Traveling and hotels provide lodging, often in private rooms, ranging from simple beds in small rooms to luxury suites with round-the-clock staff. Hotel amenities may include a restaurant, bar, conference facilities and services such as concierge or room service. Hotels are also known for catering to travelers, and many offer packages that combine airfare, accommodation and more. Travel websites, aggregators and some airlines, railways and ferry operators act as intermediaries to help travellers find and book hotel accommodations.
The popularity of Airbnb and other vacation rental sites has lowered demand for traditional hotels, causing prices to rise. Travelers can still save money by booking their hotel stays in advance, or by looking for deals during slow periods. Choosing hotels with included amenities, such as breakfast or parking, can also reduce travel expenses.
For a more authentic experience, some travellers choose to stay in local apartments instead of hotels. The downside of renting a local apartment is that there’s no security staff or front desk to greet you and show you around the property. However, staying in a local apartment can help you feel more connected to a place and its people.
When planning a trip, travellers can use resources like Tripadvisor to review and rate hotels, restaurants, sights and activities and more. Travelers can also book flights, hotels and car rentals on the site, as well as cruises and other travel-related activities. Many large hotel chains have their own website where they offer these and other services. Depending on the brand, these sites might include hotels owned and operated by the company, those that are only managed by them and others that are franchised.