surety of a standard experience at all locations of a big chain, you can play it safe by staying at a hotel belonging to one.

4. Check The Amenities

The amenities of a hotel are the central factor in determining whether your stay will be a comfortable one or not. Though amenities vary with hotels, most of them provide a standard service level that includes housekeeping and room service. Hotels on the more expensive side may offer extras like butlers, hot tubs, and spas.

Most modern-day hotels offer free poolside and Wi-Fi access, but they might charge you extra. Compare the amenities and services of various hotels to make the right choice.

5. Check The Price

Hotel price listings are easily visible to anyone. Yet, they may vary upon the travel agency or booking platform you’re using. It’s always a good idea to compare a few booking prices to find the most budget-friendly option. It’s also worth trying to contact the hotel and negotiate their stated rates directly. The majority of hotels offer special discounts for seasons with lower bookings. To avoid future inconvenience, be sure to inquire about hidden or unstated costs that the hotel might include in your final bill, for example, resort fees.

6. Check If There’s Internet Access

Like hotel parking and breakfast, you also need to count Wi-Fi access in your per-night rate before booking a place. Internet access is an absolute necessity of your stay, so be careful in your research as it can get complicated.

For example, some hotels provide free internet access to loyalty program members but not to others. Plus, some places permit only two devices per paying guest. This problem can quickly turn ugly if two of you occupy a single room, along with multiple devices. To avoid getting into a mess, thoroughly check the hotel’s fine print before checking-in.

7. Check The Check-In/Check-Out Time

In all honesty, we’ve all been guilty of neglecting check-in and check-out times while planning our trips. However, figuring out these times for your hotel is essential for a comfortable stay. You will have to wait long hours for your room if you arrive earlier than the check-in time or pay for an additional day if your departure time is late. The good news? Many places now have flexible 24-hour policies regarding check-ins and outs.

Summing It Up

Ah, what a joy it is to vacation! To be able to forget our day-to-day obligations and be truly happy in replenishing our minds and bodies. But, with pleasure comes sorrow, such as the concern for suitable accommodation while traveling. This article listed some key considerations to take before booking your next place to stay. These include thoroughly checking the location, user reviews, amenities, and compare prices. Using this checklist will make the rest of your travels what they ought to be, worry-free and filled with adventure.