Finding a Great Hotel: Looking for a Place to Stay on Vacation

Finding a great hotel can be a tough task - you need to consider what factors you're looking for when you're traveling. Do you want to focus on something cheap, or do you want to go full bore with a luxury, highly expensive suite? Most people will fall somewhere in the middle, but there are a number of ways to make sure you're getting a good deal.

If you're going the cheap route, then call around before you get to your destination. Check the internet for cheap hotels or for better options - many places will have hostels or locations where people can stay for cheap. Any place you can find a floor, you can lay down air mattresses. You could also look into renting a room for a short period - if you're staying more than a few days, many people might be willing to put you up for cheap in a basement or spare room. Some of these places are junky, but as long as it's not flea control territory, you'll be fine.

If you're somewhere in the middle, call the Better Business Bureau. Make sure that any hotel that claims it's giving you a good deal actually is. Stick to recognizable chains - they generally give a fair price and you can be sure of quality.

If you want something on the high end, you can just splurge. Make sure it gets good reviews from luxury consumer guides - the more stars, the better. You shouldn't have that much trouble - the best hotels are generally downtown, large, and obvious to anyone who's looking. Word of mouth can also give you a good hint.