How to choose a good hotel.

HOTEL

How to choose a good hotel? 

This topic is important all year round, we go on vacation not only in summer or winter. Here's a bunch of my tips & tricks. I hope you find them useful. Some time ago, in Poland, there weren't that many hotels. Instead, we had state-owned holiday resorts, with 3 meals included in the price, as well as activities for kids and adults. These days, many people choose holiday resorts. I'm not a big fan as I think it's better to have a say in how you spend time and have some regional cuisine instead of having potatoes and pork chops in Greece but to each their own. Provided you plan your own vacation, you sure want to choose the best hotel available.

1. Make sure a hotel or B&B you're about to book really exists. 

2-3 times a year, people appear in the news, sharing their horror stories about booking this perfect vacation spot only to find out it doesn't exist and they were scammed. If a place is available on hotels.com, booking.com, tripadvisor.com, it's OK but be careful with all the pretty-looking websites and no Google matches for that name & address Google is a great way to verify what you're about to book – most cities have Google Street View, so you can see the place for yourself.

2. Take a look at the pics.

 You probably won't get the exact same room, but observe the details. Is there an old type TV set on the pic? If so, either the room wasn't upgraded for the last 10+ years or the pics weren't. Both things seem sketchy for me – if the room furniture is so old or if the website wasn't updated it may be that the stay will be not up to standards, too.

3. Read the reviews. 

Not on the hotel website, but on an independent review site, like Tripadvisor. I usually go for the negative opinions – this way I know if there's a pattern. If you like a good rest, and there are many mentions of weddings or loud AC or even worse, there's no AC at all and you have to sleep with an open window you may choose another hotel, maybe a quieter one.

4. Don't make up your mind on a whim. 

You'll surely see pop-ups like „this is the last room for this special price” or „12 bookings made in the last 5 minutes” but double-check everything before you make the actual booking. Speaking of which, rule

5. Check the canceling and payment options. 

Alwayes check canceling and payment option.

6. Good hotel is a hotel in a good area. 

Look at the map – is it easy to drive to the hotel? Is there a bus or metro stop nearby, should you choose to use it? Does the neighborhood look nice? Are there restaurants, pubs, cafes you'd like to go to? For me, this is very important – and the best hotel isn't really good if it's in the middle of nowhere and there's nothing to do.

7. Check if the hotel allows children and pets.

 It may important if you're traveling with your kids and family dog but also if you're child free like me and you don't want children on your vacation. The best vacation can be ruined if your balcony overlooks the playground. And what are your tips & tricks for choosing a good hotel?
Let me know in the comments below. Don't forget to rate my article – give it a thumb up if you liked it. 

Thanks and see you soon!