Hotel Reservation Made Easy: How to Book the Perfect Stay
A survey reported by TripAdvisor showed that 35% of travellers expressed their dissatisfaction with their hotel stays. In fact, the global review index for hotel guest satisfaction reached 84.3 percent in 2024, down 1.7 points from 2019. There are a myriad of factors that could cause customer discontentment when it comes to online hotel booking. These could include mismatched expectations such as malfunctioning amenities, unclean rooms and noisy ambience, poor service, or the addition of hidden charges in their final bill. To make sure that you are not a part of these substandard statistics, remember to slow down before clicking “book”. Hotel reservation goes beyond finding a mere place to stay, it is about being comfortable and having access to basic amenities. In this blog, we will look into elevating your hotel stay and unravel game-changing secrets that you might be missing out on. By the end, online hotel booking will feel like a seasoned traveller’s escape rather than a tourist trap with these 8 unconventional tips.
1. Reverse Engineer Your Ideal Stay
Avoid browsing for specific hotels when finding the perfect accommodation. Instead, start your quest by envisioning your ideal stay and list out non-negotiable amenities according to your personal preferences and requirements. These could be a rooftop swimming pool, a fireplace, a fine dining restaurant, or even a lush garden area for you to stroll in. Once your desired features are specified, you will have a crystal-clear image of what you truly want. The next step is to search for hotels with features that parallel your unique criteria. This browsing strategy will find diamonds in the rough for you that might otherwise have been overlooked. With this approach, you won’t miss out on the best options. It will provide you with underrated treasures matching all aspects of your perfect stay.
2. Befriend the Boutique Hunters
In the present era, large corporations seem to value profit over the individuality of their clients. Passing over generic and impersonal chains can open gateways to your perfect hotel stay. For online hotel booking, check out independent websites like Small Luxury Hotels of The World (SLH) or Tablet Hotels. These independent businesses give consideration to the requirements and character of the community. They handpick delightful accommodations for their charm in popular locations to create a pleasant experience for customers. These accommodations can range from refurbished historical buildings and restored guesthouses to chic hotels located in up-and-coming neighbourhoods. Typical booking platforms don’t feature the properties that these small-scale websites introduce. Therefore, customers receive a more genuine and personalised experience. Moreover, these booking platforms also provide insider tips that enhance your stay.
3. Research Like a Local
Residents of a location are well aware of the best and the worst aspects of their city/country. Hence, leveraging local knowledge can come in handy when looking for the best hotels in town. This strategy may include consulting local forums, discussion boards, or social media groups for authentic reviews and hidden treasures. You can also join Facebook groups and follow pages relevant to your travel destination. These groups and pages often have locals and expats who can recommend under-the-radar gems, including guesthouses or boutique hotels that haven’t hit the mainstream yet. Get in touch with locals or friends who have visited the area and ask for their recommendations. You could also consider travelling in shoulder seasons when the hotel rates are typically lower.
4. Book Directly with the Hotel
Booking directly with the hotel of your choice can significantly help you. While travel companies guarantee the best deals on accommodation for their customers, consider booking directly with the hotel online. Direct online hotel booking can lead to exclusive benefits like extended check-out allowances or complimentary breakfast. In addition, you will directly be supporting local businesses of the destination. You could book by either choosing online hotel reservations on their website or strike a conversation on a phone call. Making your hotel reservation directly through the website can also earn you loyalty points. The loyalty points can be redeemed in the form of discounts, vouchers, and access to exclusive events and private lounges. You can get personalised treatment and upgrades with the loyalty programs that hotels offer.
The internet is brimming with overwhelming numbers of hotel reviews. To benefit from other people’s experiences, you need to pilot through the sheer volume of reviews and contradicting opinions. A wise take on making the most out of these reviews would be to review information from the past six months to present. Older reviews could become irrelevant with the evolving nature of the hospitality industry. Rummage for specific reviews about the hotel and check for the reviewer’s profile. This would make sure that you don’t fall for false reviews. The next step is to look for potential red flags. If there happen to be repetitive complaints about something, it could indicate that the hotel doesn’t value customer contentment. Moreover, inconsistencies in the good and bad reviews can mean that the service and quality of the hotel is not reliable.
6. The Specialty of “Special Request”
When making a hotel reservation online, most people tend to ignore the “Special Requests” box. We suggest otherwise. Use that tool wisely. It could be the missing piece that completes the puzzle of your perfect stay experience. Would you like a room with a clear view of the Eiffel Tower? Put this request in the special requests box. Are you celebrating a romantic anniversary? You could drop a hint in the box. Hotels that value their customer’s happiness usually go the extra mile to fulfil these special requests made by guests. If you want a room close to and away from the elevator, on a higher or a lower floor, this box could save you from future hassle. You could end up getting more value out of your package than you paid for by using the special request box.
7. Verification and Confirmation
It can be helpful to create a pre-arrival checklist to ensure that everything is in order. This list could include hotel reservation confirmation and rechecking special requests. Verify your check-in and check-out dates and time with the hotel you are staying at. Make sure your hotel number is accessible at all times for convenience. Also, make sure to confirm payment and booking details to avoid any last minute discrepancies. Moreover, reconfirm your accommodation type and make sure any special requests you made are acknowledged by the hotel and ensure the availability of requested facilities in your room. Make sure to save the hotel management’s contact number for prompt access. Checking everything before you leave will put your mind at ease by confirming that everything is in line with your trip.
8. Be a Responsible Guest
Now that you have made a reservation and booked the perfect stay, it is important to do your part of the job. Make sure you remember the responsibilities and ethics of a guest staying at a hotel. Be respectful towards the staff of the property and treat them with kindness. Use the hotel’s amenities with care, do not create a mess, and follow all directives and regulations set by the management. It is important to remember that hospitality is a two-way street. By building goodwill, you could ensure special treatment with better deals and perks for yourself. Being thoughtful will create a positive experience for both the guest and the hotel staff.
In a world filled with unsatisfactory hotel experiences, the quest for a truly unforgettable stay requires you to take the unconventional path. Woking Travel’s guide to booking the perfect stay has equipped you with useful information that goes beyond the ordinary. From familiarising yourself with boutique hunters for finding hidden treasures to becoming a responsible customer and enjoying the rewards of being thoughtful, the guide has it all. Remember, the perfect hotel stay isn’t confined to your room; it’s about the connections you make and the enriching experiences you collect.
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