When embarking on a great adventure abroad, booking hotels can be daunting! And I've certainly seen my fair share of terrible housing - hotels and hostels. But there are definitely steps you can take to hedge your bets and land a nice hotel.
Take the Local Economy into Account
A $30/night hotel means VERY different things in Pair verse Thailand. For $30 bucks in Paris you might just get mugged and see some very mysterious stains on the covers. In Thailand you're staying at the Ritz! True story, we stayed at the fanciest hotel of my life in Thailand for next to nothing. It had a bidet, heated toilet seat and unlimited free snacks. It was awesome! Especially since we are used to staying in hostels and travel on a budget.
Read TONS of Reviews
Obviously, I recommend good ole fashion Trip Advisor, but also look for blogs. I like hearing travelers' first-hand experience - just make sure they are trustworthy and have a similar travel style to yours. Be on the lookout for paid blog posts as that may create a bias. Read the best AND worst of each hotel, but rely on the middle reviews.
Trust Your Traveling Friends (wisely)
Finally, ask your friends for advice! Hopefully you have nice, reliable friends who live a similar lifestyle/ travel style to your own. Before you ask for their favorite place to stay, be sure to get an idea of their preferences. Are they a hotel kinda gal? Or a backpacking hostel lover?
If you need help deciding which hotel is best for you, I'd love to help! Check out my website at MilesIntoMemoriesTravel.com.
