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Is a Budget Hotel Really Worth It?

Taking a vacation can be a lot of fun. It's a time to get away and forget the cares and responsibilities of life for a while, a time to recharge, and a time to enjoy places and things other than those seen at home. Getting a good deal on lodging is important, but just what do those good deals involve? Can a budget hotel really match the experience and amenities of nice inn? The fact they a hotel is called "budget" means that they have had to cut certain corners in order to provide a low price. Here are some of the things that you won't be getting if you stay at a budget hotel and why you may or may not want to stay at one.

A large room. Budget hotels generally have a bed or two, a dresser with a TV on it, a bathroom, and sometimes a small table with chairs. In order to economize space, budget hotel rooms are necessarily smaller than nicer hotels. This allows them to be able to put more people in per square foot and charge less. The size and overall level of comfort provided by a hotel room is important if you will be spending a lot of time there. If the purpose of your vacation is sightsee or otherwise spend a lot of time outside the hotel, this may not be a big consideration for you. If, however, you will be spending a lot of time in your room, it will quickly become apparent that a small room can give a very confining feeling and make for a less-than-ideal vacation experience.

Numerous exercise facilities. Most budget hotels do not offer tennis courts, large (heated) swimming pools, saunas, and the like. While a few offer tiny exercise rooms, these are only good for a quick workout and not intended to provide any serious exercise. Add to that the fact that they are often crowded, and they become even less appealing. If you plan on enjoying some nice exercise facilities while on vacation, perhaps to wind down from other activities or just for the fun of it, don't expect to find what you are looking for in a budget hotel.

A nice restaurant. Many budget hotels have no restaurants at all and simply offer continental breakfasts in a shared, and usually small, breakfast area or nothing at all. While most places that will have hotels in a city will also have restaurants outside the hotel, having a restaurant in a hotel is a great convenience for those times when you are tired from your activities and want to be able to simply stroll from your room to a place to eat without driving somewhere. It is also nice to have a restaurant inside a hotel if they provide room service, as you can get your food without even having to leave your room.

Trustworthy housekeeping. This is one of those sad but true facts in the hotel world. The more qualified and honest housekeepers will work where they are better paid. Those that can't work at the nicer hotels, for whatever reason, usually find themselves at budget inns. They have to clean a lot of rooms quickly, since the rooms are small and numerous, and they may skip vacuuming, not change the sheets even though have asked for clean ones, and in the worst cases, help themselves to some of your belongings. While theft can occur anywhere, it is simple economics that a housekeeper that makes less money will be more tempted to supplement their income at your expense than one making more.

Assistance with luggage. Be prepared to carry your own bags wherever they need to go when staying at a budget hotel. You won't find any porters or bellhops and in many cases not even a cart to put your luggage on. If you are traveling light, this might not be a problem, but if you have a lot of luggage with you, it is certainly worth considering.

Now that it is clear what you won't be getting at a budget hotel, just how much are you really saving by staying at one? Budget lodger La Quinta offers rooms starting at $59 a night, Holiday Inn Express varies widely, but averages around $90 a night, and Red Roof Inn rates start at $39 a night. A check of Marriott hotels showed them to average around $110 a night, and the Hilton is about the same. At the Marriott and Hilton you will obviously get the things that a budget hotel does not offer and, in some cases, more. You will, however, be paying around double the price of some budget hotel rooms.

Whether or not you choose a budget hotel or somewhere nicer depends on many things aside from how much you are willing to spend. For instance, are the amenities of a nicer hotel worth having half the number of nights on a vacation? If you are spending a lot of time in the hotel, enjoying the amenities, and are looking to relax more than do, the answer might be yes. If you are simply looking for somewhere to sleep and keep your belongings at, a budget hotel will usually do just fine.

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Your Destination Source			All Inclusive Resorts Consider a Destination Hotel for Your Next Trip Is a Budget Hotel Really Worth It? The Carlyle
Is a Budget Hotel Really Worth It? Taking a vacation can be a lot of fun. It's a time to get away and forget the cares and responsibilities of life for a while, a time to recharge, and a time to enjoy places and things other than those seen at home. Getting a good deal on lodging is important, but just what do those good deals involve? Can a budget hotel really match the experience and amenities of nice inn? The fact they a hotel is called "budget" means that they have had to cut certain corners in order to provide a low price. Here are some of the things that you won't be getting if you stay at a budget hotel and why you may or may not want to stay at one. A large room. Budget hotels generally have a bed or two, a dresser with a TV on it, a bathroom, and sometimes a small table with chairs. In order to economize space, budget hotel rooms are necessarily smaller than nicer hotels. This allows them to be able to put more people in per square foot and charge less. The size and overall level of comfort provided by a hotel room is important if you will be spending a lot of time there. If the purpose of your vacation is sightsee or otherwise spend a lot of time outside the hotel, this may not be a big consideration for you. If, however, you will be spending a lot of time in your room, it will quickly become apparent that a small room can give a very confining feeling and make for a less-than-ideal vacation experience. Numerous exercise facilities. Most budget hotels do not offer tennis courts, large (heated) swimming pools, saunas, and the like. While a few offer tiny exercise rooms, these are only good for a quick workout and not intended to provide any serious exercise. Add to that the fact that they are often crowded, and they become even less appealing. If you plan on enjoying some nice exercise facilities while on vacation, perhaps to wind down from other activities or just for the fun of it, don't expect to find what you are looking for in a budget hotel. A nice restaurant. Many budget hotels have no restaurants at all and simply offer continental breakfasts in a shared, and usually small, breakfast area or nothing at all. While most places that will have hotels in a city will also have restaurants outside the hotel, having a restaurant in a hotel is a great convenience for those times when you are tired from your activities and want to be able to simply stroll from your room to a place to eat without driving somewhere. It is also nice to have a restaurant inside a hotel if they provide room service, as you can get your food without even having to leave your room. Trustworthy housekeeping. This is one of those sad but true facts in the hotel world. The more qualified and honest housekeepers will work where they are better paid. Those that can't work at the nicer hotels, for whatever reason, usually find themselves at budget inns. They have to clean a lot of rooms quickly, since the rooms are small and numerous, and they may skip vacuuming, not change the sheets even though have asked for clean ones, and in the worst cases, help themselves to some of your belongings. While theft can occur anywhere, it is simple economics that a housekeeper that makes less money will be more tempted to supplement their income at your expense than one making more. Assistance with luggage. Be prepared to carry your own bags wherever they need to go when staying at a budget hotel. You won't find any porters or bellhops and in many cases not even a cart to put your luggage on. If you are traveling light, this might not be a problem, but if you have a lot of luggage with you, it is certainly worth considering. Now that it is clear what you won't be getting at a budget hotel, just how much are you really saving by staying at one? Budget lodger La Quinta offers rooms starting at $59 a night, Holiday Inn Express varies widely, but averages around $90 a night, and Red Roof Inn rates start at $39 a night. A check of Marriott hotels showed them to average around $110 a night, and the Hilton is about the same. At the Marriott and Hilton you will obviously get the things that a budget hotel does not offer and, in some cases, more. You will, however, be paying around double the price of some budget hotel rooms. Whether or not you choose a budget hotel or somewhere nicer depends on many things aside from how much you are willing to spend. For instance, are the amenities of a nicer hotel worth having half the number of nights on a vacation? If you are spending a lot of time in the hotel, enjoying the amenities, and are looking to relax more than do, the answer might be yes. If you are simply looking for somewhere to sleep and keep your belongings at, a budget hotel will usually do just fine.