Regardless of where you’re travelling and why finding the best location to rest is essential to ensure a pleasant trip. It can also be a challenging task if you don’t know how to go about it.
Many hotels and rest houses provide various holiday bundles and corporate deals that you would want to check out. But, how do you decide? This article will guide you on what you need to pay close attention to when you book your accommodation. Be sure to check all of the tips before making a reservation.
1. Check for an Internet Connection
We no longer live in an era where we can operate without an internet connection. Therefore, you want to ensure that the place you intend to stay provides free Wi-Fi. If it doesn’t, you should look into their internet packages. It would be best if you didn’t have to pay a hefty amount for a small bandwidth. If you’re carrying multiple devices such as a phone and a laptop, you would probably want internet for both. The internet is essential for many purposes. You may want to recheck your plane ticket, access the local map, or make your way through the city by utilizing local services, not even to mention sharing your trip on Instagram!
2. Thoroughly Research the Location
Suppose you’re travelling to the state of Tennessee because you like hiking or exploring scenic natural parks. Or, you want to explore popular local events and the state’s unique culture. In that case, it would be best to do your research before booking a place to stay. Look up popular attractions and make reservations in an area that provides easy access to all touristy stuff. This way, you’ll enjoy your trip even more. For instance, booking cabins in Gatlinburg TN will enable you to visit Pigeon Forge, Sevierville, and the Grand Smokies with relative ease. To facilitate the research bit, enable the location services on your phone and align them with the place you intend to stay. That way, you’ll know exact travel distances and how much time it takes for you to get from point A to B.
3. Look for Food Options
You want to ensure you know what the local cuisine tastes like. If you’re going somewhere where there’s more exotic food and spicy food, you may want to find options that fit your palette. After all, you don’t want to end up getting sick on your travels! It would help if you even looked for places to stay that provide complimentary breakfast options as well. Most hotels that offer complimentary breakfast know how to serve foreigners and will get your day started the right way. So, you can eat your fill in the morning and find other kinds of food for yourself later. You can also Google the recipes of dishes if you don’t know what the ingredients are. Most restaurants will inform you if what you’re ordering can cause allergies. Still, it helps to stay prepared!
4. Read Reviews
No matter how promising the pricing looks, pay attention to the reviews. If customers are unhappy with the hotel or resort you’re currently considering, learn why. Even if you paid a very minimal amount to stay at the hotel, you should still know if it’s your money’s worth. Most consumers don’t hold back to voice their disdain. If you read them telling off the hotel management, reconsider your options. Your final decision to book a good location should follow a trail of reviews, so you can give one of your own when the times right. You can even ask friends and family if they ever travelled to where you’re going and if they have helpful advice for you. It can help you reduce travel anxiety and prepare better for what might come when you check-in.
5. Check for Additional Facilities
Always start by finding out what toilet facilities the place provides and if the hygiene standards are up to mark. Some hotels don’t provide soaps or cleaning supplies, which should be a red flag. Also, it would help if you could find out what kind of facilities you need. Do you need a table? A chair? A proper desk to work with, and how much can the management facilitate you? You may find the answers to some questions online. The rest may require shooting an email or calling up the place and talking to the booking officer. If you’re not happy with their answers, it is always best to look elsewhere than forcing yourself to stay somewhere where you’re not satisfied.
6. The Style of Your Retreat
You don’t always have to stay at a hotel. You can even check into a motel or even a cabin. Always investigate the style of available accommodation to stay. Does the type suit your taste? Can you tell if the accommodations get cleaned and properly maintained, or are they just a mess? You should also check if you get the option to choose between smoker and nonsmoker rooms. Unless you’re okay smelling someone else’s tobacco, ensure you look into these factors. You can also take note of the style of the building. Is it easy to navigate through, or will you get lost? How well lit are the hallways, and how efficient is the staff in responding to you. Sure, these may look like minute factors, but they count if you’re staying for longer. You don’t want to spend your precious time trying to resolve trivial matters.
7. Child-Friendly Spaces
If you are travelling with children, try looking for child-friendly options on the internet. You don’t want your kids swallowing tiny pieces of decoration or hurting themselves by running into sharp objects. Child-friendly spaces also ensure that alcohol is not reachable from a distance and adults need to use the bar to drink. These spaces also have a play area for kids, and if you’re staying at a cabin, the servers will point you to the following enjoyable site where your kids can kickback.
8. The Size of Your Room
It would help if you always studied the dimensions of the room. You don’t want to get stuck in a small room that feels more claustrophobic than a space for you to unwind. The same goes for your children. You want a space that feels comfortable, not restricted, or makes it difficult to move around. A small room also means adjacent walls are closer to each other. As walls are already thin, the last thing you want is accidentally eavesdropping on your neighbours or sounds from your room going across.
9. Look for Nearby Local Clinics and Shops
It would be best if you always familiarize yourself with where you’ll end up spending your vacation. Even if you’re staying there for a week, you don’t want to be in a situation where you’re feeling unwell and can’t get OTC medication. You also reduce your dependency on the location you’re staying at and prevent them from ripping you off for essential services. Familiarization also helps you stay safe from crime. Foreigners often attract all sorts of attention. Unless you know how to blend in and make yourself fit in, you end up attracting more attention than usual. So don’t let yourself stick out like a sore thumb and learn to make use of your surroundings. This is the number one way to avoid grifters and even criminals.
10. Special Services
Suppose you’re someone with a disability or a condition that requires support. In that case, you should look into accommodations that cater to your specific needs. For example, there needs to be a wheelchair ramp or elevators. Don’t needlessly subject yourself to discomfort by sticking to accommodations with no such arrangements simply because they’re in a good location.
Wrap Up
Travelling is tedious as is, and you don’t want to make things harder for yourself by not booking the ideal place to stay. While looking into travel accommodation, ensure you’re picking a safe location. You want a retreat that takes care of all your needs and your family’s. So do your research, ask questions, and make your choice accordingly in order to ensure that your break really is a break.