The travel industry encompasses everything to do with planning, arranging and organizing trips. It includes things like flights, cruises, car rentals and accommodations. Hotels are a mainstay of the travel industry. They offer short-term stays for travelers of all kinds — business people, weary road trippers, spring breakers. They give you a place to stay with private rooms and usually access to amenities like pools and restaurants.
If you want to stay in a hotel, it’s important to know what your priorities are and what to look for when making your choice. For instance, you might decide that you’re willing to pay extra for a hotel with breakfast or airport shuttle service. Or maybe you’d rather not pay for parking if there are other options nearby. Once you know what’s most important to you, it will be easier to narrow down the options.
You might also decide that you’re better off with a hostel or Airbnb experience than a hotel. There are a wide variety of hostels and Airbnbs — from small “mom-and-pop” joints to large resorts. Hostels can vary a lot in atmosphere, too, from quiet digital nomad hostels where people keep to themselves to party hostels that are more social.
Another consideration is that hotels might charge extra for certain services, such as a resort fee or an amenity fee. It’s important to read the fine print so you don’t get surprised when checking out. Finally, if you’re traveling in a group, make sure to check out the discounts offered for groups.