I am what one would call an overthinker. As I travel, I tediously plan and (over) plan on how to choose the best hotel for the location I am going to. God forbid, I just learn to relax and enjoy the process, but I digress. So, how do I choose the right hotel? I have a system or maybe it is better to say a list as to what factors I use to get the best hotel. My method isn’t foolproof, but it usually works for me.
How to choose the right hotel or what factors I look for in a hotel comes up a lot in conversation. For me I start with the following questions, 1. Can I afford it, 2. Is it safe, and 3. Is it walkable to interesting things. Those are the non-negotiables and after this I take everything else into consideration. Decisions like what amenities I need, niceness of staff, and a good bar always come after I get the basics right. I will break down how I choose the right hotel and dig a little deeper into the various options.
Lastly, I will give some tips as how I choose the right hotel overseas? I have noticed that each country has different standards that have to be considered. Below are my tips for picking the right hotel.
Picking the Right Hotel #1 Rule Cost
It may seem obvious, but everything should be within your budget. Don’t go broke when traveling. When choosing a hotel your financial constraints matter. I am not saying throw out all other factors if you can save $10/night. What I am saying is don’t let your hotel put you in the poor house. If you’re traveling to an exciting destination (not an all-inclusive resort), you won’t spend much time in your hotel anyway. There is no need to pay for a bunch of overpriced bells and whistles.
To save money look at the various types of accommodations, I put together a list here. Each one has their own advantages and disadvantages. Is a five-star hotel worth it? Well, it is if you have the money and want luxury. For me no. Bottom line is I start with how much I want to pay and then roll in the next criteria. One last thing about cost. Take all costs into consideration. Some resort fees or outrageous parking costs make expenses add up. What might seem like a $150 a night hotel may end up costing you $250.
How to choose the right hotel? #2 Rule Safety
Another non-negotiable when picking a hotel, especially overseas, is safety. I will get to just how to know a hotel is safe later in the post, but above all else, you are to avoid dangerous situations. I was in a riad in Marrakesh and they took my front door key before I left the hotel. I received it back after I returned. I thought I was in a mobster movie, there are jewelry stores with less security.
This made me feel both safe and unsafe at the same time. One’s location should always determine the amount of safety features one should have. The more dangerous the country the more attention you need to spend on picking a safe hotel. Look for lighting around the establishment and get a general feel for the neighborhood. Also, a higher level of crowds can keep you out of trouble. Even an upscale area can have sections where shady people hang around. Yes, it may be difficult to determine how safe a hotel is from the pictures, the hotels website isn’t showing their residents being mugged in the lobby. A couple of reviews can also help you avoid the trouble of an unsafe hotel or neighborhood.
Cleanliness
I am going to lump cleanliness into safety because a dirty room can make you sick. Pay attention to what people say (or the pictures they post) if it looks filthy, put it toward the bottom of your list of choices. Especially if you notice a reoccurring theme from multiple reviewers.
Factors in Choosing a hotel #3 Rule Location
For me location is key when choosing the right hotel. It is everything actually. There is no point staying 50 miles from all the good bars and restaurants. I do not care how effective mass transit is, there is nothing like walking outside and being in the center of the action. In fact, you should pinpoint some general areas first, then find a safe and cost-efficient hotel. When deciding how to choose the right hotel figure out where the hotspots are and stay near BUT NOT IN, them.
You want to be far enough away from major attraction as to not feel like you’re in a tourist trap, but close enough to walk to where you want. Near enough to get a selfie stick on demand, but you still want to get a feel for some of the neighborhoods in your area. Finding the right mix of local neighborhood and touristy attraction can be tough, but I will sort out how you can do that later. The worst thing you can do is stay too far or in an unwalkable area to save a buck. If you can’t afford a good location, maybe change your destination. I would rather be in a walkable hotel in Albuquerque than a remote hotel in Sicily. Ok maybe not, but you get the point.
How to choose the right hotel? Well Reviewed
After I found a hotel that I know is safe, in a good location and is in my budget I start to list them by reviews. I always take these with a grain of salt, it doesn’t take much for a place to fall from a 4.5 to 4.2 on Google. Still, other people’s opinions tend to matter at least somewhat. I try to limit my score to a 4 or above. Even that may be pushing it, especially if there are a lot of reviews.
I learned this lesson the hard way many years back, I had a now (thankfully) Ex girlfriend pick a hotel that was “a hole in the wall” for a beach trip. The reviews were awful I mean 1 out of 5 on TripAdvisor. I thought “who cares how bad could it be?” Well, the room was in shambles, they locked me out of my room a number of times. Their “breakfast” was just a box of Walmart donuts, and you couldn’t speak to anyone at the front desk. Oh yeah, they also literally had a bird in the lobby as a pet that was pooing all over the place. It was a nightmare. I do not trust the opinions of others on a lot of things, but if everyone is saying something you may want to listen!
Lastly, What Amenities are Important to You?
Now that you have the last three criteria right it is time to customize a bit. If you are wondering how to choose the right hotel you will realize that some of these things are subjective. For me, I love a balcony when traveling. Nothing better than waking up at 9am with a glass of wine and listening to the voices of foreign children on their way to school. Others might want a pool, etc.
