A hotel booking can be as simple or as complicated as you want it to be. For some, all it takes is 5 minutes and a credit card; for others, the booking is the culmination of hours of research, spreadsheets, and the overwhelming fear that you still made the wrong decision.
However, getting the hotel wrong for a city trip can make or break the entire trip, and it’s a gamble you really don’t want to take when you only have limited time to see everything on your to-do list.
Let’s take a look at some tips that can help you pick a hotel that won’t ruin your city trip.
Check What’s Included in the Price Before You Book
The nightly rate rarely tells the whole story when you book your hotel. Look for resort fees, parking, breakfast, and wifi that can all come at additional charges to the nightly rate. Some properties might even charge daily for access to a gym or pool that looks like it might be included in the price on the listing but aren’t.
It’s also worth comparing the total cost across a couple of booking sites since the same room can come with different fees attached depending on where it’s booked.
Read Recent Reviews, Not Just Top Ones
Booking sites will surface the highest rates or most positive reviews closer to the top, where more people will see them or focus them prominently on the website. A hotel can sometimes change management, undergo a renovation, or go through a rough patch that’s not representative of usual standards, and the reviews might not change to acknowledge this, especially if they’re using reviews from years ago.
Sort any reviews you read by most recent and look for recurring themes to help you get a better picture of guest experiences in the past few months, as these will be more accurate.
Confirm What’s Within Walking Distance
A hotel that’s technically close to the places you’re visiting can still add real time to a trip if it’s a 30-minute walk each way to the closest attraction you want to visit.
Check the actual distance to all the attractions you’ll be visiting on your trip to locate a hotel that’s central to them all, not just close to one of them. For example, the Belvedere hotel New York sits within walking distance of several major midtown attractions, which reduces the reliance on taxis or the subway to get around.
Check the Cancellation Policy
Plans change, and a rate that looked like a bargain when you booked might not be such a good deal if you need to cancel for any reason and you can’t get a refund. So before you book anything, check the refund policy. Some hotels offer a slightly higher rate that comes with free cancellation up to a day or two before you’re due to arrive.
Check for exact cut-off times and how much of a refund you get if you cancel and you’re not entitled to a full one, as this can help you decide if paying a little extra is worth it or not.
