Consider Such Amenities as Wi-Fi Connection

What do you look for in a hotel? When you think about it, your hotel choice is an intensely personal experience: it will be your home away from home for a few days or even a few weeks? The decisions you make will shape your vacation, even if you don’t spend much time in the room itself. Here are five steps you can take to make sure you get the right hotel on your next vacation, and not spend a fortune in the process:

Set your priorities: What’s important to you? I tend to prefer location over everything else. When it’s time to get up and hit the town, I don’t want to have to hop in a bus, train or car. And for that, I’ll sacrifice amenities. If you are traveling with your family, a pool may be your top priority, or a restaurant on the premises. Whatever you want in a hotel, put some thought into it up front. Of course, you’re looking for a cheap hotel room (who isn’t?), but you can often find a lot of variety at any price. Make sure you know what you want before you book.

Know your audience: Are you traveling alone? With kids? Whether it’s a romantic getaway or a large family vacation, you need to know who is traveling with you. Keep in mind how much space you’ll need, and whether you’ll want a hotel that can accommodate four people in a room easily. Put some thought into the beds, especially, as they can vary from one property to the next. Always, look at the pictures of properties on CheapOair to make sure you pick the hotel that’s right for you and your family.

Look at a map: Sometimes, a hotel that looks far away from your destination’s attractions isn’t as far away as it seems. Doing a little research can go a long way. When I booked my hotel for Amsterdam on CheapOair over the summer, I found myself willing to sacrifice on location because I could catch the train from Schipol Airport into town. I saved a bundle and wasn’t terribly inconvenienced.

Think about amenities: You don’t just stay in a hotel, you use it. You eat meals there, access the internet there and get transportation to and from the airport there. Even if you don’t need luxury accommodations or a key to the mini-bar, the services your hotel offers can be important. Think about your stay, and what you’re likely to need – from a crib to a wireless connection. Then, choose a hotel that delivers.

Be flexible: In some parts of the world, hotels do things differently: what you see might surprise you. Often, this comes down to how the locals live, and you’ll need to be prepared to adapt. In Reykjavik, the bathroom is the shower, with a swinging glass door to separate the shower area from the toilet and sink. Shower stalls are more common than bathtubs in some parts of Europe, especially in bargain hotels. Usually, this is a small price to pay to see a new and interesting city!

Photo: chad magiera