Finding Hotels That Are A Home Away From Home

Marvin Gaye once sang, "Wherever I lay my hat, that's my home". Well, it's easy enough for anyone to lay their hat (or luggage) anywhere in the world nowadays, but you'll find that laying your hat down in a hotel which provides all the conveniences and comforts of home makes for a much more enjoyable experience.

What Makes A Hotel A Home

Whilst hotels, even the most top-end hotels, cannot offer you your own 'pipe and slippers', you may be surprised at how homely even the most generic chain hotels can be.

Forget about the pipe, but fluffy towelling robes and matching slippers may not be out of the question.

Here are a few of the things to look for before you book a hotel in an unknown destination.

• Location - When buying a property, the first priority is invariably location, location, location. Although you're not buying your hotel room or apartment, it's still a top consideration for your new 'hotel home'. Being close to all the facilities and attractions you want can save you a whole lot of time and money, as well as being convenient. By choosing city-centre hotels, you may even find that everything you want to see and do is within easy walking distance. This avoids the expense and hassle of using taxis, public transport or rental cars. In most modern hotels, double-glazed windows, insulation and sound-proofing ensure that the noise of the city doesn't disturb your sleep.


• Price - The beauty of booking your hotel online is being able to find great hotel deals quickly and easily and being able to compare prices for similar-style accommodation. After all, there is no point in blowing your budget on your hotel, if you can't afford to leave it.


• Recommendations - Look to the online community to see which hotels they review positively before you book. If enough 'friends' liked it and felt at home there, the chances are that you will too.


• Hotel Services & Facilities - These can really make the difference between which hotels feel like home and which ones don't:


• Friendly staff - Welcoming staff can make the difference as to how you feel about a hotel as soon as you step inside. If you experience a particularly warm or frosty welcome, why not write a review about it, so you can give other people the heads-up or heads-down. Check to see if the reception is staffed 24/7 - great for security as well as convenience.


• Catering - Every decent hotel room should offer you at least a basic tea or coffee making facility as nothing says home like having a decent brew whenever you want it. However, many hotels will also offer apartments or studios with kitchenettes that you can use to cook up almost anything from the Sunday roast to a full-cooked breakfast. If you don't cook at home and don't want to start when you're away from home, check to see if your hotel has a restaurant on-site and what opening hours it has.


• Internet - If you need to log onto the Internet, make sure your hotel offers high-speed, Internet access from its rooms, or can provide computers and access for its guests (preferably in a comfortable lounge).


• Laundry - If the dirty laundry starts to pile up, it can be very depressing. Keep on top of your travelling holiday or business wardrobe by ensuring your hotel offers laundry and ironing services.


• Fitness - If you're staying a while, look for a hotel that caters for body as well as soul. The best hotels offer guests free use of on-site gyms, fitness centres or swimming pools.


• Room service - If you want to take it easy, make sure your hotel offers room service which can deliver food and drink to your door. At a more basic level, your room can include a television, radio/clock/alarm, wardrobe, iron, telephone, chair and desk space.

ref: Stephanie_Kendall