Questions to Ask Before Booking a Hotel

Before selecting a hotel, most individuals shop for location as well as price. One might also look at the hotel's rating, and visit sights like TripAdvisor.com to review recent comments made by hotel patrons. Although all of these steps are extremely important to making an educated decision, there are several other questions one might ask the hotel staff before finalizing a reservation.

Are there any conferences or other special events taking place in the hotel at the time of your stay?

A great hotel can become a nightmare during a large conference or other special event. Recently my husband and I stayed at a wonderful hotel in the downtown Chicago area. The room was great, the location ideal and to add to the experience we had a fantastic view of Chicago's skyline. Nonetheless, there was a huge religious conference taking place in the hotel at the time of our stay. Consequently, it took over ten minutes to get an elevator (up or down), the concierge was forever busy and all of the restaurants packed to capacity. Trying to walk through the hotel lobby was similar to attending a professional sporting event or amusement park, and some of the kids were less than well behaved. Needless to say, our stay was not the greatest. Many guests staying at the hotel (that is those not attending the conference) complained to the management. However, asking whether there would be such a large event taking place in the hotel during the time of our stay would have alleviated the entire problem.

Are there any restaurants, stores or shopping centers nearby (that is other than the hotel's restaurant or gift shop)?

This is a vital question if you will not have transportation during your stay, or when visiting an area for the first time. Many hotels will reference on-site dining or room service. Sometimes this can be a good choice, and if in a dire situation, one will be happy to dine almost anywhere. Nonetheless, hotel restaurants and room service can be more expensive than other eateries. And, snacks or toiletries at the hotel's gift shop are even more overpriced. Get a list of the names of restaurants (and stores) around the area so that you can research what type of food they offer, pricing, distance, etc.

Is there any remodeling or construction going on in or around the hotel?

At times hotels need to make repairs or remodel both the rooms and main areas of the facility. Oftentimes this is done without the hotel completely shutting down. Consequently, it is important to ask if any projects are being done around the building. Additionally, if the kids or you want to swim, be sure to ask if the pool is open as they are periodically closed for maintenance.

In addition to being concerned about construction in the building, it is also important to note whether there are construction projects going on within close proximity of the building. Nothing is worst than being awakened by the sound of hammers and drills. Construction can also be an issue when it comes to parking, driving or even catching public transportation.

Additionally, general questions as well as questions specific to your trip should also be asked. Some examples are:

How far is the hotel from your desired destination?
When can you check in, and when will you need to check out?
What amenities does the hotel offer?