Choosing the best hotel can be tough, especially with so many different options. But the right choice can help your vacation go off without a hitch and make your trip even better than you imagined. That’s why so many travelers look to online reviews to help them find the perfect place to stay. And while some online review sites may be more trustworthy than others, it’s important to keep in mind that not all reviews are created equal.
With a little bit of research, however, you can be confident that the best hotel to fit your travel needs is out there. And while it’s easy to get lost in the sea of hotel rankings and ratings, a few simple steps can make your decision much easier.
Finding the Best Hotel
A good place to stay is key to a great vacation, so you’ll want to choose a hotel with lots of amenities and a location that is convenient for sightseeing. There are also other factors to consider, such as whether the hotel has a restaurant and pool, and if it offers free Wi-Fi.
The internet has made researching hotels and resorts much easier than ever before, with a multitude of websites offering detailed reviews from real guests. These include OTAs, or online travel agencies, which typically handle the booking; the hotel’s own website, which can sometimes offer deals that the OTAs don’t; and meta-search engines, which trawl both OTAs and the hotel’s own site to return a compendium of results.
One of the most trusted sources of hotel information is a site called TripAdvisor, which ranks properties according to its “Traveller’s Choice” list. This year’s winner is the Rambagh Palace in Jaipur, followed by the Maldives’ Ozen Reserve Bolifushi and Brazil’s Hotel Colline de France.
Other well-known hotel booking sites, such as Expedia and Orbitz, also rank properties according to their own internal criteria. But a recent study by CivicScience found that more than half of respondents don’t trust any of the top five hotel rating sites.
In a city like New York, the best hotel for you depends on what kind of experience you’re looking for. If you’re a first-time visitor who wants to see the main sights and attractions, a room in the heart of Midtown might be the way to go. But if you’re visiting with a friend who loves the city’s quirky charms, a more neighborhood-centric option like The Hoxton in Williamsburg might be a better fit. A hotel that’s in a culturally vibrant area will give you the chance to explore the city at your leisure and feel more connected to its culture. But a place that feels too touristy can quickly become distracting and tedious.
