Choosing a hotel that is right for your travel needs

Choosing a hotel can sometimes be as simple as getting off the at the next exit and pulling into the first hotel sporting a vacancy sign. Unfortunately, it's seldom that easy.

Traveling needn't be expensive, nor confounding. There are usually a variety of hotels available, designed to satisfy a variety of needs. Will you require a smoking room? Do you wish to be near the beach, or near a specific park or museum? Do you need quick access to the airport or shuttle service? These are all considerations when booking a hotel.

I do most of my writing in the early hours, and I require ample quantities of coffee just to get me up to speed. As such, freshly brewed java is a must. Obviously, if I am on deadline and need to submit an article, I will also need a high speed internet connection, available in most of the finer hotel chains. However, if I'm vacationing in Mexico, for instance, I may wish to avoid communication with the states entirely, in which case, I may not even require phone service.

Of course, there are other considerations. Accommodations for the handicapped, for instance. Will you require a downstairs room? Does the hotel have elevators or wheel chair access? How convenient is the parking?

No two situations are ever quite alike. It is important to take a few minutes and consider all the possibilities. There are numerous organizations willing to assist you with your search. As for my coffee fix, my wife and I procured a coffee-maker strictly for road brew, and we never leave home without it. That way, when all else fails, and we find ourselves pulling into the first hotel sporting a vacancy sign, a least we'll rest knowing we will wake to freshly brewed coffee.

Learn more about this author, B. Thomas Cooper.
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