Choosing the right hotel for our trips is not always easy. There are many things to consider, and our decisions tend to be based on factors like travel budget, style, needs, location and more.
And just when we thought we had booked the perfect hotel that suits our criteria, we realized that it was not even close to our expectations — and we wished we had done better research!
I understand how that feels too, which is why I’ve created a list of top 15 things to consider when booking a hotel. Hopefully, it will help travelers like you when you’re picking the best hotel the next time you travel.
1. The Exact Location of The Hotel
In the past, I had stayed in a badly located hotel where it was almost impossible to walk (peacefully) to anywhere. I had also stayed in a hotel which was far from the city center. I ended up spending so much time just on my daily commute. These experiences taught me to always check the exact location of the hotel of my choice.
2. Complimentary Hotel Breakfast
Some hotels allow you to exclude your breakfast for a cheaper room rate. But if the room with free breakfast is slightly cheaper than the one without, why not pick the one that feeds your empty stomach in the morning for a dollar more? After all, you might spend a lot more when you have your breakfast in a café outside of your hotel.
3. Hotel Reviews on Trusted Review Sites
Although I don’t always trust everything I read on the Internet, I still find myself browsing through sites like travel blogs for hotel reviews — just to read what others have to say about the hotel they had stayed in. It can be easier but also harder now with so many reviews spreading on social media, right?
4. Hotel Toiletries and Facilities
Trust me, it can be a problem when you don’t realize a hotel doesn’t provide toothpaste. There was also another incident where I had to do my work in bed as the hotel room didn’t have a table! These shortcomings were not mentioned on the booking sites.
Which is why it’s always good to contact the hotel in advance just to know what to expect. Don’t be shy to ask about breakfast, toiletries, facilities and services. Do this and you’ll get fewer surprises.
5. Hotel Type
This is very important for most people. As for me, it’s not usually a concern because I always travel alone. But when I travel with friends and family, it’s definitely something to consider.
If you’re traveling with kids, always check the hotels’ family-friendly policies. There are also many special deals for families to enjoy these days. If you see any, don’t let them slip away!
6. The Size of The Hotel Room
I’ve noticed many guests complaining about room sizes on review sites. Well, size isn’t the most important to me when choosing a hotel, but it does make a difference to your travel experience. Whether it’s a budget or a 4-star hotel, the size of a hotel room needs to be considered.
A hotel is supposed to be comfortable too. If it’s not even comfortable, it shouldn’t be considered as a hotel! Always prioritize what’s important to you, and don’t compromise on them.
7. Room Type
Different people have different preferences. When I checked into a hotel in Jakarta, the receptionist asked me if I would like to have a smoking room. I said I didn’t want it because I’m not a smoker. In another hotel, I was told to not smoke in the room as all the rooms available were non-smoking ones.
8. Special Needs
Some travelers have special hotel needs. For example, if you’re traveling with a pet, you will need to get a pet-friendly hotel. Or if you’re someone with a physical disability, you will need a hotel that provides a lift or an elevated toilet seat. Safety is always key when traveling, so look out for facilities you require when checking out a hotel.
9. Special Discounts and Loyalty Reward
I love discounts. And I’m sure you do too! When booking a hotel, I’ll always look out for the most savings. Sometimes I stay in a hotel just to enjoy the discounts it offers.
Loyalty cards are also great to have when traveling. Once, in order to get a free night for my next trip (in any hotel), I was required to stay in one of the hotels offered by the booking site (of which I got my loyalty card from). I never got the free night though. That’s because the site didn’t have many hotel choices that actually suited my budget. I’m not saying that it wasn’t worth trying.
But I love using hotel coupons. Limitations when using them still exist though. But my experience with Traveloka coupons so far have been good and beneficial. I was able to enjoy wonderful hotel discounts all the time.
10. Payment Policies
I think learning about payment policies in a hotel is mandatory, but people usually forget about this. Knowing the accepted payment methods (credit cards, cash, online payment platforms) is essential for planning your payment strategy, whether you book it directly or through a great app like Traveloka.
Understanding the payment policies upfront helps you budget for your trip more effectively. It ensures that you’re aware of any deposit requirements or additional charges, such as resort fees or taxes.
11. Cancellation policy
Never deny that things happen, life changes, and things can get so unpredictable. Hence, you should always learn about the cancellation policy of a hotel. You can check it on the Traveloka app easily, whether your chosen hotel has a cancellation policy or not, because there’s a lot of hotels that don’t have the option too.
A clear cancellation policy allows you to assess the cost and feasibility of canceling or modifying your reservation if necessary. You don’t have to learn the hard way that understanding the terms and deadlines for cancellations helps you avoid unnecessary charges or fees.
I say you should go for the ones with the clear cancellation policy we talked about, just in case you change your mind. But, if you are already sure (and budget is not your concern), then you do you.
12. Check In/Out Time
Don’t you ever forget that you have to check for the check in and check out time of your chosen hotel, because it will affect your itinerary. You might have to book a flight that arrives close to the check in time. Arriving too early or late can disrupt your plan, don’t you agree? Also, nobody likes waiting too long for a check-in time, unless the hotel provides the luggage storage facility (we’ll get there later).
Keep in mind that some hotels may charge extra for early check-in or late check-out, so it’s good to be aware of these possibilities, especially if you are very aware of your holiday budgeting.
13. Leisure Activities/Packages
I love hotels that offer a variety of leisure activities or packages. It makes it easier to decide whether I want to stay there or not. A hotel with plenty of activities or packages is like a guarantee that our days spent there won’t be boring at all.
You can suit it to your own intentions. Some hotels will have spectacular activities for children, hence it will be suitable for your family stay. Some hotels offer some guided tours as well. I was staying at a hotel in Bali and they offer guided hiking to a mountain nearby. It sounds really fun, isn’t it?
Plus, I think it’s a win-win solution for people that are saving on the budget. For example, if you’re planning for a honeymoon, you can search for a hotel with a honeymoon package. It’s an extra saving movement for your wallet, since the honeymoon package usually includes a romantic dining, couple spa treatment, and more.
So, starting today, I think you should learn more about the leisure activities or packages that the hotel provides.
14. Luggage Storage
I think this one is very important too, as some people will come to their destination earlier than the hotel’s check-in time. If the hotel offers the luggage storage facility, we can easily put all of our luggages in the luggage storage and explore your holiday destination without having to worry about the safety of your luggage. I’m sure you don’t want to get your hands full while strolling around in the city, right?
15. Parking Costs
People often forget about parking costs, even when they bring their own car for the trip. For me, parking costs are a part of budget planning, and I will gladly choose a hotel with complimentary parking. Of course, you can easily browse for this category too on Traveloka.