Learning About Hotels and Lodging

Personalize Your Hotel Search With These 3 Key Elements

by Jordan Marshall

When you choose a hotel for vacation, you have a nearly unlimited choice of locations, amenities, brands, and price ranges. Rather than get caught up in finding the lowest price, you should focus on filling your specific goals and needs in a way that will maximize your time. Here are three of the most important ways to target your hotel choice.

1. Access to Your Activities

Most Americans have a limited amount of vacation time available, so they need to make the most of it. The location of your hotel, then, could be one of the biggest elements to consider. If you're taking a beach vacation, for instance, you don't want to drive an hour to see the waves each day.

To find the right location, analyze the key parts of your specific vacation. Some choices are easy. If you're going to an amusement park or the beach, you will want the quickest and easiest access to those spots. If you're exploring the entire metro or county area, though, prioritize the most important elements — even if it will take a little more effort to get to that one restaurant that was recommended.

2. The Right Amenities

When you come back from a day of vacation fun — no matter whether it's a trip to the beach or a day at Disneyland — the more you can do at your hotel or resort, the better. You are unlikely to want to go out again, but you don't want your fun to end either.

While you want to look for a well-equipped hotel that has many amenities for all — such as bars, restaurants, laundry, pool, spa, or room service — focus on the ones you're most likely to use. If your family will be at the beach all day, will they really need a giant pool? Or could you instead focus on a hotel with several in-house or local restaurants that will liven up your dinner options?

3. A Similar Personality

Each individual hotel or chain creates its own style in order to appeal to target audiences. Don't underestimate the impact that a hotel's personality has on whether or not you have a great stay.

If traveling for a romantic anniversary, for instance, you may not want a hotel that focuses on attracting families. On the other hand, a business-based hotel might not have enough of what kids want to do with all their excess energy. Study the hotel's website, look at photos, read reviews, and pay attention to amenities in order to find a venue that will create an environment you personally enjoy.

If you make these key elements a priority when choosing hotels, you're sure to find a great match. Then, you can move forward with planning all the fun you're going to have each day before you retire back to that hotel.

For more information about finding a hotel, contact a travel agent.

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