Hotel accommodation options

Whether you simply want a cheap place to crash while you see the sights or a luxury suite for that special occasion, finding the right hotel in the right location can make or break your trip. So to help you decide what type of hotel accommodation is right for you, we've compiled a short guide that also includes our top tips to save you money.

What can I expect from a hotel?

A hotel provides private serviced rooms for guests; normally bathroom facilities will be en-suite although in cheaper or smaller hotels some rooms may share a bathroom.

Most hotels will offer guests a range of other facilities too, such as a bar and restaurant, concierge service, conference room facilities and leisure and spa facilities. The availability and standard of facilities will vary not only between different hotels, but also between different countries.

What choices do I have?

Your choice of one hotel over another will largely be influenced by your budget, your choice of destination and the reason for your trip. For example, the hotel you’d choose for a hen or stag weekend would probably be very different than the one you’d choose for a honeymoon! Although the categories of hotel can vary between different countries, you’ll generally have access to:

• Budget hotels
  Budget hotels offer affordable accommodation and basic comforts; normally they charge on a 'per room' rather than 'per person' basis. Sometimes known as 'lodges', budget hotels may be part of a large chain such as those operated under the Premier Inn and Travelodge brands. In some locations, budget hotels primarily cater for the business traveller from Monday through to Friday, meaning weekend rates are often cheaper.

• Hotel chains
  A hotel chain is a collection or grouping of mainstream hotels under one brand; Best Western International, for example, claims to be the world’s largest hotel chain with 4,200 hotels in 80 countries. Hotel chains typically have a reputation for consistent, quality facilities and service levels, as well as a range of accommodation to suit most budgets.

• Small, independent hotels
  These hotels are independently owned and managed, and as such they often offer a more personal atmosphere. While they tend to provide more limited services and facilities than chain hotels, at the top end you can expect exceptional levels of service and accommodation.

• Boutique hotels
  Boutique hotels provide intimate, usually luxurious, accommodation, with exceptional or personalised levels of service and/or facilities. Usually considerably smaller than mainstream hotels, boutique hotels cater for discerning travellers who place great importance on privacy, luxury and service. Boutique hotels are usually small, independent hotels.

What about hotel classifications?

The star classification system is the most common rating system for hotel accommodation, although the AAA and their affiliated bodies use diamonds instead of stars to express hotel and restaurant ratings levels. Under the star classification system, hotels are rated from one to five stars one being the lowest rating and five being the highest.

In recent years, some hotels have claimed six and even seven stars for their rating, believing that they offer exceptional accommodation, facilities and service above and beyond a five star rating. However, under the official star classification system, the maximum rating is five stars and anything in excess of that is self-credited rather than officially awarded.

Some hotels will of course be unrated and it's fair to say that these will be a mixed bag. While some will undoubtedly offer poor quality accommodation, others will simply be too small and offer too personal a service to warrant a star classification.

When you search for a hotel, remember that no hotel classification system is universally recognised, which means that standards can vary drastically not just between different hotels but between different hotels in the same chain and even within the same country.

If you do want peace of mind before you book then it's well worth reading reviews online to get a feel for whether a particular hotel is right for you. Reviews written by guests are usually ‘warts and all’ and therefore a great indicator of what a hotel is doing right as well as what it’s doing wrong!

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