In a world filled with seemingly unlimited lodging options, it can sometimes be difficult to decide between staying in a hotel, short-term vacation rental, timeshare, hostel, or some other accommodations when traveling. Personally, I prefer hotels because I like the convenience of amenities or services and I love getting my rewards points as a Hilton Honors member. Timeshares are basically the perfect combination of a hotel and a short-term rental, but I only like to stay in one if I'm vacationing in a particular location for several days and want to be comfortable or if I know it will offer better access to a room if hotels in the area are filling up or very expensive.
Having stayed in a lot of hotels in my lifetime across the United States and in other countries, I've learned a thing or two about them. Something I haven't actually written about yet for Kimi's Travel Thoughts are tips related to hotel bookings or stays. With that being said, here's 7 things you should know about hotels:
#1: You Get What You Pay For
Hotels are one of those things where the more money you spend, the better the quality and experience tends to be -- assuming normal, everyday pricing and not hiked up rates due to scarcity or holidays. Hotels have star ratings to help give you a better sense of the quality. For example, 5-star hotels are top of the market and also very expensive. Generally, the higher the star rating, the more expensive the hotel will be. However, 3-star hotels can be hit and miss in terms of quality because they're in a neutral position. I like to stay in a minimum 3-star hotel, but sometimes options are limited depending on the area and you might only find hotels below that rating. Not all hotels are equal (even when they're the same brand), so check what amenities or services are available at the hotel to see if the price is worth it.
#2: Check Prices Late Night or Early Morning
Hotel rates can be volatile, so it's beneficial to look well in advance of your trip (when possible) and know your budget. The farther out you book from your check-in date, the more stable the rates will be. If you are booking within a week or two of check-in, I've found that it helps to check prices late at night or early in the morning. Rates can change throughout the day though, so I recommend just focusing on finding a couple of hotels that are close to your budget or preferred location and book the one that becomes most budget- and location- friendly in the search. Also keep in mind that there will likely be additional taxes and fees on top of the nightly rate you see online. Don't forget to factor in potential parking fees if you bring a car with you and remember that location also influences the price!
#3: Beware of Third-Party Booking Websites
Third-party booking websites like Hotels.com, Trivago, Expedia, and others are absolutely helpful if you want to find a nicer hotel and pay the lowest prices possible. However, it is important to know that hotels do not offer the same options to those who book through a third-party website. Hotels all have their own cancellation, refund, and rescheduling policies. People who book directly through the hotel are bound to those policies and can cancel, reschedule, or receive a refund with greater flexibility. When you book through a third-party, you typically do not get to cancel, reschedule, or receive a refund in the same way (if at all) like a guest who books directly through the hotel would. If you know there's a possibility your travel plans could change, consider booking through the hotel rather than a third-party website.
Pro-Tip: If you're looking for more ways to save money on a hotel stay and there's a particular hotel chain that you like (Hilton, Marriott, Best Western, Wyndham, Choice, etc.), joining their rewards program is a great way to get access to deals and special offers. When booking online, you can even get special rates as a rewards member and other perks may be offered during your stay. Depending on how the rewards system works, you could earn enough points or complete enough stays for a free night at a hotel within the hotel chain's family of brands!
#4: In-Room Snacks and Drinks are an Additional Charge
Unless clearly stated otherwise by the hotel, assume all food and drinks that are already in your room will result in an additional charge if moved from their exact spot for more than a few seconds. In some hotels, you may actually see the specific amount of time you have for the items to be removed from its designated space before charges are accrued on your bill. These drinks and snacks are a bit pricey, so keep this in mind if you're staying at the hotel with anyone who might have a tendency to browse or eat the available snacks and drinks.
#5: Bright White Linens Serve a Purpose
Did you know that all hotels have bright white linens for a reason? I don't like white linens at home due to my decor, but I love them at hotels. Cleanliness is meant to be a point of emphasis in the hospitality business, and white linens make it clear to the staff and the guests if turnover between guests was done properly or not. You can easily see any stains, bugs, hair, or other things that cause concern because of the contrast presented by white linens. If you notice the bed linens and towels are not as clean as they should be, contact the front desk for some fresh replacements. Remember, you're paying good money to stay in a room under the expectation that it will be clean and pristine. Don't hesitate to call the front desk if there's an issue with something in the room!
#6: Remember to Logout of Netflix on the TV
Many hotels have a Netflix app or an app for some other streaming service available on the TV in the rooms. If you decide to log into your account, remember to also logout before checking out of the hotel. Failure to logout could lead to some random people watching shows and movies on your account, forcing you to either logout on all devices or change your password. Let's face it, nobody wants to log into all of their devices again. Even with a password manager, you wouldn't want to go through the trouble of creating a new password for your account (again).
#7: Consider Tipping Housekeeping Staff Directly, Not Leaving Cash in the Room
Tipping the person who cleans your hotel room is a thoughtful and courteous gesture. However, leaving money in the room is not always the best way to get the money to that person. As wild as it seems, there are actually people who will slip into hotel rooms right after someone checks out when housekeeping staff have the doors open while cleaning multiple rooms to collect any items that were left behind by the guests. If you can, try to find an opportunity to give the tip money directly to the housekeeping staff to ensure they receive the cash you want to leave them with. Otherwise, they may not get the tip if left somewhere in the room and you want to make sure they know you valued the work they did to maintain a clean hotel room for you.
Feel free to leave comments below, tweet (@KimiThoughts), or leave a post/message on Facebook (@KimisTravelThoughts) and share your thoughts or if you plan to use any of the recommendations from this post!