How to Choose the Best Hotel When You Travel

By Clinton Courier | February 18, 2022 |

How to Choose the Best Hotel When You Travel

When you travel, particularly for leisure, where you stay is one of the big decisions you make. If you’re taking a family vacation, you have to think about finding a hotel that’s going to have space for everyone, is going to give you the amenities you need and will make your trip enjoyable and stress-free.

Everyone has their own preferences for the accommodations that work for them, but with that in mind, the following is a general guide to choosing the best hotel when you travel. These tips are especially applicable if you’re traveling for a family vacation.

Know Why You Want a Hotel In the First Place

There are so many lodging options available these days. You can stay in someone’s home or condo, for example, so why are you opting instead for a hotel? When you know why you want a hotel, it can actually then help you narrow down your choices based on your priorities.

For example, many people decide to go with a hotel instead of a vacation rental because it’s easy. You’ll have less work on your plate in a hotel, which is fully staffed.

Hotels allow you to know what to expect, and they’re pretty predictable overall.

Staying in a hotel also tends to feel safe. You’re not sleeping in a stranger’s home, which may not be located near the central tourist area of wherever you’re going. Hotels also have staff, including security, who can help you around the clock if something goes wrong.

It also tends to feel more like a real vacation when you stay in a hotel versus renting a home.

Chain vs. Boutique Hotels

Once you have a clear idea of your priorities and reasons for staying in a hotel, you can start to narrow down your choices.

There are two main categories of hotels you can choose from. There are chains, and then there are boutique or family-owned hotels.

There are pros and cons of both.

When you stay in a hotel chain, you get brand recognition and predictability. It’s also easy to find discounts and deals, and most chain hotels have loyalty programs.

The downsides are that chain hotels might not have as much character, and the profits aren’t going to the local community you’re visiting.

Family-owned, boutique, or smaller, independent hotels can feel very authentically connected to the location where they are. They can feel cozy and have a completely unique atmosphere and vibe. Plus, you may get more personal service and attention.

On the other hand, there’s less predictability because there aren’t the standards that chain hotels follow. You don’t necessarily know what to expect beyond what the reviews say. You’re also not going to be able to take advantage of many deals or loyalty programs.

Starting Your Search

If you’ve weighed the pros and cons of a chain versus an independent hotel, you might be ready to get more specific in your search. Consider the following when you choose a hotel:

How much is your budget?
What location do you want? Are you going to be driving or renting a car? If so, the location might be less important than it is if you want walkability.
Do you want something in the middle of the action or something more tranquil and relaxing?
Is onsite dining important to you? What about complimentary breakfast?
Which onsite amenities can you actually see your family using? For example, will your kids spend hours playing in a pool?
Do you want to use travel miles or points?

Dealing with the Details

Often you’ll see gorgeous pictures of hotels online, and then when you start to read the reviews or look at customer-provided pictures, it’s a completely different image.

Look at those pictures closely because they may be filtered or edited. There are websites that provide access to real pictures taken by guests, and these can give you a much better idea of what to expect.

If you have a shortlist of hotels you’re considering, go to Google Maps to figure out what the location is. Don’t trust the wording used in marketing. For example, just because something says it’s near the heart of the city doesn’t mean you won’t still be miles away from anything you’d like to see.

For example, if you’re researching the best ways to get from Punta Cana to Bahia Principe Luxury Ambar, Google Maps can show you the best routes and also give you an idea of what to expect in terms of distance and travel times. Find out if there are any transport services offered by the hotel or if you will need to arrange transportation yourself. Additionally, don’t forget to read through recent reviews from other travelers who have stayed at the hotel.

Use Google Maps to see not only the location but also the street view of the hotel, so you’ll know what’s around it.

As you’re going over customer reviews, some of the most important factors to specifically consider include:

No one wants to spend their vacation in a dirty hotel. Be careful because with staffing shortages going on right now, a lot of hotels are scaling back on their housekeeping services. If you aren’t sure whether or not a hotel will be providing cleaning services daily, call the desk to ask directly.
Friendly staff. You may have questions or need help with something while you’re on your trip, and you certainly don’t want to deal with disinterested or rude staff.
Comfortable beds. You might be spending a lot of time out and about on a family vacation, and you want to return to a room with a comfortable bed so you can get great sleep and feel refreshed throughout your vacation.
Good value. You might splurge on a hotel room for a vacation, but in doing so, you want to feel like you’re getting good value for what you’re paying. Remember, an expensive hotel isn’t always better than one that’s considered a budget property.
If you’re taking a car or renting one, parking can end up being $20 a day or more. You have to factor that into the cost of your trip. Read the fine print to see if a hotel offers free parking, or if not, how much it costs. Some hotels don’t even have dedicated parking at all, so will there be public parking nearby?

Finally, what about WiFi? Many hotels do offer free WiFi, but not all of them do, so will you be adding the cost of that service into your final trip costs?