Choosing a hotel can seem simple until you start comparing dozens of properties, room types, prices and reviews. The cheapest room is not always the best value, and a highly rated hotel may not be the right choice for your particular trip.
For South African travellers, the right accommodation depends on where you are going, why you are travelling, how long you are staying and what you actually need from your hotel.
This hotel booking guide explains what to look for before you book, how to compare different properties and which costs and conditions you should check before making a payment.
1. Start With the Purpose of Your Trip
The best hotel for a business trip may be very different from the best accommodation for a family holiday.
Before looking at hotels, consider what you will actually be doing during the trip.
Business travel
For a business trip, useful features may include:
- Reliable Wi-Fi
- A suitable workspace
- Convenient transport connections
- Proximity to meetings or business districts
- Breakfast or room service
- Flexible check-in and check-out
- Quiet rooms
Paying slightly more for a hotel close to your meetings may actually save money and time on transport.
Family holidays
Families may place more importance on:
- Room size
- Family rooms or connecting rooms
- Swimming pools
- Breakfast
- Parking
- Kitchen facilities
- Laundry facilities
- Child-friendly facilities
- Proximity to attractions
A hotel that looks inexpensive at first can become considerably more expensive if you need two rooms or have to pay separately for breakfast and parking.
Couples and leisure travel
For a relaxing trip, location and atmosphere may be more important than having extensive business facilities.
You might look for:
- A good location
- Restaurants nearby
- Comfortable rooms
- A pool or leisure facilities
- Breakfast
- Scenic views
- Easy access to attractions
The key is to choose accommodation based on how you intend to use it rather than simply choosing the property with the highest rating.
2. Location Is One of the Most Important Factors
A hotel can look like a bargain until you discover how far it is from everything you want to see.
Before booking, look at the property’s actual location on a map.
Consider:
- Distance from the airport
- Distance from the city centre
- Public transport availability
- Distance from major attractions
- Restaurants and shops nearby
- Whether you will need taxis or ride-hailing services
- How long daily journeys are likely to take
A cheaper hotel that requires expensive transport every day may cost more overall than a slightly more expensive hotel in a convenient location.
Don’t rely only on the hotel’s description
A hotel may advertise itself as being “close to the city centre” or “near the airport”. Check the actual distance yourself.
For international travel, this is particularly important because transport costs can vary considerably between destinations.
Your existing article, How to Plan an International Trip from South Africa, is useful when working out the overall logistics of a trip.
3. Compare the Total Price, Not Just the Advertised Rate
One of the easiest mistakes when booking accommodation is comparing only the headline room price.
The final cost may include additional charges such as:
- Taxes
- Resort or destination fees
- Cleaning fees
- Parking
- Breakfast
- Wi-Fi
- Airport transfers
- Extra-person charges
- Cancellation fees
- Local charges
Always look for the final price for your complete stay before deciding.
For example, Hotel A might appear to cost R1,500 per night while Hotel B costs R1,700. But if Hotel A charges separately for breakfast and parking while Hotel B includes both, the apparently more expensive hotel could have the lower overall cost.
4. Check Exactly What the Room Rate Includes
Two hotels can advertise similar prices while offering very different packages.
Check whether the price includes:
- Breakfast
- Wi-Fi
- Parking
- Air conditioning
- Access to hotel facilities
- Taxes
- Housekeeping
- Airport transfers
Also check the room description carefully.
“Double room” does not necessarily mean the room has two separate beds. If you are travelling with another person, confirm whether you are getting a double bed or twin beds.
Similarly, a “family room” can mean very different things depending on the property.
5. Pay Attention to Cancellation Conditions
A cheap non-refundable booking is not necessarily the right choice if your travel plans could change.
Hotels commonly offer different booking conditions, such as:
- Fully refundable
- Free cancellation until a specified date
- Partially refundable
- Non-refundable
Read the cancellation conditions before paying.
Pay particular attention to:
- The cancellation deadline
- Whether the deadline uses local hotel time
- How much you will lose if you cancel
- Whether changing dates is allowed
- Whether a no-show results in the full booking cost being charged
If your flights or travel plans are not yet completely settled, flexibility can have considerable value.
6. Read Recent Guest Reviews
Hotel photographs show you what the property wants you to see. Guest reviews can reveal what staying there is actually like.
Look for recurring comments rather than focusing on one extremely positive or negative review.
Pay attention to comments about:
- Cleanliness
- Noise
- Bed comfort
- Bathroom condition
- Air conditioning
- Wi-Fi
- Staff service
- Check-in
- Breakfast
- Location
- Maintenance
- Safety and security
Recent reviews are generally more useful than very old reviews because hotels can change ownership, management or standards.
