There are many things to take into account when choosing the right accommodation to suit your needs.
In our opinion the most important things are comfortable, clean bedding and good customer service. Unfortunately it is difficult to ascertain the cleanliness and comfort of a room unless you are there in person to do so. But it is possible to call up the property and have a chat with them to gauge their helpfulness which would give you an idea of how they would assist you should you need anything while staying with them.
So what are the other things that you can look at when making your decision?
Look at the location of the property in relation to places you have to go to while away from home. How will you get to these places and how long will it take to get there? Will you be driving or will you get around in taxis or use public transport? How much will it cost? Where is the public transport in relation to the property and how far are you willing to walk to get to it? What are the local facilities available? For example if you are a runner, is there a jogging track or park nearby where you can go for a run or a gym nearby?
What type of room would suit you and the people you are travelling with for the duration of your stay? A motel room with a double and single bed may suit you and 2 others if you are staying for just 1 night, but would it be practical if you are staying for 3 or 4 nights or more? Would it be more cost effective to pay and extra $15-20 per night and have a larger room with a kitchen so you can do some of your own meals in the room instead of eating out constantly?
If you do get a cheap room rate, what does it include? Will you need anything extra and how much will it cost you? Sometimes a very cheap room rate can wind up costing a lot more if you have to pay for all your ‘extras’. It is more cost effective to pay a little more for a room which has a few ‘extras’ thrown into it. For example a renovated motel room with a large bathroom for $130 that has 1 drink voucher per person and a discount on meals at a local eatery would save you money and give you a fresh room instead of paying for example $115 in a standard un-renovated room with no extras.
What extras would you like to have available at your motel/hotel? Will you need things like internet, room service, 24 hour reception, non-smoking rooms, mini bar, car parking, movies, FOXTEL or a pool and how much are you willing to pay for these extras? Many of these extras are included in the nightly room rate but it is always best to check this with the property and make sure that they don’t incur an additional charge ahead of time so you aren’t surprised with a large bill upon checkout.
By keeping the above in mind when searching for accommodation you should be able to find a hotel/motel that suits your needs and requirements for your time away from home.