If you are a frequent traveller the chances are that you spend plenty of time in hotels, which means you must have had a lot of different experiences - some of which may not have been your best and others you would like to revisit in the near or distant future. Do you put any thought into the hotels you choose to stay at? Or do you just tell the taxi to take you to any good hotel?
If you need a hotel to relax in, Jovago.com has put together a list of factors you should take into consideration when picking a hotel:
Location - The location of a hotel in a city is incredibly relevant for several reasons. Firstly, you need to check how close or distant the hotel is to your frequent destinations; the easier it is for you to get around, the better. Another thing you want to consider is the district or part of town where the hotel is situated, for this will definitely affect the price. Hotels in central areas of the city will be more costly than those on the outskirts, so make sure you know what you want;
Price range - Bigger hotels are getting more and more expensive as the travel and tourism industry continues to grow. If you have a budget, you don't want to spend it all on room and board. Look at various hotels and price ranges and pick the one you're most comfortable with. The good thing is, a lot of guest houses are popping up everywhere now, so you can always find a cheaper alternative you could be happier with;
Room size and the cost of extra guests - For me, the size of a room is actually important. If I feel cramped in a room, or boxed in, I could never feel comfortable. You should be able to move around comfortably without worrying about stubbing your toe or brushing against the wall, or hitting your head on a low-hanging TV. Also, you should confirm what the hotel's policy is on extra guests in the room if you aren't travelling alone. Hotels usually turn a blind eye to an extra person staying a night or two, but they do get shifty when you have a large group of people trotting up and down the lobby. You might even have to pay a fine, so be sure before you start having massive sleepovers;
Amenities and extras - What extras and amenities would you like to make use of at the hotel during your stay? Hotels will usually list what they have available on their websites and, with most, what you see is what you get. If you don't see a pool or gym listed, chances are there is no gym or pool. Nobody is trying to surprise you. It's always good to call and confirm though, even with the things listed because most hotels very rarely update their websites and some of the amenities listed may no longer be available or may be out of service during your visit;
Internet - Most hotels offer some sort of internet access, so what you should check is how this service is offered. At some hotels, it's completely free and accessible at any area of the hotel. At some places, access is restricted to the bedroom only. Some hotels will charge you every time you connect, and some hotels will require you to visit the business centre to get any access at all. Find out what options are available before you make a financial commitment;
Room service and food - If you're on a business trip, one of the factors you may want to look into what times you can get room service. Of course, you won't always be in the room so it would be good to know if there is service available at whatever time you return. If you are relying on hotel food only, you should know what sort of food and cuisine is available;
Complimentary breakfasts/newspapers - It's important to know if you can get complimentary breakfasts and newspapers at a hotel. Why? Because it's a good way to save. If the hotel can provide you the most important meal of the day, free of charge, it saves you with a little extra change you can do something reasonable with. Same thing goes for the newspaper;
Security - How safe is this hotel? Are there capable people guarding the gate? Do they lock the gates at night? Do they check guests who come in? Is there always someone at the front desk? Your safety is important, especially when visiting a new city and you may think it's safe just because it's a hotel, but assumption is a terrible thing. Always ask and be sure; and
Cleanliness - On sight, you can always tell when a hotel is clean or just dingy; however this isn't always the case when booking online. Pictures tell a thousand words and most of them are lies and misrepresentation. Visit online forums and read reviews of the hotels you're considering to find out how suitable a hotel is. The last thing you want is to be uncomfortable during your stay because you don't trust the stains on the sheets.