Look for patterns
One complaint about noise may not mean much.
If many recent guests complain about noisy rooms, however, it is something worth considering.
The same applies to cleanliness, unreliable Wi-Fi or problems with maintenance.
7. Don’t Automatically Choose the Highest Star Rating
Hotel star ratings and guest review scores are not exactly the same thing.
A five-star hotel may provide extensive facilities and services, but that does not automatically make it the best accommodation for every traveller.
A smaller three- or four-star hotel might be more convenient if:
- It is closer to the attractions you want to visit.
- It has better guest reviews.
- It offers the facilities you actually need.
- It provides better value for your particular trip.
Think about what you are paying for.
If you will spend most of the day exploring a destination, you may not need a large hotel with extensive facilities.
8. Check the Room Before You Book
Don’t assume every room in a hotel is identical.
Room categories can differ significantly in:
- Size
- Bed configuration
- View
- Floor
- Bathroom
- Balcony
- Kitchen facilities
- Air conditioning
- Accessibility
- Noise levels
A “standard room” can also vary considerably between hotels.
Look at the room’s square metre size if it is provided. This is particularly useful when travelling with luggage or staying for several days.
9. Think About Your Luggage
South Africans travelling internationally often have considerably more luggage than someone travelling with only a backpack.
Before booking, consider:
- Is there enough room for your luggage?
- Is there a lift?
- Will you have to carry bags up stairs?
- Is luggage storage available?
- Can you leave luggage at the hotel before check-in?
- Is there a safe place to store luggage after check-out?
This is especially important when travelling through several destinations.
For more advice on choosing luggage, see How to Choose the Right Luggage for International Travel.
10. Check Breakfast Carefully
Breakfast can be convenient, but it is not automatically good value.
Compare:
Hotel breakfast included
versus
Room only + breakfast elsewhere
If you are staying in a city with inexpensive cafés and restaurants, eating outside the hotel may give you more choice.
On the other hand, hotel breakfast can be worthwhile when:
- You have an early start.
- You are staying in an expensive destination.
- There are few restaurants nearby.
- You are travelling with children.
- Convenience is more important than saving a small amount.
Also check what “breakfast included” actually means. Some properties offer a full buffet while others provide a limited breakfast.
11. Check Transport and Parking
If you are hiring a car, parking can be an important part of the accommodation decision.
Check:
- Whether parking is available
- Whether it is free
- Whether reservations are required
- Whether parking is on-site
- Whether there is a height restriction
- Whether the car park is secure
For international city trips, also investigate public transport.
A hotel close to a railway station, metro station or major bus route can make getting around much easier.
12. Consider Check-In and Check-Out Times
Your flight schedule should influence your accommodation choice.
If your flight arrives late at night, make sure the hotel can accommodate a late check-in.
If you have an evening departure, find out whether luggage can be stored after check-out.
Some hotels offer:
- 24-hour reception
- Self check-in
- Early check-in
- Late check-out
- Luggage storage
These services can make a significant difference on travel days.
Your article on 10 Things South African Travellers Should Check Before Booking an International Trip can also be used as a broader pre-booking checklist.
13. Check Internet Access
Wi-Fi is often advertised as being available, but the quality can vary considerably.
If reliable internet matters to you, look for recent guest comments about:
- Connection reliability
- Speed
- Availability in rooms
- Whether Wi-Fi is free
- Whether there are data limits
This can be particularly important if you need to work while travelling.
14. Think About Security and Your Surroundings
When choosing accommodation, consider the location and surroundings rather than relying entirely on the hotel’s description.
Look at:
- The immediate area around the hotel
- How easy it is to get around
- Whether public transport is nearby
- Whether restaurants and shops are within walking distance
- Whether you are likely to return to the hotel late
- Whether the hotel has controlled access
This does not mean assuming that a particular neighbourhood is unsafe based solely on reputation. Instead, research the actual location and consider whether it suits your planned activities and travel arrangements.
15. Consider Travel Insurance Before You Travel
Hotel bookings are only one part of the cost of an international trip.
Flights, accommodation, tours and other prepaid expenses can add up quickly.
Travel insurance may provide cover for certain unexpected events depending on the policy, so check the terms carefully before travelling.
Kila’s existing article, Travel Insurance for South Africans: What to Check Before You Buy, explains some of the important factors to investigate.
Don’t assume that every policy provides the same cover.
16. Compare Different Booking Options
There are several ways to book accommodation.
