Travelling and Hotels
When traveling, the choice of accommodation is a vital one. Hotels range from simple beds in a private room to luxurious suites with round-the-clock staff. They offer a number of facilities and services, from free Wi-Fi to in-room massages and beautician services. They also often provide a breakfast for their guests, which can save on meal costs during their stay. Many hotels also offer business centre services for those travelling on work. Some are operated by a single hotel, while others are owned by large hospitality companies and operate under their brand name across the world.
A hotel’s star rating is an indication of its quality. It can be determined by various means, including tourism authorities, independent rating agencies and hotel associations or organizations that perform inspections of their members against established criteria. However, it is important to note that star ratings are not universally agreed upon and some hotels may claim a higher or lower rating than they actually deserve.
Hotels are generally geared towards two groups of travellers: business travelers and holiday makers. Those focusing on business typically want to be close to the main areas of interest and businesses they are visiting, so are likely to prefer hotels with more of an urban or central location. They also tend to seek out facilities such as meeting rooms, business centres and internet access.
On the other hand, holidaymakers often look for more rustic or rural locations that are quieter and offer a more natural setting in which to relax and unwind. They are likely to look for more amenities such as spas and restaurants, and to be less concerned about being able to cook their own meals.
Those who travel frequently or on business often choose to stay in hotels that belong to larger hotel chains in order to take advantage of loyalty programs, which can reduce the cost of their stays. Such brands have a reputation, however, for being somewhat sterile and impersonal. The other side to this is that a large chain can provide consistency and reliability, particularly for those who are working on projects or in meetings while they are away from their home base.
When choosing a hotel it is important to consider what is most important for each individual traveller. This will depend on the budget, the type of trip and the personal preferences of each person. A common mistake people make is to read only reviews of hotels and to not check out the hotel website. Reviews can be misleading and may not reflect the experience of people staying in the same hotel as you, and the website will usually address issues that have been raised by other guests.
For women, it is worth checking if a hotel has facilities such as female-friendly rooms and bathrooms. In addition to a separate bath and shower, these may include vanity mirrors, hairspray, deodorant, and curling irons for use in the room. A free, unlimited Wi-Fi service is another key feature that many travellers look for in a hotel. This is because a lot of hotels charge for internet usage and have caps on daily data allowances that can be very expensive.