This page contains affiliate links, and we may receive compensation if you click on a link. You can read our full advertising disclosure here.
We have all been susceptible to it. When we think of telling the vacation story, we sometimes get stuck telling the details about how beautiful the place we stayed was. That’s all well when we’re staying at an All-Inclusive we don’t plan on leaving. I speak from experience, though, looking back on a trip and wondering why I spent an extra hundred dollars per night booking a hotel I only slept in. Here are 4 important things before booking your next hotel.
What is the intention of this trip?
If we were traveling somewhere with a beach resort with meals included, we might choose to go big on the stay. If we intend to get out and sightsee the city and explore the culture, it starts to sound like the accommodations are just a place to rest versus a part of the experience. When the accommodations fall into this category, we mainly look at cleanliness and location.
Cleanliness probably doesn’t need much explanation, we don’t need the Ritz, but we aren’t trying to find the last guest’s Ritz Cracker crumbs in the bed. I’m just assuming they also go to town on a tube of Ritz Crackers in bed once in a while.
Location. We try to book within walking distance of the area to avoid cabs and Ubers. How does the area around the hotel look? Is it safe at night? Can we comfortably walk from where the hotel is to where we want to go? Walking, bike sharing, or the ever-controversial e-scooters are great ways to experience a city.
Fees
Pick a few random Airbnb stays and look at the cleaning fees, service fees, and fees for fee sake. Sure, a cleaning fee is fair. A $100 cleaning fee is ridiculous. The story goes with hotels as well. You should be sure that before you click to book, you are accounting for the final price, not just the advertised price.
Shop around.
When you are booking a hotel, you should use all of your resources and check multiple sites. Give yourself a window to book when possible by beginning your search long in advance. When you start your search with some flexibility, it takes out the rush to book today because your trip is not looming over you. The same again applies to home-share apps. Give yourself some time to try and find the best price.
The Wrap Up
By being intentional when booking your accommodations, you spend your money wisely and can put it towards what you truly want out of the trip. If you want to stay somewhere fancy, get down with that $500 per night room. By choosing your stay with care, you can put more into the experience you want. For me, it’s usually local food and culture or even saving for the next trip.
Let us know where you’re headed in our contact section!
Mike