There’s nothing more luxurious than sinking into an intensely cushiony king-size bed after soaking in a steamy scented bubble bath. Or perhaps, your dream vacation revolves around a delicious breakfast spread served in a heated pool overlooking the snow-capped mountains. Either way, booking the right hotel demands ample consideration because substandard accommodation can ruin your vacation. Best vacation rentals at kerikeri holiday cottages.
It’s common for budget travelers and backpackers to confine themselves within low-budget accommodations, hostels, and stinky couches. But if you plan your budget efficiently, you can rest your back on a clean and comfortable bed and enjoy incredible amenities.
We plan our hotel bookings based on pricing and aesthetics, ignoring various crucial features that impact our comfort significantly. During the research, you must consider location, proximity to tourist attractions, transit routes and transportation facilities, amenities, and services. And most importantly, don’t let an influencer’s Instagram posts and creative skills convince you into booking a hotel with awful reviews. Keep reading to pick up some valuable advice to book the best hotel for your upcoming trip.
Explore Packages & Compare Rates
Accommodation can quickly drain your travel budget if you don’t account for service charges, taxes, and room service costs. Expenses add up quickly, especially if you stay at a luxury hotel in a popular tourist destination. It’s crucial to avoid delaying hotel bookings until you arrive at your destination. You may want to drive around and check different hotel rooms before settling, but you can always do your research online.
This strategy may work for a quaint town or a lesser-known destination, but not for popular destinations like the Smoky Mountains. The Great Smokies attract tourists year-round, and booking hotels and cabins before arriving is strongly advised to avoid accommodation issues. We suggest exploring the downtown Gatlinburg hotels to experience the local culture of generous hospitality, world-class amenities, and affordable rates.
Booking a hotel in downtown Gatlinburg will position you in the heart of all the fun, excitement, and adventure. You can enjoy easy access to transit routes and transportation and close proximity to tourist attractions. Gatlinburg allows easy access to the region’s most scenic trails, and you can drive over to Pigeon Forge and Cade’s Cove without fatigue.
The same rule applies to all destinations worldwide; downtown is where the action is, and affordable hotels. When the market is saturated with hotels and competitors, the rates are competitive and affordable!
How splendid is the room?
What’s the point of spending on a hotel if the room isn’t splendid and worth every single cent of the expense? There’s no point in renting a cramped and sparsely furnished room in a five-star hotel simply to soak in the view. You can find a more appealing and comfortable review with an equally splendid view if you look around.
It’s natural for luxury-focused travelers to book an ordinary room just to stay at a famous chain or luxury resort. Everyone has unique preferences, but we firmly believe that the room’s dimensions, interiors, and comfort matter significantly. The bathroom matters, too, for what’s a vacation without a foamy bubble bath in a luxurious bathtub?
Be sure to examine the pictures and note the square footage, amenities, appliances, and other comforts. You don’t want to arrive jet-lagged in a shoddy room and sleep on a creaky, bug-ridden bed without an air conditioner. Suppose you’re traveling to a remote location in Southeast Asia, settling in a hotel nestled in a forest. In that case, don’t finalize your booking without a virtual tour or raw photos of your accommodation. Remote hotels have a rare talent for exaggerating and, at times, lying about amenities, especially if they’re the only accommodation in town.
Food & Beverages
Does your chosen hotel offer a string of the city’s finest restaurants, or perhaps, the inn offers a farm-to-table dining experience? It’s crucial to examine the dining and drinking facilities to book a hotel with a well-stocked bar and room service. Suppose you take your meals late at night after a fulfilling and rewarding day outdoors. In that case, be sure to check the kitchen hours and how long the hotel provides room service.
A complimentary breakfast is a definite must-have, for it’s a beautiful and generous gesture to shower guests with genuine care.
If a hotel doesn’t offer complimentary breakfast, it doesn’t deserve a cent of your hard-earned money. However, if you can’t stomach a bite before noon, complimentary breakfast isn’t an attractive amenity to evaluate your booking.
It’s wise to reflect on your preferences to choose a hotel that satisfies your needs and aligns with your lifestyle. For instance, if you enjoy feasting on street food and sampling local cuisine, you don’t need a hotel with multiple restaurants.
Never Compromise on Cleanliness
Will the hotel provide you with clean bedding and change all the linens and towns after you settle in the room? Does the hotel have housekeeping to clean the room every day while you’re out sightseeing? Will you have to share the bathroom or room with several other guests?
If you’re traveling with children or seniors, cleanliness is of the utmost significance. Travelers with tight budgets are often forced into renting unhygienic, crowded, and downright filthy accommodations. We strongly advise against compromising cleanliness because exposure to bacteria and pests can compromise your health. You’re bound to suffer insect bites, allergies, or skin issues after sleeping on a bug-filled bed or a pest-infested room.
Reading reviews on Google, social media forums, and travel directories is the best way to evaluate hygiene and cleanliness standards. People are vocal about highlighting unhygienic hotels that compromise their wellbeing with pest-infested kitchens or unclean rooms. Be sure to check the rating your chosen hotel enjoys at leading tourism forums, such as TripAdvisor, Yelp, and Expedia.
It’s also wise to call up the hotel administration and quiz them about their cleaning rituals, housekeeping, and hygiene standards. Make specific questions about how frequently they change their beddings, clean bathrooms, and provide new linens. These questions will help you avoid unpleasant surprises and terrible disappointments.
Final Thoughts
A pest-infested hotel room, exuberant service charges, and discourteous hotel staff can ruin your vacation. In contrast, an affordable hotel with friendly staff, excellent hygiene standards, and multiple recreational facilities will make your trip unforgettable. Be sure to prioritize research, and read reviews before choosing a hotel. Most importantly, don’t let a tight budget force you into booking a substandard hotel. Extensive research will help you find the right hotel that fits your budget and offers the experience you desire.
