How to find an appropriate accommodation for your trip?
(The Hridayesh Resort, Jim Corbette)
Most travellers generally overlook the most important aspect of travelling, the stay/accommodation. Yes! Hotel booking is always the most important and an expensive part of the travel after flight expenses. To choose the right accommodation is always important as it is one crucial aspect that would make your trip memorable.
Booking the right one is always a complex task. Read and research, check out thousands of websites, check out different hotels, read reviews, compare costs, service and package they offer is all we have to do and by then we end up getting annoyed. It is not an easy job. so, it becomes important to categorise and choose an accommodation that is comfortable and inexpensive. Following points would help you keep in mind the important parameters to choose a room for a stay which is perfect one for your tour.
1. Location of the Hotel:
Location of the hotel plays an important role depending upon the purpose of your trip - Business or Leisure. when on a business tour, you may choose a hotel which basic amenities like good food, clean rooms, 24X7 room service and comfortable and cosy to relax at the end of the day as you know that you would be spending most of the time in a conference or a meeting. But when on a leisure trip, you may go for a resort or a bigger hotel (in size) so that you may have other things to do like the indoor and outdoor activities, spa, swimming pool, some sort of sports activity, cycling around the property, sightseeing facilities etc in your free time.
When on a business trip, you may book a hotel which is either close to an airport or the railway station or centrally located so that you don’t waste much time travelling from one place to another. But when on a leisure trip, you can drill down some options which are not very far away from the city yet easily accessible. Also, the local market can be close enough to go anytime or in case of any emergency.
Avoid the hotels that are aloof from the city and located quite far from the city when travelling with elderly people. Choose a hotel which is easily accessible, close to the local market and locating the hotel is easy.
2. Type of Hotel:
The type of Hotel also depends on the purpose of your trip - Business or Leisure. when on a business tour, you may choose a hotel which basic amenities like good food, clean rooms, 24X7 room service and comfortable and cosy to relax at the end of the day as you know that you would be spending most of the time in a conference or a meeting. But when on a leisure trip, you may go for a resort or a bigger hotel (in size) so that you may have other things to do like the indoor and outdoor activities, spa, swimming pool, some sort of sports activity, cycling around the property, sightseeing facilities etc in your free time.
When touring with family or a large group it is always advisable to book an accommodation in a large property so that everyone finds some or the other activity to entertain themselves. Also remember that the hotel should have basic medical help available 24X7. When you check online or offline for the accommodation, the pedigree of the hotel, the hotel chain, number of stars it owns if important check. also check for the number of rooms it has. This determines the quality and service that the hotel provides.
3. Distance from the prominent tourist destination/locations:
Hotel closer to the sightseeing destinations is always preferable. This way you can save time on travelling to the destinations as well as you can simply walk down the road saving money on transportation or go out at any preferable time. This reduces hustle during the trip.
(Aananta Spa and Resort, Pushkar)
4. Price of the Room:
Price of the room per night becomes an important factor while booking accommodation. Before you finalize the hotel, allot a separate budget for accommodation. If you are booking the accommodation online and you are not in a rush, keep a daily track of 2-3 hotels that you have liked for price fluctuations for 4-5 days and when you know that you are getting a good deal, just book it! Also check the price of the room for the same hotels on different websites and apps. Prices may vary and you can get a good deal. Also check the room price including and excluding the meals and if you are not saving much on all inclusive ones then just choose the all meals inclusive option.
(The Riverview Retreat, Corbett)
Meals would also depend on the sightseeing areas and the duration of the stay in a particular hotel. If you are pretty sure that you would be spending the day outside the hotel, its better to choose just the breakfast options.
Compare different hotel properties and the price range as well as the services included in the deal and finalize your option. Select the option that best suits your pocket. Also check very carefully all the services included before you make the final payment.
