Choosing the best hotel for your needs and travel style can be a daunting task. There are so many different factors to consider, and it can be hard to know where to start!
In this blog post I will share some insider tips on how we choose the perfect hotel for us. We’ve traveled to 50 countries and stayed at countless hotels and luckily we’ve only had a handful of bad experiences. That’s because we spend a lot of time researching the best hotels in the area we’re traveling to.
We’ve stayed at some seriously amazing hotels over the years and each time we’ve used the below strategies to nab us a booking at the right price.
So, how do you choose the best hotel for you? Here are a few tips to help get you started:
My tips for choosing the perfect hotel for you
1. Research the area you’re going to
If it is a popular destination, there will undoubtedly be hundreds if not thousands of hotels to choose from. It’s best to start off by trawling through hotel comparison sites like booking.com or agoda.
Have a list of your non-negotiables at hand – for example, do you need a swimming pool, strong WiFi, complimentary breakfast, a gym? And try to filter your search according to these.
You can also set your filters according to your budget – because to us, the price is one of the most important factors when picking a hotel. We also like to check out a hotels bad reviews (the 1 and 2-star reviews) before we book to see if there’s anything that would deter us from staying there. Things like bed bugs, safety issues, etc. are often mentioned here.
Another good idea is to review numerous travel blogs and forums for tips on where people like to stay in that destination.
My top tip as someone who’s worked in hotels for years – if you can, book directly through the hotel (they will often price match). As if you book through a third-party and something is wrong with your reservation at check-in you will be told to consult the third party to resolve. Plus, we tended to upgrade people who booked directly more often!
Compare on booking.com here –
2. Location, location, location
When it comes to choosing a hotel, location is vital. You want to find a place close to the attractions you want to see and the activities you plan on doing while still being comfortable and quiet.
If you’re spending most of your time out and about, you don’t want to waste your time travelling back and forth from your hotel. If you’re planning on being out until late at night, then a location that isn’t the safest is probably not ideal.
Does the hotel have a shuttle bus to and from the nearest train station, airport, or city centre? It saves time and effort if you don’t need to use public transport or taxis everywhere. Generally, it is better for your budget because using taxis can be expensive!
If you plan on spending a lot of time at your hotel, amenities and facilities are important. Make sure the hotel has a lovely swimming pool, for example.
3. What amenities does it offer?
For us, amenities are important when choosing a hotel. For example, when traveling, we like to make sure we find a hotel with hotal quality bed linen. This means high thread count sheets and comfortable pillows. I know, that’s not important to everyone – but, it is to us!
If booking a hotel in a hot country, an important amenity to look for is air conditioning; it’s difficult to relax or sleep if you’re too hot!
Some hotels have better facilities than others. So if you need a hotel with a swimming pool, spa, gym, etc., make sure the hotel you choose has these facilities.
And if some specific amenities or facilities make traveling easier for you (like an ironing board or a hairdryer), then be sure to let the staff at the front desk know when you’re checking in. Then, they may be able to put you in a room that is more tailored to your needs.
4. The price
As I said, price is one of the most important factors to us when travelling, because we travel for long periods of time – we try to keep our costs as low as possible. However, because having a nice place to lay our heads at the end of the day is important to us we allocated the largest chunk of our budget to our accommodation.
And remember just because a hotel is expensive doesn’t mean it will be good. Some of our favorite hotels we’ve stayed at have been really cheap! So, make sure you compare prices and read reviews before making your final decision.
Pssst, booking a mystery hotel deal is a great way to save money! This can be booked through specific websites where hotels sell their empty rooms at a massive discount!
5. Book a hotel that gives you points
If you join a hotel loyalty program, you can accumulate points that can be used towards the price of future bookings. Some even offer free nights when you book a certain number of nights with them.
If you’re a regular traveler and you’re not too concerned with the cost, then, pick a hotel chain that you like and stick with it.
Thanks for reading!
When it comes time to book your hotel, keep the tips from this article post in mind. You’re sure to find a place that’s perfect for you and your travel needs!
We have loads of other content on the blog including best things to do in Alicante Spain; 5 unique things to do in Cinque Terre Italy ; Istanbul Travel Guide and much more!
Last Updated on April 24, 2025 by snaphappytravel