When you’re thinking about booking some accommodations for a weekend or longer stay, there are various things to bear in mind. This article provides 5 things to think about before making the booking.
Also, given the current lockdown situation in most parts of the States due to the Coronavirus, it’s important to note that this article presents suggestions for a post-COVID 19 world.
Comfort
When thinking about your comfort while away, what immediately comes to mind is whether you can sleep in the hotel bed or not? Some mattresses are so hard (or soft) that it creates many restless nights and a ruined trip as a result.
What you want is a ‘hotel-quality’ mattress, as many people term it. Thankfully, you can get a good one like this for your home now, but be sure to call and ask what type of mattress is being used in the hotel chain’s accommodations. They may have to go and check for you, but a high-quality chain should know immediately or be willing to do a room check to find out.
Location
Where do you wish to be situated while you’re away? This requires a bit of forethought.
Certainly, if you’re driving rather than taking the bus or train, then you can be a little bit out of town and just drive to Downtown and specific sightseeing spots. However, if you’re taking public transport and will be relying on the services of Uber or local taxis, then you’ll want to pick an accommodation option that’s close to most of the planned activities on your itinerary.
When factoring in the added cost of taxis and the time each ride takes away from your sightseeing, a pricier hotel near or in the right area might work out similarly in cost. When traveling with kids, less time inside cars is always preferable.
When Do You Pay?
It depends on how you book, but sometimes you’ll pay a booking fee and/or a deposit to secure the booking. Other times, you won’t need to pay anything until you arrive at the hotel.
When you’re booking well ahead and unsure of your exact itinerary, then you may wish to pick a hotel (and booking service) that doesn’t charge much upfront. This puts less on the line if you need to cancel later. Also, verify if there’s a cancelation fee for an early booking.
Food and Catering
Room service food gets expensive. Are there nearby restaurants in an acceptable price range and that matches the type of dining style that you prefer?
Some resort hotels offer half-board or all-inclusive dining options which is more convenient for families who prefer to keep things simple. It’s also easier if one of the children starts to act up or feels like they have a bad stomach and needs to go to lie down. The hotel room is then nearer, and one parent can accompany them.
Room Type & Location
For families with pre-teens or teenagers, it’s sometimes preferable to book two rooms that are interjoined through a connecting door. There’s also the option of double or triple rooms to open the living space for several people.
Also, consider the location of the room to the street. Is the road or parking lot below likely to be brightly lit or busy with traffic noise during the late evening or nighttime? What about train tracks or other potential noisemakers? This can be checked with the staff before booking if it isn’t already indicated with the hotel information.
It’s easy to make a mistake when booking accommodations. However, when you follow the suggestions above, you’re more likely to have a pleasant time.
