Choosing a Hotel Resort
January 21, 2008 | Hotels | Leave a Comment
Choosing a hotel can be one of the most stressful parts of planning a vacation. There are so many hotels to choose from in every city, all with different amenities.
If you’re like most people, you spend the beginning stages of your trip planning scouring hotel reviews on sites like Trip Advisor. The forums and Trip Advisor hotel reviews can contain a wealth of information – often more than the hotel websites themselves. Users of Trip Advisor can post candid hotel photos with their reviews, offering you more opportunities to examine a hotel’s offerings. Hotels tend to pick their very best rooms for their website photo shoots. With Trip Advisor’s Traveler’s Photos, you get unbiased photos of hotel rooms, hotel grounds, surrounding areas, and often even glimpse of more photos from around the city you’re planning to visit or vacation in.
So the reviews look great. And the pictures depict your dream vacation. But how do you know this is the right hotel for you? You need to stop and consider what you’re looking to get out of your vacation – and what hotel amenities are most important to you. Are you looking for a romantic getaway or peaceful weekend retreat? Family and kid friendly hotels are probably not in your best interest. Dying to unwind in a steaming hot tub? The Jacuzzi bath in your room won’t have the same effect. Are you willing to sacrifice your desire to lounge poolside if the hotel is oceanfront instead? Consider the amenities you had originally hoped for and see if there are trade-offs you can make.
Decide on a hotel? Wait! Don’t book the hotel just yet. Did you search for deals or discounts yet? A simple Google search can help you find promotional codes for free nights or x% off a room if you meet certain requirements. Have AAA? Usually you can get hotel discounts with an AAA membership. Did you know that sites like Orbitz, Travelocity, Hotels.com, Kayak.com and Expedia can have different prices for the very same rooms? You can search all the major travel sites and compare prices on hotel rooms with just one simple search for hotel deals. Or, if you prefer, you can search for hotels as part as a combination airfare and hotel package.
Whatever hotel you choose, be sure you do thorough research. With a combination of reviews, pictures, and hotel price comparison research, you should have no problem finding a hotel that meets your needs.
Happy travels, and remember to relax, unwind, and enjoy!