Factors to consider when choosing a hotel in London
So, you have chosen London as your holiday destination to visit this summer. The next thing to decide is the type of accommodation you want to stay in on your trip. An abundance of accommodation options available in London makes it quite a challenge deciding which hotel to choose. Selecting the right accommodation is a crucial factor to enjoy a wonderful holiday in any city.
A few factors to bear in mind when deciding about your choice of hotel in London are:
Book with the hotel: Book directly instead of using a third-party vendor. While legally it is mandatory for the hotel to offer the same prices as OTAs, they always have some very attractive deals and special package offers, exclusively available only on their site. These could be in the form of perks like complimentary spa treatments, room upgrades etc. You could use the OTA websites to compare prices and after you select the hotel that offers the best value for money, visit the hotel website to make reservations.
Select the right location: When you search for a hotel, location is paramount, whether in London or any other city. Finding a hotel with even the best facilities is of no use if it is far away from the centre of the city and the major attractions. It will waste valuable time in travel and rack up travel expenses. When you plan a trip to London, check the places you want to visit and search for a hotel close to them. E.g. If you stay in a hotel in Central London like The Chilworth Paddington, you will find it in close proximity to the top attractions in the centre of the city.
Facilities & amenities on offer: If you are looking for a hotel just to sleep at night, you need not be too bothered about the facilities and amenities. Alternatively, if you are looking for comfort and luxury you need to check out the amenities and facilities on offer. When you stay at a fine boutique property like The Chilworth Hotel Spa, you get the best of amenities and facilities including specialised beauty treatments, free Wi-fi, complimentary toiletries etc.
The hotel should offer 24 hr concierge facilities including 24hr check in and checkout options so that you can arrive and leave at any part of the day. Any top class hotel will always have staff manning the reception desk no matter your time of arrival or departure.
Read the customer reviews: A good way to judge the quality of amenities and customer service at any hotel is to read their customer reviews on third-party sites. Reading customer reviews on the hotel website may not be adequate, whereas selecting a site like Tripadvisor ensures that you have all kinds of reviews positive as well as negative. This will give you an idea about the rooms, facilities, hygiene, customer service etc. Do not get put off by reading a few negative reviews and instead focus at the cross-section of the majority of reviews about the hotel. Some guests can be a picky lot, so if you find a few critical ones with most of the other reviews positive about the hotel, it would be safe to say that the hotel would be suitable to stay.