Are you going on a family vacation or maybe a business trip? Then definitely you must have lots to do – planning, booking your tickets, packing and so on. One of the most important things is the stay or the hotel where you would be staying. You obviously need a place to relax, clean up and sleep when you are away from your home. Whether you are traveling with your family or are alone on a business trip; your stay needs to be comfortable and relaxing else the whole trip might just turn out to be a total disaster. So how do you choose your hotel when this is the first time for you? You need the right kind of balance between the facilities provided, the comfort, cost as well as location. Here we have listed out some points which you might want to consider while you book hotel in Kochi for your next trip –
Location –
Unless you are on a vacation where you want to be cut off from the world and be in total serenity; generally you would want to book a hotel which is located in a prime area. You need something which would be close to your office or commercial center if you are on a business trip, close to the airport and stations, close to the city center, close to attractions if you are a tourist interested in the sights and so on. It would not help you if you spend hours traveling towards each place of interest. When you are on a short visit to a city, time is valuable and you need to get as much done within a certain period of time. So the location is probably one of the most important points when you select a hotel.
Amenities provided –
The hotel you stay in is not just a place to sleep and refresh. It is almost like another home and hence you need all the amenities that you are used to. For example, if you are traveling with your family and have kids then maybe extra beds, an extra room, a connecting room or a full suite with living room and bedroom. Even if you are a corporate traveler there are some minimums that are expected like telephone services, room service, wi-fi, laundry service, a safe, hairdryer, television, for some maybe a minibar, etc.
Timings –
Some hotels have a particular check-in and check-out times. You will need to find out if they are flexible in the event of your timings being different. Also, some hotels have luggage storage services for late departures or early arrivals. If you expect such kind of services you would need to search for a hotel accordingly or enquire about the same.
Hotel facilities –
When it comes to hotel facilities the list could be endless. Each one has different needs. But if you are traveling with family, then a kids club or entertainment center would be quite convenient. Some people might expect a bar and/or restaurant with different cuisines. Some of you who are into health and fitness might want a gym or maybe just a spa and pools for relaxation. Corporate travelers might want conference rooms. So depending on the facilities needed you would have to make your selection and inquiries.
Transport services and parking –
If you are driving, the most important thing you need to enquire about is if there is enough parking provided for the hotel guests. Also, some hotels might charge you for parking. If you require shuttle services to and from the airport or train then you would need to enquire accordingly. Most hotels do provide this service which would be time-bound though. Some would provide a free service while some might charge a nominal fee.
Stars –
When you book a 3-star hotel it is but obvious that you need to check the number of stars. It is a good indicator of the quality and services provided. When you check the hotel online you would get this information and along with this, you can also find previous guest's recommendations, testimonials, and complaints if any. Another important factor is the neatness of the hotel and the staff response, how cordial they are which can be found out from previous client's testimonials.
These days, it is pretty easy to search out a hotel online. There are so many online platforms that give you a list of hotels. There are filters provided which makes the search easy for you. All the amenities and facilities, along with reviews of previous guests are provided which would help you in making your choice. Online booking makes it convenient as you can also compare various hotels, their prices and choose the one that is most within your budget and matches all your requirements. Every important detail about the hotel is given which makes your job faster.
