You don’t have to spend a fortune to have a great stay in a luxury hotel, but you do have to be prepared to do some research to find one that is genuinely excellent rather than a rip-off.
Check the Official Grading, Not Just the Marketing
A five-star rating means something when it is officially granted. Hotels are graded according to criteria that include staff to guest ratio, services provided and whether a 24 hour concierge is actually available and not just a night porter doing double duty as a front office staff member. The best guide to a hotel’s standard is the independent assessment of it made by a quality assessment scheme such as those established by Tourism Boards for Britain and established by Tourism Boards for Britain.
Ask for Real Room Specifications
Don’t be fooled by wide-angle shots of small rooms. Hotels often describe room sizes in square meters, and the bed in the room (not just the bedroom) as King or Super-King size. A room of around 20-25 square meters or so with a king or super-king size bed in the bedroom and a bathroom with a shower, bath and plenty of room to move around with high-end fittings and top-quality toiletries is what you would expect from a top class hotel.
Look Closely at the Facilities
Some hotels advertise a spa or pool on their website but charge for use by guests or restrict use to certain guests. Similarly, for restaurants, a hotel advertising ‘fine dining on site’ needs to tell you what you can expect in terms of the restaurant’s offering and the experience it can provide for you. Check if the hotel’s restaurant has a credited head chef and whether it serves afternoon tea. Read reviews on hotels that advertise an excellent restaurant.
Weigh Up Location and Access
You should also check the location of the hotel and the accessibility to places of interest. A country house hotel with grounds will give a very different impression to a city centre hotel, even if it’s within walking distance to shops, theatres etc. The hotel’s policy on valet parking, for example, as well as any transfers to and from attractions should also be clarified. For Luxury UK Hotels, visit https://anderburyhotels.co.uk/.
Understand the Cancellation Terms Before You Pay
Check out the terms and conditions of the hotel for the deposit and the cancellation policy before you pay a card to book. Also check the terms and conditions for your stay as part of a package holiday, your cancellation rights will be clearly set out and you will need to refer to your package holiday contract.
Time the Booking Well
When booking, it is worth booking directly with the hotel for the best chance of getting a free upgrade or late check-out. Also, if you can, try to book for the middle of the week or during the ‘shoulder season’ – usually early spring or late autumn – as prices are generally lower than for weekends in high season. Additionally, be sure to join a hotel’s own loyalty scheme rather than a generic points program – the perks are generally far more relevant and of use.
Checking a few simple points before you pay can ensure you get the good hotel stay you deserve and not a very expensive disappointment.
