Between hotels, youth hostels, apartments, resorts, bed & breakfasts, campsites and others, you may get confused: it’s normal.
If you travel as a couple, the usual choice is usually the hotel, of which of course there are various types: boutique hotel, SPA hotel, hotel with swimming pool, family hotel. The popular “all-inclusive” formula, generally in coastal areas. It will allow you to stop worrying about looking for restaurants or bars. Of course, keep in mind that they are not usually very quiet, since they usually have organized trips, with animations and shows in the afternoons.
If you travel with friends in Dubai, and your priority, more than comfort, Dubai is a good environment than cheap hotels in Dubai can be your best option. Unlike an impersonal hotel, hostels are also ideal for budget travelers.
Bed and breakfasts offer an even more intimate and local experience: in addition to offering breakfast, as the name suggests, where typical dishes or specialties are usually common, all at a much lower price than a hotel.
Do you want to be at home? Then the best thing is that you rent an apartment. You will find the same services as in the usual accommodation, with a plus of privacy. Generally well located, it is an economical solution for families, or groups of friends or couples.
Services
Logically, they vary from one establishment to another, although it is always a good idea to check if you have the “basics”: WiFi connection, breakfast, air conditioning, laundry (especially for long stays), bar-restaurant, etc. For the most demanding, it may be interesting that the hotel has a swimming pool, SPA, business room, or direct transport to the stations and the airport.
Regarding the room, without reaching the maximum comfort of the most luxurious suites, we must study the various options available to the establishment to choose the one that best suits our needs: do we want a large room or not? Do we need it to have plasma TV? And balcony with views? These choices will then translate into a higher or lower bill, even within the same hotel.
The Category
It is important to know that there are differences in category between countries: a 4-star hotel is not the same everywhere. Even the classification system for cheap hotels in New York depends on the region. Until now, unifying attempts have not been well received.
To avoid (unpleasant) surprises, it is necessary to consider various factors to correctly assess the category of a hotel: where it is located, the type of atmosphere it offers, when it was last built or renovated, whether or not it belongs to a well-known chain… In fact, if you book at a hotel chain, you will find standardized service and features. On the one hand you are safe, but you also stop discovering different establishments, independent or with a more personalized treatment.
At The Time Of Booking
There are two options to save money and book a cheap hotel: anticipate and choose in advance, thanks to a hotel comparator, or make a last-minute reservation based on the offers of online travel agencies or the establishments them.
Last-minute offers usually have packages that include free breakfast or dinner, SPA sessions, or promotions such as “4 nights for the price of 3”. It is important that you take your time to carefully read the conditions of these offers before making the reservation, to avoid misunderstandings.
The price of the reservation will also vary depending on whether it is low season or high season, but above all depending on the destination! Finding cheap hotels in Kuala Lumpur is a challenge in both spring and fall. Likewise, you must also take into account the events that may coincide with your trip: a Formula 1 championship or a football final can double the price per room, in addition to reducing the offer.
Finally, it is advisable to familiarize yourself with the cancellation policy of the hotel, in case something unforeseen arises that forces you to cancel or modify the trip. Some establishments can sable you with this!
