I know it sounds like a cliché but the 3 most important things to consider when selecting a hotel are location, location and location. Remember you are on vacation so time is precious. Pick a hotel near the things you want to see and do so you can spend more time seeing and doing and less time traveling. In a big city like NYC, London or Paris, it might be difficult to pick a hotel near everything you want to do. In that case, I tend to pick a hotel in a neighborhood with a good nightlife. It’s fun at the end of the day to be able to walk around in a vibrant neighborhood.
After location, I like a hotel with a cozy bar. The bar is very important but not because I need my daily adult beverage. Without question, bartenders always have the best tips. One of the first things I do when I get to a new place is grab a seat at the bar and ask the bartender for local tips – things to do and places to eat. In addition, the bar is a great place to meet fellow travelers. Don’t be afraid to compare notes about their travel plans.
Fitness and WiFi are the next 2 most important things to consider. Like most people, I tend to indulge in food and drink while traveling so I am happy if I can easily grab a workout or swim at the hotel. I hate hotels who still think it is ok to charge for WiFi. In this day and age, WiFi should be included along with the basics like soap and towels.
The following is the process I use to find hotels:
- Is there a famous or iconic hotel at my destination? Hotel Sacher in Vienna and The Peabody in Memphis fall into this category. If the location is not good then consider visiting the hotel but not staying there. Check on the condition of the hotel. When was the last renovation? Is it run-down? Google is your friend here. Look for some recent reviews or news. Don’t confuse famous and infamous. The Chelsea Hotel is most famous for being the hotel where Sid Vicious murdered Nancy Spungen but that doesn’t mean I want to stay there.
- Consult the lists. Condé Nast Gold List and Readers’ Choice Awards have never disappointed me. The New York Times 36-Hours-In series always has good hotel recommendations.
- Does one of my preferred chains have a hotel at my destination? I like The Four Seasons, Belmond, Ritz-Carlton and Aman. Remember to check location. Too often, I’ve made the mistake of picking an incredible hotel that was not near anything. The Four Seasons in Lisbon and the Rome Cavalieri are examples of this. Beautiful hotels but needed a car to get everywhere.
- The Small Luxury Hotel Collection is another good resource. Membership is free and it has great benefits like free upgrades. Tablet is good too but their membership is not free and they list so many hotels per destination that I question how selective they are. They’ve recently started a crowd sourcing curation program so I’m going to keep my eye on them.
- Keep a hotel bucket list. For many resorts around the world, the hotel is the destination. I am constantly adding interesting hotels that I’ve read about in magazines and blogs. I find a Google Doc is a great place to keep track of interesting places.
- Points. If I’m just staying somewhere for convenience like near the airport for an early morning flight then you should at least try to get some points. I collect both Hilton and Starwood points. There are so many places that don’t have a particularly special hotel and that’s the perfect time to use points for a perfectly fine stay at a W or Hilton.
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