When planning a vacation, we tend to focus on the attractions and sights: the fun stuff, right?
But how often do we stop and think of the potential nightmares that could come as the result of a crummy hotel?
Think about it: your hotel room should represent your home away from home on vacation. Regardless, many travelers find themselves in “hotel hell” by not planning in advance or asking the right questions prior to booking. Since choosing the wrong hotel can ruin your vacation before it even goods started, you need to know exactly what to look for whether you’re planning a week-long vacation or a weekend getaway.
So, how can you avoid a potential hotel nightmare?
Book in Advance
Many travelers find themselves disappointed in hotels first and foremost because of the price tag. Fortunately, booking in advance and finding deals online can help you avoid surge pricing and find a more competitive rate. For example, an Oyo Rooms coupon code could help slash your hotel budget and uncover potential savings to spend elsewhere during your trip.
Read Ratings and Reviews
By taking a glance at the experiences of other travelers through sites such as Yelp and TripAdvisor, you can get a pretty good idea as to whether or not a hotel is worth your time. When reading ratings and reviews for hotels, take complaints about specific rooms of employees with a grain of salt. Instead, focus on proper reviews that note the overall experience of one’s stay and highlight positive experiences. If you see that a hotel has mostly four or five-star reviews, chances are it’s a safe bet.
Ask Plenty of Questions
It’s easy to get caught up in vacation planning and forgot to ask the important questions that could add or remove stress when it comes to your trip. For example, you need to know the following before you book your hotel:
Does your hotel have a shuttle to local stores and attractions?
Is there a daily fee for parking?
Does your hotel have smoking and non-smoking rooms?
Is breakfast provided by the hotel: likewise, is there a charge for breakfast?
Knowing the answers to such questions in advance could make or break your experience. Don’t be shy about asking questions and get any specifics you may need in writing before you book.
Digitally Scout the Area
You can get a good sense of the ideal hotel by a quick Google search. For example, you can see whether or not your hotel is in a crime-ridden area or whether or not there are any grocery stores nearby to ensure you can easily access any supplies you may need while you’re away from home. For example, you may realize that your hotel is located right next to a highway which may keep you up at night.
Bring the Essentials
If there’s anything absolutely essential to your comfort, such as particular bedding or toiletries, you may want to go ahead and bring such items yourself rather than rely on what the hotel has to offer. After all, how can you possibly enjoy your trip if you aren’t comfortable? Packing such items yourself may save you money and help make your hotel feel like home.
Vacations should be a stress-free experience: by booking your hotel in advance and asking the right questions beforehand, you may find that doing your homework on any given hotel can help you avoid a potential nightmare.