You may be able to book:
- Directly with the hotel
- Through an online travel agency
- Through a hotel chain’s website
- Through a travel agent
- As part of a flight-and-hotel package
Don’t assume that the first price you see is the final price.
Compare the total cost and booking conditions.
Also check whether the booking platform or hotel offers loyalty benefits, flexible cancellation or other advantages.
Booking directly versus using a booking platform
Booking directly with a hotel can sometimes provide advantages such as:
- Direct communication with the property
- Hotel loyalty benefits
- Special packages
- Greater flexibility in some circumstances
Online booking platforms can make it easier to:
- Compare many properties
- Compare prices
- Read guest reviews
- Filter accommodation by facilities
- See different room options
The important thing is to compare the complete offer, rather than assuming one booking method is always better.
17. Don’t Be Distracted by Photographs
Hotel photographs are useful, but they should not be the deciding factor.
A beautifully photographed room may not be the room you actually book.
Look at:
- Room dimensions
- Recent reviews
- Facilities
- Location
- Cancellation terms
- Total price
- What is included
The goal is to make a decision based on the complete package.
18. Consider How Much Time You’ll Spend at the Hotel
This is an often-overlooked question.
Ask yourself:
How much time will I actually spend at the hotel?
If you plan to spend most of your holiday sightseeing, visiting attractions and exploring restaurants, paying a premium for extensive hotel facilities may not make sense.
If the hotel is itself part of the holiday — perhaps a resort or beach property — facilities and atmosphere become much more important.
Your accommodation should match your travel style.
19. Don’t Ignore the Small Details
Before booking, check the things that could become annoying during your stay.
Depending on your needs, these might include:
- Hairdryer
- Iron
- Safe
- Fridge
- Kettle
- Coffee or tea facilities
- USB charging points
- Air conditioning
- Heating
- Hairdryer
- Laundry
- Lift
- Accessible rooms
- Swimming pool
- Gym
You don’t need every feature. Concentrate on the ones that will actually improve your stay.
20. Create a Simple Hotel Comparison
When comparing several properties, it can help to put the information into a simple table.
| Factor | Hotel A | Hotel B | Hotel C |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total price | |||
| Location | |||
| Guest rating | |||
| Room size | |||
| Breakfast | |||
| Wi-Fi | |||
| Parking | |||
| Cancellation | |||
| Transport | |||
| Facilities | |||
| Your overall requirements |
This makes it much easier to see which hotel actually suits your trip.
Don’t simply choose the property with the lowest price.
21. Common Hotel Booking Mistakes
Choosing purely on price
The cheapest room can become expensive once transport, breakfast and other charges are included.
Ignoring cancellation conditions
A non-refundable booking may be a poor choice if your plans are uncertain.
Looking only at the overall review score
Read the actual recent reviews to understand what guests are saying.
Booking without checking the location
A cheap hotel far from everything may increase your transport costs.
Assuming breakfast is included
Check the exact booking conditions.
Ignoring room size
This can become particularly important when travelling with several suitcases.
Booking the wrong bed configuration
A “double room” and a “twin room” are not necessarily the same thing.
Forgetting check-in times
This can cause problems when arriving late at night.
Not checking the final price
Always look for additional charges before completing the booking.
22. How to Get Better Value Without Simply Choosing the Cheapest Hotel
Getting good value is not necessarily about finding the lowest price.
Instead, look for the combination of:
Price + location + facilities + comfort + flexibility
For example, paying a little more for a hotel that includes breakfast and is within walking distance of major attractions may be better value than a cheaper hotel requiring daily taxi trips.
Likewise, paying slightly more for a refundable booking can be worthwhile when your plans are uncertain.
Think about the total cost and convenience of the trip, not just the nightly room rate.
Hotel Booking Checklist
Before confirming your accommodation, check:
- Correct destination and dates
- Convenient location
- Total price
- Taxes and additional charges
- Room type
- Bed configuration
- Room size
- Breakfast
- Wi-Fi
- Parking or transport
- Check-in time
- Check-out time
- Cancellation conditions
- Recent guest reviews
- Hotel facilities
- Luggage storage
- Any special requirements
Final Thoughts
Choosing the right hotel is about more than finding a room for the lowest possible price.
The best accommodation for your trip is the one that provides the right combination of location, comfort, facilities, flexibility and overall cost for your particular needs.
Take a little time to compare the complete offering before booking. Check the location, read recent reviews, understand the cancellation conditions and make sure you know exactly what is included in the price.
For South African travellers, accommodation should also be considered as part of the wider travel budget alongside flights, transport, travel insurance and other expenses.
A little research before you book can help you avoid unpleasant surprises and make your trip considerably easier.