How To Choose A Good Hotel – Step By Step!

Choosing a good hotel is an art that needs to be mastered by those who like to plan their trip on their own, like us.

When you hire a travel agent, he usually already knows the reputation of the hotel, has constant feedback from customers who have been there and, therefore, the surprises are usually less. On the other hand, when booking online, you need to do your homework to minimize the chances of disappointment.

We published a guide a few weeks ago to help you with booking hotels on the internet and this post is a complement. There, we talked about the biggest doubts and also about the main sites we use when closing our reservation. Here, we will teach you how to mine the best options and offers.

I have booked my own hotels over the internet for a long time. In the past 6 months I have booked about 20 hotels. I ended up developing a “technique” to be able to find good hotels and always pay the lowest price for them. Since I started using it, my disappointment has greatly diminished by the time I arrive at the site.

With this same technique, I can choose quickly and no longer wander for days and days, looking at several hotels and looking at the same hotels several times, without reaching any decision.

Step by step to choose a good hotel over the internet

First, research about your destination and define which area you want to stay in the city. Make the decision of the location and only then go out to look for the best hotel there.

Open the site of your choice and enter the parameters (location, number of people and dates). In some cases, you can also choose to display only hotels that have a specific amenity, such as a swimming pool or free wifi. If you have never made a reservation over the internet, see some suggestions in our Guide to mastering the reservation of hotels over the internet.

When the result is displayed, sort the list by the lowest price first.

Open a tab for each hotel that looks interesting. To open a result in a new tab, hold the control (or command) key before clicking on the link. Open any hotels that seem interesting, before you start evaluating them.

You go through the list of hotels and the price will increase. When the hotels reach the maximum amount you are willing to pay, evaluate the options you have (the open tabs).

To rate, check the worst reviews and see if they are current. Remember that some things change over time: ex. Work, mold, etc. Don’t just focus on the positive comments, find the worst grades and read the reported dissatisfaction.

Eliminate the hotels whose complaint you do not tolerate. Some people may rate it very low for something that is not relevant to you. For example, the lack of a cot or extra bed available does not change your trip if you are alone. If that would hinder your vacation, just close the flap and forget about that hotel.

Observe the particularities of the hotel, items such as free cancellation, advance or on-site payment and room items – breakfast, air conditioning, hot shower, wifi in the rooms, etc. Check when the payment will be made (in advance or at check in). Please note if an extra bed is required and if the price already includes or it will be charged additionally.

Of the remaining options, make your final decision for the hotel that you like the most. If everyone went through the above filter, it shouldn’t disappoint you. If there aren’t any hotels left, it may be a widespread problem of accommodation on site. In that case, lower your expectations and choose something simpler or accept to pay a little more.

If you liked the tips, leave a comment! I’d love to hear from you!