Want to improve your hotel experience while traveling for business or vacation? Choosing the right hotel should not be a stressful experience. While typing this article I looked on my Marriott account and saw that in the last 12 years I have stayed over 2,200 nights! This doesn’t include obviously all the other hotel nights from other brands. Conclusion? I’ve lived half my life in hotels. Sad but true. Over the many years I have learned 3 key things that make staying in a hotel more enjoyable.

Get on a rewards program

We live in a world today inundated with reward programs. You go to the pet store and they ask for your phone number to “look you up”. Checking out at Walgreens they always ask me if I’m a rewards member. It seems no matter what vendor you have to have a rewards program. With hotels however, the reward programs have greater benefit for the traveler. Depending on your status, benefits you reap are free faster internet service, room upgrades, free food, and my favorite – lounge access. Other benefits have allowed me to check out late instead of charging for another night.

Get a hotel credit card

Getting a new credit card may seem to be a turn off, but having a card that earns you points that helps you grow in status can make the difference. See my article on credit cards. Having a credit card that earns you points or automatically elevates or hotel status can be very beneficial to the business traveler or those who travel often. This is good also for those of you who travel internationally. Many times credit card companies attach a foreign transaction fee to each charge. A good hotel credit card will most likely not have this. 

Choose the right chain

I understand that there are those of you who might say stating in a bed and breakfast is the way to go, and it might be depending on your desired vacation. However, for those of us who live on the road staying in a branded hotel offers benefits such as being located in a safer area, better food, cleaner standards, 24 hour room service, and the list goes on. I was in hotel not to long ago that was privately owned and not part of a hotel chain. Outwardly everything looked good until I lifted the sheet on the bed only to discover stains, mold, and what looked like a crater in the mattress. Sticking with a standard chain won’t keep you from these types of horrific experiences, but they certainly less your chances of encountering them.