TravellerHints! Booking a hotel can be exciting but challenging; it can become overwhelming with so many different types of hotels and many things to consider. Luckily, there are a few ways to break down the different types of hotels to find the best one for you and your travel needs. The first step to booking your perfect accommodation is knowing what suits you best.
Categorizing
hotels are categorized by a few factors; size, type of holiday, and level of service. All of these things will determine your costs and experience of your accommodation. The size of the establishment is generally determined by how many rooms or guests it caters to, although this doesn’t necessarily mean the most minor hotels will be the cheapest or the largest the most expensive. The property’s size will indicate how many people you’ll be sharing the amenities with, though, and the physical size of the place. For example, a smaller hotel would be ideal if you’re looking for a more relaxed and personal hotel experience. On the other hand, if you wanted a social experience with an opportunity to meet a vast amount of people, then more significant properties would probably be more of your kind of thing. The size of the hotel may also determine the type of property you’re staying in; this is where the target audience classification comes in. Working out your holiday style will help you find the best hotel for you.
Business Hotel Booking
For example, Business Hotels are the largest group of accommodation types. Although they do primarily cater to business travelers (they offer facilities such as daily newspapers and coffees, gyms and swimming pools), they are also a popular choice for tour groups or individual travelers, as they have all the basic amenities you would need to have a comfortable and pleasant stay, without the unnecessary (and usually costly) extras found in luxury suits or resorts. Although, if you are looking for a roomy, “homey” feel to your accommodation or want to try the latest industry trend, a ‘suite style’ hotel might be for you.
Extra Facilitates
Most hotels usually offer a bedroom with an adjoining en-suite, ‘suite hotels’ step it up just that bit more by offering an extra ‘lounge room type’ living or entertaining space. These can be ideal for traveling families as it offers more room for the little ones to sleep without having to pay for a separate room or having the stress of the family spread across two or more rooms. They’re also an excellent option for group travelers, as it offers another space that can be used for relaxing while maintaining the privacy of your own bedroom.
Luxuries Hotel Booking
Another popular type of accommodation, especially among those looking for more luxuries and an ‘all-inclusive” hotel experience, then look no further than your destination’s best Resort! Resort hotels are usually located in the mountains, on an island, or in a scenic location outside of the hustle and bustle of the city of suburbia and generally come with a 4-5 star rating! Resorts are well known for their excellent facilities and amenities that are offered to their guests, from golf courses, tennis courts, swimming pools, pampering spas, sailing and skiing opportunities (depending on your location), not to mention an abundance of hotels and bars.
You could go on holiday and never even have to leave the resort!
The room styles vary across different resorts. They are usually big enough to offer a selection of different style rooms depending on your budget (single room, suite rooms, or fully equipped rooms with living areas, a kitchen, and even multiple bedrooms). Resort hotels are always an excellent option for accommodation as they don’t just cater to one type of traveler, whether you’re going on a relaxing, romantic getaway, a family holiday, a solo trip, or a bit more of an adventurous/party type trip, you can be sure there’s something for everyone in a beautiful and luxurious location.
Low Budget Accommodations
On the other hand, those looking for a low budget or ‘limited service’ accommodation should look for hotels with a one to two-star rating and consider swapping the extra ‘frills’ of a resort or business hotel for the basic amenities of affordable and comfortable living. Most low-budget hotels will still offer clean and functioning rooms, a swimming pool, or some in-house recreation, all your primary inclusions like a safe to keep your essential belongings, WIFI, and housekeeping services. Low-budget hotels are great for those travelers who want to spend more time out exploring than in their hotel room but still want something nice and comfortable to return to and relax in.
Casino Hotels
While these are the main types of hotels, there are a few more, possibly less well-known types, such as Casino Hotels. As the name states, casino hotels are hotels with gambling facilities within the same complex or within walking distance (think, ‘The Luxury’ in Las Vegas, or ‘Crown Hotel and Casino’ in Singapore , Marina Bay, Atlantic City , Lisbon, Portugal, Klerksdorp, South Africa, Macau, Melbourne, and Perth). Although these can make for some great nights, it is essential to note that all the food, beverage, and daily operations are secondary to and support the casino operations.
Conference and Convention Hotel
Another less common type of hotel accommodation is a conference and convention hotel. Business hotels, conference, and convention hotels offer all the services and equipment you would need to put on a large-scale business conference or convention (video conferencing and audiovisual technology and facilities, and flexible seating arrangements). Regarding the room quality, you can generally expect to have the same amenities and service as business hotels. Now that you have decided what kind of hotel will be best for you (or if you want to get a more detailed and specific look at the different types of hotels), here are a few sites that will help you compare the prices and quality of your chosen accommodation, and my top 3 tips on booking your hotel for your next trip! Remember, it’s essential to do thorough research on your hotel, so checking out multiple sites, reviews, and the hotel’s official website will mean you don’t get hit with any nasty surprises when you arrive. Your hotel stay is the ideal one for you!
MY TOP 3 TIPS TO BOOKING YOUR NEXT Holiday
Determine your needs, and determine your budget! Do you already have a set budget for your accommodation needs? This may help narrow down your choices and make your decision easier.
Alternatively, determining your hotel needs will help you determine a budget and help with your booking. Things to consider are; how big you need the room to be. Is it just you? How many beds and bathrooms will you need etc.? What facilities do you require or would you prefer during your stay? Many hotels give guests access to excellent facilities such as swimming pools and spas, gyms and fitness centers, room service, and in-house restaurants. Usually, the use of these facilities is factored into the cost of the stay, so the fewer there are, the cheaper the room will be, and vice versa.
Before Hotel Booking, Know your location
This seems like a ‘no-brainer’, but knowing where your property is located is going to be the difference between making the most of your destination and being stuck in a taxi or room, or even worse, getting lost because you have to try and navigate your way through a foreign place.
Choosing your accommodation based on your trip plans (sightseeing, close to public transport, close to the city, etc) will not only make your trip a lot smoother and more enjoyable but also help narrow down your choices when it does come time to book your room.
Check-in/out times
Imagine being stuck in a foreign country, with all your luggage and no property to check into yet, or having to leave your room hours before your flight home. This is what could happen if you don’t get your hotels to check-in or check-out times. All hotels have specific check-in and check-out times to ensure that your room will be ready and cleaned upon arrival, so knowing what these are crucial to planning your flight and hotel bookings. You can usually contact the property you want to book with and change your check-in and check-out times to suit your travel needs, or alternatively, you can book your arrival time to coincide with the hotel’s schedule.