How To Find The Perfect Hotel For Your Next Vacation 

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Traveling is a great way to experience the world and try new things. Spending time with family and friends while vacationing can build lifelong memories. Before the relaxation can begin, a lot of preparation goes into planning your trip. Finding the right hotel can be difficult because there are so many options out there. You want to ensure the place you choose is clean, safe, has good amenities, and fits your budget. If you’re looking for even more information or have some general questions about hotels, this article will help!

What Type Of Hotel Experience Are You Looking For?

For some people, a hotel is just a safe and clean place to rest your body at night while you’re traveling. To others, a luxurious hotel with lots of amenities is an integral part of their overall vacation experience. The first step to finding the perfect accommodation for your next trip is deciding which hotel experience you are looking for. 

Make a list of what’s most important to you during your stay. Your list might include any of the following things:

• Close to local attractions
• Pool or hot tub 
• Free breakfast
• Safe neighborhood 
• Free shuttle to attractions 
• Free wifi 
• Budget-friendly 
• Family or pet friendly 

You can often search for hotels based on the amenities or features they offer during your stay. This can help narrow your search when selecting and booking a hotel online.

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Scouting The Perfect Location For Your Hotel Stay 

Keeping in mind the list of local attractions you want to visit on your vacation, try to pick a central location so you can cut down on expenses as you travel from place to place. This will also help you maximize your time and keep you from having to spend a lot of time getting around. Once you know the general location you want to stay in, do a Google search for the average price of hotels in that area so that you don’t overpay. You can also search for safety reviews of the surrounding neighborhoods, especially if you are traveling alone. 

Here is a pro tip from experienced travelers. Select more than one location to scout out for hotels. You would be surprised by the price difference between two cities that are located within minutes of each other. If you are visiting a large urban city, sometimes booking a hotel outside the city can substantially lower your costs without adding much time to your commute. 

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Using An Online Tool For Booking The Best Hotel 

Looking up every hotel in the area one by one is going to be an exhaustive search. Luckily, there are travel aggregator websites to help you find the information you need using searches and filters. 

Here are some tips for finding the perfect results when using an online hotel booking website. First, choose a travel booking website with good reviews from previous customers. Second, make sure to use a website that refreshes their prices in real time so you can get the best rates. Finally, make sure to check out who owns the travel website and what their connection might be to the various hotels and airlines they are recommending. You want to find an independent resource that is truly pulling the best rates for you. 

One of the best websites for booking smaller independently owned hotels is OYO, where you can get great deals and support locally owned businesses and smaller chains at the same time. 

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Tips For Getting The Best Rates At Your Favorite Hotel 

Choosing a hotel to book for your vacation can be tricky because you want the best possible experience, but you also want the lowest possible price, so you don’t blow your entire travel budget. Here are some tips to help you get the lowest rates possible at your favorite hotel.

1. Be Flexible With Your Travel Dates If Possible 

You’d be amazed by the significant difference in hotel rates when you move your travel dates by just one or two days. Try searching the rates with various start and end dates to see the difference for yourself. 

2. Use A Credit Card With Rewards For Booking Flights And Hotels 

While it might not save you money on this trip, using a credit card with rewards can help you earn points, cash, or miles toward your next destination. You have to use a credit card to book most hotels and flights anyway, so why not get rewarded for it? 

3. Sign Up For Hotel Loyalty Programs 

Once you’ve found a hotel you like, chances are you might stay there again. Sign up for any reward or loyalty program that the hotel offers you. You can get discounts on future stays, and sometimes you can get other free perks for either that hotel or for local attractions or entertainment. 

4. Take A Chance On A Smaller Or Independent Hotel 

If you like to support local economies, small businesses, or places off the beaten path, then you might also save money. Take a chance at a smaller hotel, and you can find attractive rates and often some of the best and most sincere customer service in town. 

5. Book Your Hotel Either Far In Advance Or At The Last Minutes For The Best Deals

There are two ways to save a significant amount of money on hotel rates that at first glance, might seem to contradict each other. Booking in advance and booking at the last minute can both save you money; here’s how. Hotels love to be booked up in advance as it ensures future cash flow. They will often give great rates to people who are booking in advance for this reason. On the flip side, hotels hate to take a loss on an unbooked room for the night and can also give out steep discounts to those booking at the last minute. 

Don’t forget to use OYO to find the best hotels for your next trip. They have partnerships with over 250 locations in 80 countries and help you find the best hotels with gleaming customer service at the lowest rates.