Finding a good hotel and booking a room can be stressful, especially if you're booking a hotel room for a large family or the time is urgent. Since hotel room reservations are usually done online, there are many online tools available to compare prices and browse information before you book the right room. If you've never booked a hotel room, follow these simple steps. The process is very fast and easy.
Step
Part 1 of 2: Finding a Good Hotel
Step 1. Determine the budget
Before you search for a hotel and book a room, make sure the hotel fits your budget and needs. First of all, first determine the budget and how much money can be allocated when booking a hotel room. This will help you narrow your search and save time searching for hotels and booking rooms.
- Is your budget limited, with a maximum price per night benchmark? You may allocate some money for your trip and some money for accommodation. Having a limited budget doesn't mean you stay in cheap and dirty hotels. There are actually many discount options available to hotel guests on a budget.
- On the other hand, you may be traveling for work and can pay for accommodation using company funds. In this case, finding a cheap hotel may not be your top priority.
Step 2. Think about the accommodations you will need during your stay
Do you need a large room for a family of four, or do you just need a regular room for yourself? Determine the desired size of the room, including the number of beds and bathrooms. If you are traveling with a family, you may need two queen beds and a large bathroom. If you're traveling alone, you may only need one queen bed and one medium-sized bathroom.
- If you have a disability or need disability facilities, add this into consideration when choosing a hotel. There are many hotels that state that their area is wheelchair accessible and that they offer facilities for people with disabilities. You can also call the hotel to make sure there are facilities there for people with disabilities.
- Also consider whether you want to stay at a hotel that has a spa and fitness center at your disposal, or whether you don't need any additional amenities. If you need a stable internet connection, look for a hotel that offers free Wi-Fi and is included in the price of the nightly stay.
- If you are traveling with a large family or group, consider booking a suite type room which has a living room and bedroom so that the whole group can be accommodated without being limited by space and privacy.
Step 3. Identify the ideal location or area
Location often messes with the budget or accommodation needed, especially if you're looking for a great hotel location. Are you looking for a hotel close to the location of an office or conference event? You may decide to stay downtown or downtown, which will allow you to get around the city with ease. You can also choose a remote location where you can have privacy and drive a car or walk to and from the main areas of the city.
The ideal location generally depends on your type of trip. If you're on a business trip, you're looking for a hotel close to a conference or work meeting venue. If you are traveling for a vacation, you are looking for hotels that are close to crowded areas or hotels that offer car or bicycle rental packages so you can get around easily
Step 4. Look up information online about some hotels
The fastest way to search for hotels is to search online hotel search engines. This search engine will allow you to determine the length of the trip, the number of stays required, the ideal location, and the facilities you need, if any. You can also specify your maximum budget for the hotel.
- After entering this information into a search engine, you will see several hotel options. You can sort the search results from lowest price to highest price, or use the map feature to see hotels closer to a certain area or location.
- Keep in mind that searching for a hotel on an online search engine doesn't always show an extra charge or stub for the room. Make sure you pay attention to any small print next to the room price listed before deciding to book.
- Some credit card and AAA providers also offer hotel search services to their members and discounts on certain hotels. Contact your credit card company or AAA provider for more information.
Step 5. Compare multiple hotels using the discount search tool to compare multiple hotel options at once
Step 6. Call the hotel for a lower price
Calling the hotel directly can get you a last minute booking or a lower price. When you talk to the receptionist and ask them specific questions about the hotel, you can also get to know more about the customer service that the hotel offers. Try calling at night, as reception is usually busy in the morning and afternoon. You can ask questions like:
- Is there a restaurant or bar there? Is breakfast included in the price of the stay?
- Does your hotel have non-smoking rooms?
- Is the hotel close to public transportation access? Does the hotel rent bicycles?
- How far is the hotel from a specific location or area, such as the beach, convention center, or city center?
- Which side of the hotel has a better view or is quieter?
- Is the area around the hotel safe?
- Are there facilities for persons with disabilities?
- What is the booking cancellation policy like?
Part 2 of 2: Book Hotel
Step 1. Book the room via the online site
After choosing a hotel room, you can book online through the hotel's website. To book, you will be asked to enter basic information, such as your full name and date of stay.
- You can also book a room by calling the hotel directly. If you decide to book by phone, try calling at night as reception is usually busy in the morning and afternoon.
- If you are looking for group rates, such as for a conference or wedding, simply call the hotel and speak to the receptionist. Many hotels do not display group rates on their online sites and often offer lower rates if you book by phone.
Step 2. Pay for the room by credit card
Many online orders require payment via credit card. If you are traveling on business, use a company credit card to pay for the hotel.
- Always check if your credit card offers hotel and accommodation discounts so you can use those discounts when paying for hotel rooms.
- If you stay at the hotel for a long time, you can pay an advance for a two or three night stay and then pay the rest when you arrive at the hotel. After that you are usually asked to provide a credit card number for filing and paying off the bill at the reception when checking out (check out).
Step 3. Confirm the room is reserved
You can confirm that the hotel room has been booked by printing the receipt at the end of the online booking stage. If you book a hotel over the phone, you can ask the hotel to send you a receipt as proof of payment.
