Travel tip #5 - hotels

Travel tip #5 - Picking your hotel

When staying at a hotel, you need to look at more than the price. Here are some other things to consider -

1. Do they provide breakfast? Each meal you can eat at the hotel is one less you have to pay extra for. Typically the one meal you can consistently be home for is breakfast, so look for a hotel that offers it.
2. Do they have a happy hour? If yes, what does it include? This is definitely not a deal breaker by any means, but if you have small children (or older travelers) typically you end up back at the hotel for naps mid-day. If you can time your naps around happy hour, the family can all have a free snack and/or drink before heading off to bed.
3. How much does parking cost? Yes, some hotels charge for parking. If you are driving or renting a vehicle this need to be part of your budget.
4. Does my room come with a microwave and fridge? Even if you don't plan on cooking while on vacation, you might have leftovers you want to take back to the room for a late night snack. We also like to have a fridge to keep drinks in so we are tempted to spend $1.50 per can in the machine up the hall. If your hotel does not serve breakfast, this is your opportunity to grab a jug of milk and a box of cereal for those morning meals on a budget.
5. Can I walk or take public transportation to any sites nearby? Sometimes you get caught up in the expense of the room and forget that every time you have to drive you incur the extra expense of mileage and parking fees. If you can walk (to take public transportation) to they key attractions from your hotel it might be worth the extra cash for the room.
6. Do you have an airport shuttle? If you are flying, this could easily save you $50. Why pay for a taxi if they offer a shuttle. Most drivers work off tips, so be sure to tip the driver even if the shuttle is included in your hotel expense.
7. Does the hotel have a pool that will be open during our stay? Pools are cheap entertainment for children. Be sure to call and confirm that it will be open while you are there. Some pools are only open seasonally while others may have scheduled maintenance.
8. Is there a playground or park nearby? Kids sometimes need to just burn off some energy. If your not in the mood to take a dip in the pool, why not let them play outside for a bit. This is cheap entertainment.

Here is a example of two hotels compared by expenses for a family of 4 on a 5 day trip. What you will find is that they end up running about the same price. The difference becomes convenience.

1. Budget hotel in suburbs running $49 a night, no extras included. Estimated cost per day $114
• Breakfast $20 per day
• Mileage/gas $20 per day
• Parking expenses at exhibits $5 per day-trip
• Cab/shuttle $50 per trip
• Vending machine drinks $10 per day
2. Traditional hotel in town running $99 per night including amenities. Estimated cost per day $125
• Mileage/gas for grocery store run x1 $10
• Case of pop & water for fridge $10
• Public transportation $5 per day-trip (grabbing ticket for return)