How to Pick the Perfect Type of Lodging
One of our top travel tips is to consider what type of lodging you prefer. For us the lodging we choose varies greatly. Sometimes we are just looking for a place to sleep after a busy day of travel or site seeing. Other times we want a full resort with meals and a menu of recreational activities. This post is a guide to how we categorize lodging to find the perfect place to stay.
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Overview
Travel lodging comes in all kinds of price ranges. When we travel the key considerations are location and type of lodging. We classify hotels by type and this post discusses what we consider to fit into each category.
Types Of Lodging
Luxury
A luxury hotel generally focuses on service. They usually have onsite restaurants and in-room dining. Valets will handle your luggage A concierge should help you with information and reservations
Furnishings are generally high-end and towels should be full-size along with many included toiletries. Most luxury hotels will have a gym and swimming pool (the exception being large urban areas). There will usually be a well-stocked mini-bar in each room that includes snacks and alcohol beverages (as well as water and soda).
Many luxury hotels are operated by major hotel brands. They often have loyalty programs that give generous rewards to frequent travelers.
For family travel luxury hotels are generally not our first choice. The major exception is if we get a good price. Often when traveling on weekends on holidays we have received great deals on luxury hotels, especially in cities like San Francisco.
Many luxury hotels tend to cater to business travelers. Thus, during off-business times, such as weekends and holidays, prices can decline dramatically. We happily will snap up these properties when we find those deals.
Boutique
In our definition a boutique hotel is similar to a luxury hotel but independently operated. However, many major brands have created their own boutique labels such as IHG’s Kimpton, the Marriott Autograph Collection or the Hilton Curio Collection.
In our taxonomy a hotel operated by a chain is not considered part of the boutique category. By definition a boutique hotel needs to be independent or part of a small chain.
Boutique hotels range all across the value chain. They are noted for their individual character and design. We define a boutique hotel mainly if it is unique and quirky.
Boutique properties are some of our favorite places to stay and we actively seek out these properties.
Some of the notable boutique hotels we have stayed at include:
- The Saguaro Palm Springs
- The Lafayette Hotel Swim Club & Bungalows
- Joshua Tree Inn
- The Hollywood Roosevelt
- The Hayes Street Hotel Nashville
- The Listel Hotel Vancouver
Resort
Resort properties are different than luxury hotels in that they feature on-site attractions and/or are generally located next to a popular scenic outdoor area.
Resorts come in all shapes, sizes and price ranges. We have stayed at ranch style resorts with basic lodgings, all-inclusive resorts where all meals and drinks are included, pool-based resorts in Arizona and Florida and casino resorts in Las Vegas.
Resorts are generally expensive but depending on included activities and dining they can be a great choice for a vacation.
Picking a resort is a very specific travel choice. Generally you either desire a resort or want to avoid them.
Our preference is to travel to resorts in the off-season. Crowds and prices often decline significantly. In the summer we like to travel to the desert resorts when temperatures soar to 100+ degrees. In winter we like to go during ski week when most kids are in school.
When traveling to Caribbean countries we always pick a resort.
Note that some resorts are part of timeshare operations. These places will often offer rewards if you sit through an intense high-pressure sales pitch. The perks and discounts can be quite enticing but sitting through a pitch can be terror inducing and really kill the vacation mood.
Value and Budget
Value and budget hotels are all about providing a place to sleep at a low price. They often have no in-house dining options, with the exception being breakfast which is often included.
Value hotels are a popular option in our travel. Many times we are only using a hotel to go to sleep after a long day of travel or site seeing. In this case we don’t want to spend money for hotel amenities we will not enjoy.
However, we have learned that there is a huge range in quality. In our experience, chain-based value hotels are the way to go. This includes Marriott, IHG, Hilton, and Choice hotel brands like Holiday Inn Express, Fairfield Inn, Residence Inn, Courtyard, Hampton, Comfort Inn, Quality Inn and others. We have also had good luck with the Drury chain in the Midwest
What we tends to avoid are cheap, sketchy motels and certain budget chains like Motel 6 and Super 8. When taking a late night flight into the East Coast I booked a room at a Super 8 motel because it was right by the airport and we were getting in at midnight and leaving at 7 am. I figured how bad could it be. Now my children scream in horror every time they see a Super 8.
There are other budget hotel chains that we have never tried and avoid just because we like to stick with our comfort zone. Our pick will almost always be value brands of the major chains in which we earn loyalty points.
Note that many of the quirky motel, inns and other places that some may place in the value category are what we consider boutique hotels.
Specialty Lodging including Bed and Breakfast, Hostels and Campgrounds
The more adventurous traveler can look at alternative options like a bed and breakfast, hostel or campground.
A bed and breakfast, or B&B, is a small lodging option with generally less than 10 rooms. In many cases, B&Bs are located in a more residential area, often in a converted family home. Usually a home cooked breakfast is included as part of the breakfast part. B&Bs can be intimidating to some travelers because you are generally in close contact with the owner/host.
A bed and breakfast is probably not a good option for someone that likes to stay up late partying and in some cases they are not well-suited for children. However, they are often a great value and provide a more personal experience than a large luxury hotel.
Of course, there are all kinds of B&Bs for every price range. It pays to do research and look at what other travelers have said.
Hostels tend to be more college dorm style with a shared rooms and a common bathroom. This is great for school groups, solo travelers, teenagers and college students. However, hostels are generally not a good option for families with small children.
Campgrounds can be a great option for families. This is especially true outside big cities. However, a city like San Diego is loaded with camping options, including sites right on the beach.
In many cases, camp sites have high-end features like a swimming pool. When we went whitewater rafting on the American River outside Sacramento, we spent two nights camping by the river. The cost was minimal and not only were tents included but we received access to the swimming pool and playgrounds.
Vacation rentals are one of our favorite options. These include condos or even individual homes. Sites like HomeAway and VRBO offer a wide range of properties in all price ranges.
The downside with a vacation rental is all properties are different. You can never be sure of what you are going to get so it pays to look closely at the reviews and pictures for a given property.
Many vacation rentals are part of large resort timeshare properties operated by companies like Marriott. In this case they often include access to the resort amenities. However definitely check to make sure what resort features are included.
Conclusion
In our top 10 tips for traveling, choosing the type of lodging is arguably the most important decision, right next to determining the location.
