How to Choose the Best Hotel for Your Trip

We’ve all been there—we have a country (or better yet, a city) we want to travel to but have no idea what hotel to stay at. Do you choose the 5-star hotel? The brand name? The expensive one in the heart of the city or the cheaper one a little farther away? There are so many things to consider when choosing a hotel, and depending on your decision, can make or break your trip. To make planning a little easier, we’ve compiled a list of important things to consider before booking your hotel.

What to Consider

Know Your Budget

To understand why you’re travelling can help you come up with a budget that makes sense for you (and your travel companions). Will this trip be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity? Then maybe (just maybe), it makes sense to splurge and throw the idea of a budget out the window—who knows when another off-beat, two-month trip across Asia will happen?

If you’re the type who doesn’t need to travel far or for long and enjoys the small pleasures in life, then having a large budget may not be necessary. Staying close to home (whether in the same city or a couple of hours away) means you can save a lot on plane tickets and foreign exchange.

Decide What’s Important to You

Is it comfort? Having convenient access to transit? Being close to all the popular attractions? Or maybe it’s finding the best bang for your buck. No matter what it is, knowing what’s important to you when travelling will make it easier to find your ideal hotel. You may be willing to splurge on accommodations with all-inclusive amenities because comfort and convenience are important to you. Perhaps you’re just looking to get away from home and want to stick within your tight budget, so being too picky isn’t an option.

Here are some factors to consider when filtering your hotel options:

1. Do they offer complimentary breakfast/meals? Am I willing to spend money and time on buying and/or cooking my own meals?
2. Will I be driving and/or commuting a lot? Or do I prefer someplace that’s walkable?
3. Do I really need to spend more on a 4-star hotel? Or will I be just as comfortable with something less?

Read the Reviews

No matter how great a hotel markets itself to be, its reviews tell all. You may be impressed as you browse through a hotel’s website, completely drawn in by the incredible photos in their gallery—the rooms look immaculate! But lo and behold, all the amazing photos and puffed-up words fall flat once you check in.

Reviews should be one of the important decision factors before you book—they’ll let you know if the hotel stands true to what they advertise. It’s worth mentioning, of course, that everyone’s travel expectations and experiences vary, so take reviews with as many grains of salt as you’re willing.

Travelling to Brooklyn?

There’s one hotel we guarantee will be one of the best hotels to stay at in Brooklyn, and that’s The Lodge Red Hook! Guests appreciate the value we provide and our location close to the port and subway line. Our complimentary breakfast buffet means you can start your days with a convenient, hearty meal. Come stay in the vibrant neighborhood of Red Hook and enjoy the local businesses and industrial artsy vibe it’s known for. Book your stay!