5 things to consider before booking your accommodation

Read on to find five things you need to consider before booking your accommodation.

Finding the right accommodation for your travels is extremely important, as it can often make or break a holiday. Whether you need a base from which to explore your surroundings or you want to chill all day around the pool, knowing that you have a comfortable and clean hotel room to go back to at the end of the day will make your time away that much more enjoyable.

A vacation is designed so you can rest, relax and recharge, while you escape the stresses and responsibilities of reality. To ensure you book the right accommodation, you’ll need to do some research and make sure you’re looking in the right places. But to make that process easier, I’ve put together a list of five things you should consider before you book.

Customer reviews

Customer reviews are a great way to determine whether or not a place is right for you - but remember not to take them as gospel.

Reading customer reviews can be an essential part of the accommodation booking process, and it means that the hotel star review system can’t always be trusted. The best way to know what the hotel has to offer is to read people’s actual experiences and thoughts through reviews. Once you read through enough, you will see a pattern in these reviews as people praise and dislike similar things. I’d recommend using a combination of reviews from TripAdvisor, Google and the company who you’re booking with. Alternatively, here’s what Travel writer Christopher Elliot deems as the “best hotel review sites in the world.”

Hotel amenities

Make sure a hotel has everything you need before you book.

It is not safe to assume that all hotels have the same basic amenities. Every hotel will offer different things and you need to look into what the hotel has to offer to see whether or not there will be anything you need to bring with you. For example, I always check if a hotel has a hairdryer because it’s something I need when I go on holiday. Because it’s a bulky item, it’s much easier if the accommodation already has one. But if not, then I know what to pack.

Wi-Fi access

Whether you want Wi-Fi for work, studying or leisure, make sure you know exactly what level of Wi-Fi your accommodation has before you book.

Having access to Wi-Fi is something most of us need to ensure things are running smoothly at home, to keep in touch with family and friends while we are away or to keep on top of our work. Some hotels will state that you will be able to access the Wi-Fi for free, but then they will charge you for high-speed once you arrive, or the access may only be in a specific part of the hotel – ie not your room. Other hotels will have restrictions on the number of devices that can be connected, while others will offer complimentary interney, but if you want to ensure you can enjoy free access to Wi-Fi, read the reviews or contact the hotel directly.

Your location

You need to make sure the hotel you choose is in a safe location. Researching the safest and most dangerous areas of the destination you have chosen is important before you book a hotel, but it is also important if you are planning on exploring the area. If you do plan to explore, then make sure the hotel is in an easily accessible and practical location. This will save you money on transport and will make it easier to get everywhere you want to go.

Room quality

There are many factors that go into choosing a room. Photos on the hotel website usually show how clean the rooms are and the quality of the furniture and the bathrooms, but again, make sure you read hotel reviews and look at travellers’ photos of the property before you book. If you have any special sleeping requirements or health conditions, then you should find a hotel that caters for that. For example, if you suffer from back pain, the best mattresses for back pain use memory foam, so make sure the hotel has memory foam mattresses in their rooms.