Hotel room prices can be misleading. Because you see a low price advertised do not assume that it is good value. Always ask some questions and do a little research:
Location – If a hotel is located out of the way then you will need to factor in the extra travel costs that you will incur. If you have your own transport, then this is not such a big deal, though you will still be paying at least a bit extra for gas, but if you are relying on taxis and public transport then it is certainly something to consider. Ask about a free shuttle service too, as some hotels provide one whereas some do not.
Facilities – If two hotels are charging the same price for a room but one has, say a swimming pool and a gym, then that one is better value than the one without the extra facilities. Similarly, if you do not plan to use any extra facilities then staying in a hotel that has them will mean that you will probably be paying extra unnecessarily.
Restaurant – If you are staying in a hotel for a few days then the chances are that you will end up eating in the restaurant at least once. Hotel restaurants normally over-charge in general, but the question is just how much are doing so? So, find out how much something like a hamburger and fries would be at prospective hotels and compare them on price. Anything more than $12 should be considered excessive.
Breakfast – Is breakfast included in the cost of the room? Lots of hotels offer continental breakfasts of coffee, juice and toast, rolls or pastries. Some offer full buffet style breakfasts. If you are not planning on eating in the hotel, you might ask for a discount. If you have children or a group with you, that breakfast can be a big money saver – depending on the cost of the room – so you might want to look for a hotel that offers breakfast.
Check out time – Different hotels have different check out times. Look into this before booking a room. You may not want to leave your room before 11am, noon or 1pm. If checkout is very early, see if you can negotiate a discount. If you get into the room very late the night before, see if you can get a later check out time. Hotels will sometimes compromise. Some hotels will also hold your luggage for you while you site see, either earlier than your check in time or later than your check out time.
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