Knowing what to look for when booking a hotel can either make or break your trip. When it comes to travel, I’m not sure anyone does more research than I do. I monitor flights for months on end, look at countless blogs for itinerary examples, and research hotels endlessly. If I’m spending my hard-earned money, the last thing I want is to have a terrible experience.
When it comes to travel, there’s no such thing as the perfect trip. Inevitably, things will go wrong. However, for any elements within my control, such as where I stay, I’ll do my due diligence to make them go smoothly. Booking a hotel can be tricky, especially in a country you’ve never visited before. Larger cities boast many different accommodation options, and countless websites promise the best hotel rates. So where do you start? Follow these tips to book the best hotel in Doha.
Know Your Style
First, know your hotel style. Maybe you prefer boutique hotels, family-run accommodations, larger chain hotels, or ones that exude luxury, such as the InterContinental Doha – The City. Whatever your style might be, it’s important to know before planning your trip. This will help you narrow your search and keep you from feeling overwhelmed.
When using a hotel website, adjust the filters to figure out which rating you prefer. You can typically search for a two-, three-, or four-star hotel. The higher the star rating is, the more comfortable and luxurious the hotel will be. This is especially true in a country such as Qatar, where you can find some pretty amazing hotels.
Read the Reviews
After you’ve found a couple hotels that suit your style and budget, read the hotel reviews and consider each hotel’s location. You might save money by booking a hotel outside the city center, but you should also consider how much you’ll have to spend on public transit or taxis.
Many luxury hotels are usually situated in prime locations, making them ideal if you don’t want to travel far to reach the city’s main attractions. For example, the InterContinental Doha is close to the City Center Shopping Mall and Souq Waqif.
Use Rewards
Most hotel chains have reward programs, and it’s almost always worth signing up for them. Before booking any kind of travel, the first thing you should do is look for reward programs. Doing so is always free, and it’s usually a pretty simple process.
For my trip to Iceland, I signed up for the Icelandair rewards program. I had never flown Icelandair, and I wasn’t sure whether I’d ever fly the airline again. But if I do, at least I’ll have a bank of rewards already saved.
Check the Hotel Website
Many hotels offer less expensive rates on their websites to combat competition from booking websites. Before booking, make sure to check the price on the hotel’s website. I know some people who have emailed hotels personally to report having found a cheaper price on another website. Sometimes the hotel has honoured the lower price—a perfect win–win situation.
There you have it. These are my top tips for booking a hotel. Let me know what your hotel booking process is in the comments section!
*This is a sponsored post but as always opinions are my own. I wouldn’t recommend a product or work with a company I didn’t believe in.