5. Duration of your stay:
Duration of the stay determines the type of hotel or room you may choose. When you are staying at one destination throughout your trip, then it is better to pick a good hotel with better amenities, indoor and outdoor activities to spend time between your sightseeing visits. But when you are returning back to the hotel room just for sleeping spending the whole day outside the hotel premises, then you should go for a cheaper room/hotel/accommodation with basic services.
6. Safety and security:
Safety and security is very important to judge an accommodation, especially in the foreign land. Read the hotel details properly, check the safety measures that the hotel takes for its guests, and check for the safety in the parking area if you are driving to a tourist destination.
7. Availability of car parking:
Especially when you are driving down to the tourist destination by your own car, it is very important to check if the hotel has ample parking space. If you are going with a group in a mini bus of a big bus, make sure that the hotel has space to park the bus by calling at the hotel and confirming. Anyone would feel unsafe to park the car outside the hotel on a busy street. You would always be worried about the theft or damage of the car.
8. Onsite facilities:
Onsite facilities may include a pool, sports area, gym, spa, park, a disco, restaurant and a cafe. It is one way to judge the quality and services of the hotel. Availability of Wi-Fi becomes a crucial necessity.
(Aananta Spa and Resort, Pushkar)
9. Number of rooms:
One way to judge the quality and service of any hotel is by checking the number of rooms it has. The more the number of rooms in a hotel the better the quality and the service of that hotel. But in case of boutique properties, the number of rooms would not affect the quality of service.
10. Rating or Stars:
The star rating of the hotel is a way by which you can compare and check for the quality. The more the number of stars, the better the quality and service of the hotel. You can also compare the different facilities provided by different hotels and then decide if you want to go for an economical or luxurious accommodation.
11. Reviews and feedback:
Its is important to read the reviews given by the other tourists and visitors and their experiences about the particular hotel you are planning to book. Also, remember that, more the number of reviews given to a particular hotel, more the authenticity of the feedback or review. You may find both positive and negative reviews from different tourists. Read as many reviews as possible and available before you book any particular accommodation. It helps you to understand the quality of the hotel and its service.
12. Photos of the hotel:
The pictures of the hotel should be appealing. It is obvious that any hotel would upload the best possible pictures but it is also important that you check the pictures uploaded by the users or the other travelers. They are more authentic and real.
13. Hotel Website:
Before finalizing the hotel on a third party hotel booking website, do have a look at the hotel’s own website or the mobile app. Compare the rates given on the hotel booking sites and hotel’s website, services, facilities, things included in the package, cancellation policy and other important aspects about the hotel. Sometimes you may also get a good and cheaper deal on the hotel’s own website as compared to the third party hotel booking website.
14. Check-in and check-out timing:
Have a look at the Check-in and Check-out timings once before making the payment. According to the check-in and check-out timings you may book the other transportation like the flight tickets or train tickets. If you have already booked the transportation, then check the timings and book the hotel room. You may call and ask the hotel if you can check-in into the hotel if you are reaching a little early that the timing mentioned by the hotel, so that you do not have to stay stranded in the hotel after a tiring journey till you room is getting ready for you. If you are reaching a little late, then call at the hotel and inform them so that they keep you room ready till the time you reach there.
15. Call at the Hotel:
After the payment has been made, call at the hotel to confirm the booking. You may also ask for other facilities and ask them to provide transportation for sight-seeing. So that you are all ready to leave for sightseeing whenever you wish for. You may call and also ask for an upgrade for the booking you have done. You might get an upgrade at the cheaper rate than the one given on the website.
16. Cancellation policy:
Before you make the payment, carefully read the cancellation policy and check if the booking amount is refundable or not, just in case you have to cancel the trip or the accommodation because of some reason. If you do not understand any particular point mentioned on in the cancelation policy, feel free to call at the toll-free number of the booking website or the hotel directly.
Even after booking the perfect and best possible accommodation according to you, it may not be perfect after all. But a few above-mentioned points may help you in making a good choice.
Bon Voyage!!!
(Tented accommodation at Jaisalmer Desert)