You don’t want your great vacation memories obliterated by unexpected costs, or an experience that didn’t quite meet your standards erasing your good will. There are things you can know in advance about your accommodations. Here are some questions to ask when booking a hotel room.
Tariff? Compare the Hotel tariff. These days you have travel portals to assist you in getting in the best deal.
Does the price reflect all fees and taxes? There might be resort fees, cleaning fees, booking fees and other pesky hidden fees and taxes. Ask if the price you are quoted includes all of those. If it doesn’t, ask if you can have the added fees waived.
What are the exact bed sizes in a room? Really matters if you are travelling with the kids.
Where is the room located on the property? In large resorts, the hassle factor grows exponentially if your room is miles away from the kid-focused amenities. Another issue is noise. Will noise help or hinder sleep? Hotels know which rooms are quiet and those that aren’t and can advise accordingly.
Note: some hotels won’t guarantee a specific room prior to arrival but you can always ask them to make a note in your reservation record.
Check-in and Check-out time? In most hotels, the standard check-in/check-out time is 12PM. But this may vary depending on the hotel brand.
What better rate can you offer me? As soon as you say this, the representative knows you are not willing to pay the price quoted. They’ll never say, “That’s the best we can do” if it means you walk away. There are usually promotions or special deals just ask.
Does the hotel have an onsite restaurant? If so, what time does it open, do they have and do they have a kids’ menu? Are there any discounts with the hotel’s restaurant or other exclusive deals? Many hotels offer guests exclusive discounts with partner restaurants or property perks.
What’s the cancellation policy? You’ll often have to schedule and pay for your tour ahead of time. Before putting any money down, find out what happens if you need to cancel or reschedule.
Basic Facilities? Find out if the hotel has hot water, room service, house-keeping and other basic facilities.
WiFi access? Where? While many accommodations offer WiFi access to guests, sometimes it is only available in a common lobby area and not in the guestrooms. Occasionally, you may even have to pay — so ask in advance.
Location? Where is the accommodation relative to the city’s main attractions? Think about how you plan to get from place to place. Will you take public transport or walk? Don’t just guess on this one — actually pull out a map (hello, Google Maps) and see where the accommodation is in regards to the rest of the city.
Noise level? If you love your shut-eye, check reviews to see how quiet (or loud) it gets at night.
Good Reviews? So many travelers make the terrible, unforgivable mistake of not reading Trip Advisor/Google reviews before booking accommodations. Don’t make this mistake! Consider Trip Advisor , Holiday IQ, Google Reviews your secret travel planning weapon: a free, honest, inside-scoop about everything you ever needed to know about where you will be staying. If the percentage of good feedback is way higher than negative comments, then it indicates that the hotel you wish to zero in on isn’t bad at all.
Is parking included? Many hotels leave out the little fact that when you arrive, parking will cost you additional per night, and there is nowhere else to park for miles. Ask if parking is included. If it is not, ask if the hotel is offering any vouchers on free or discounted parking.
Friendly staff? Your hosts may very well be the first locals you speak with in a new city, so pick friendly ones. Check to see what other travelers thought of the accommodation staff in Trip Advisor reviews.