Just think of the things you can’t live without and limit your search to those. Want a pool or a gym, you know where to start your search. Some need a bar in the lobby, while others just want a clean room. You may also want to keep in mind what you can live without.
This will help with the cost by guiding you to which type of accommodation is best for you (once again read more about it here). Apartment-type accommodation are great if you want a clean, room with a kitchen but none of the extras. In Portugal I stayed in a place like this, and it was perfect for my trip. Main point is the get the important stuff first, then decide what you can’t (or can) live without. Now that you know what to look for let me give you some tips on how to choose the right hotel.
Tips: How to Choose the Right Hotel
Below are the things I do in my extensive and slightly OCD hotel choosing process. I may put more work in than most, but it is usually worth it.
Compared Sites for The Best Price
This may sound like a no brainer, but a lot of people just pick the cheapest thing on Expedia. I go to them all. First, I use Google to give me a list of hotels. I will then hit up multiple sites to find the best price for the hotels I am looking for. Travel sites like Trivago make this a bit easier. It amazes me how different sites can have varying prices for the same place. Of course, there are many sites owned by the same company (Expedia and Orbitz are owned by the same establishment). Still, it is worth looking at all of them.
I think it is also worth going to the hotels actual website. Sometimes the best deals can be found direct, without the fees. The hotels have gotten wind of how much third-party sites have cheated them and are adjusting their prices accordingly. Lastly check these sites on multiple days. I find it weird how much the prices fluctuate between the sites or the same site depending on the day.
Read Negative Hotel Reviews
After filtering for the score, read the worst reviews to give you a feel of any reoccurring themes. Sometimes the negative reviews are ridiculous, or one offs, others can be more telling. If someone complains about the service a year ago, that employee may not even be there still. On the other hand, if five people are complaining about how dirty the rooms are, it should be an immediate red flag. Negative reviews generally tell you more than positive ones.
Google Maps is Your Friend
This is where I start my hotel search, I pull up the areas I want to stay in a make a list from there. To find out which areas you want to stay in look for some major landmarks and stay close to, but not on top of, those. You do not want to be overcharged in some tourist trap, but you also do not want to have to take a bus to see any major attractions.
I tend to like to eat when I travel. I look for a place close to as many local restaurants as possible. If there is an Olive Garden within two minutes, it probably isn’t the hotel for me.
If you really want to get anal about your area, you can walk the streets using Google Maps. Take the little guy in the corner of the map and put him directly in front of your hotel. This will get you a feel for the area. I have spent many an hour walking the streets of my hotel.
Know The Safest Neighborhoods
Back to safety, you want to know if the area is safe around the hotel. The last thing you want to do is end up in a dangerous neighborhood, especially overseas. No matter how nice a hotel is, if it is adjacent to a dangerous place, pass on it. A quick Google search will tell you where the worst neighborhoods are in each city. Then look at where your hotel is located in relation to this.
I stayed in a 5-star hotel in Turkey but was down a dark alley. At night, I felt more than a little unsafe and had two of my more dangerous experiences while traveling. The hotel itself was beautiful, but not worth the danger.
Speaking of how to choose a hotel, picking one overseas comes with its own challenges. Let me dig a little deeper to show some unique things to keep in mind when choosing a hotel overseas.
How to choose the right hotel Overseas
Hotel quality varies greatly from country to country. If you live in the United States, you may find that the amount of luxury you are accustomed to may not be the same in a foreign place. Keep in mind the following things:
Go For a Higher Star Rating
3-stars in Peru is not the same as 3-stars in the United States. Always chose a 4-star or more when traveling overseas. Obviously, every country and situation are different, but it has always been a great rule of thumb for me. I hate to say it, but a lot of times (not always) the poorer countries do not offer a good stay, even in a higher-star hotel. It is better to be safe than sorry and pick a hotel that is a higher rating than sleeping in a barn.
Don’t Assume any Amenities.
Another thing to consider is when choosing the right hotel overseas is even the best ones can screw you on things you would think are standard. Nothing worse than getting into a hot hotel room and not having Air Condition. Some will have one, but it never seems to get cold. Do not get surprised by shared bathrooms or no maid service. Do your research.
Also, along the same lines, I have had a theme of staying at what is considered a 5-star hotel overseas, yet the management acts as if I just ran over his new puppy (then slept with his wife). Peru was especially bad with this; people were out right rude in what was considered a 5-star hotel. In Italy one lady was openly racist to my now ex-wife at a highly rated place. These people forget you are paying money.
When in Doubt Pick a Name Brand
When overseas, sometimes it is a safer bet to pick a line of hotels you know. They are more likely to be consistent in quality and have the normal amenities. You may still have to deal with some unique quirks, but overall, the experience is less dangerous. Still go with a 4-star or above hotel.
I am not saying avoid all boutique hotels, if you just do not want to think about it and read a million reviews it is your best bet.
Conclusion: How to choose the right hotel
Maybe I overthink the process a bit, especially considering I am not in the room for that long. It is better to overthink than to get your throat slit by bed bugs the size of cats. Just remember when considering what factors do you look for in a hotel, first is expense, safety and location after that it is all just a bonus.
