With the recession coming to a close, more people are taking trips with their families and friends. Although people haven’t been taking summer trips or spring breaks, Griscavage says that after the recession, they will. During that time, many traditional hotel properties may pivot and become more like private villas. They may start selling entire floors or separate lounge chairs. They may also hire handlers to separate the lounge chairs. And in some cases, they will disinfect hotel rooms, rather than simply cleaning them.
Booking a hotel in advance
If you want to save money on your hotel stay, you should book as far in advance as possible. You can even find last minute deals if you know where to look. Most hotels offer discounts for ID cards, so you should check if there are any ID-friendly hotel deals. Also, make sure to book a cancel-friendly hotel if you can. You can find many of these hotels online. But before you book, make sure to read the cancellation policies of each one.
Bed and Breakfasts
While deciding between hotels and Bed and Breakfasts, be sure to consider the benefits of both. Bed and breakfasts offer more flexibility, as owners often know the area well and can offer recommendations for local restaurants and attractions. Some also have scheduled activities such as swimming or afternoon tea. In addition to the flexibility of a bed and breakfast, a hotel’s amenities may not match that of a bed and breakfast. For those who prefer to be in control of their schedule, hotels may have a full bar and a breakfast menu, but bed and breakfasts often offer more.
Guesthouses
If you’re looking for a more local experience, consider staying in a guest house. While chain hotels offer a uniform, cookie-cutter experience, guest houses are often owned by families. You’ll share meals with the hosts and other guests, and often eat at one communal kitchen. You’ll also have the benefit of experiencing local culture. And, you won’t have to worry about dealing with the generic bathrooms found in most hotels.
Cost of staying in a hotel
The cost of a hotel room can be a surprise, especially when you have multiple people in your party. According to STR’s senior director of consulting, Alison Hoyt, prices in popular travel destinations have increased nearly 18% in the past year. In fact, the average daily rate in Palm Beach, Fla., was 41.7% higher than it was during the same time period last year. In addition, parking fees and menu prices are rising rapidly, and hotels are struggling with staffing levels, with almost half reporting severe shortages.
Choosing a hotel
Choosing a hotel when traveling can be challenging and stressful. The number of factors you need to consider is practically endless. Price, location, amenities, and reviews are all important, but they aren’t the only ones to consider. Some travelers leave the decision to their travel agent, but this doesn’t have to be the case. It’s better to know what you want before you go and then avoid impulsive decisions.
Booking with a meta-search site
Before making the move to a meta-search engine, consider the benefits of booking with them. Most metasearch sites offer the ability to book directly on their own sales pages, but you will need to follow a different path. Metasearch engines have a lot of competition, so you may want to play it safe and try out a few different CPCs before committing to one or the other.