When you go on vacation, you need to find a place to rest your head. This means that you’ll likely be shopping around for hotels. Depending on where you are looking to travel, you could find yourself faced with a plethora of different options to choose from, and this could wreak havoc on your decision-making skills. Instead of just making a guess at what hotel would be the best option, use the following tips to help you learn exactly what you should consider when you’re shopping for hotels.
Cost
Cost is always an important factor when looking for accommodations. Make sure you shop around before deciding on where to stay. You can check popular travel sites like TripAdvisor to see the different places to stay as well as if you can snag a good deal. You should also try to be creative. For instance, if you are planning a trip to Orlando, consider staying somewhere other than a Disney hotel, such as the Westgate Resorts. They have plenty of locations in the area that are more budget-friendly than Disney, but they also offer the same luxuries you’d expect anywhere else.
Location
When you’re not familiar with the area, you run the risk of choosing a hotel in a bad part of town. You don’t want to put yourself at risk, so you need to make sure you pay attention to location. One way to do this would be to talk with the local police department. Call the non-emergency number and ask if the hotel is located in a good or bad area. The police will be honest with you, so you will be able to make an informed decision based on what they tell you.
Proximity
In addition to its generic location, you want to ensure you’re picking a hotel that is close to the things you want to see. After all, you don’t want to go on vacation and then spend half your day in an Uber or another form of public transportation trying to get to all the sights. Make sure to look at a map and mark the attractions you want to visit. Then, use this information to find a hotel in the area that will allow you to see and do more during your trip.
Amenities
Sometimes you want to experience certain amenities while on vacation, so you should find a hotel that will give you what you want. For example, if you want to be pampered, make sure to find a hotel that offers massages. If you want to work, find a hotel that has Wi-Fi and other business-related amenities like conference rooms. If you want to have fun, find a hotel that has on-site entertainment. You can find almost anything you want when you’re looking for a hotel, so be sure to narrow it down that way.
Bed Bugs
It sounds gross, but those little bugs can do a great deal of harm if you’re not careful. Before you decide on a hotel for your upcoming getaway, make sure you research if the hotel has bed bugs. If it does, you will want to choose a different place to stay. Bed bugs may seem harmless, but just one can cause an infestation. If bed bugs get into your suitcase, you will bring them home. This will then require you to either bomb your house with bug spray by an exterminator, or force you to buy new beds and bedding. Either way, you’re looking at a major expense. Instead of putting yourself at risk, just do yourself a favor and look up whether or not that hotel had an incident of bed bugs.
Needs
Before you make a final decision, be sure to consider your needs. For instance, if you plan on being out and about all day, chances are you don’t need a five-star luxury hotel that you’ll only use for sleeping. Make sure that you are being realistic about your needs for the hotel. By doing this, you’ll ensure that you’re not spending too much on an accommodation that you won’t fully use.
Finding a hotel can be time consuming, but when you use these tips, you’ll be able to make a better overall decision.