When planning a trip, the most important detail to remember is location, location, location. Not only a business tactic, this philosophy refers to where you are vacationing and the hotel in which you are staying. The type of hotel in which you choose to stay depends on whether you are traveling for business or pleasure, how many people you are traveling with, and if you are traveling with children.

Presumably, you will not look for a hotel until you have selected a travel destination. Generally, you want to choose a hotel in a prime location (there’s that word again), which will offer you access to experiencing the local culture. Hotels that are located in the heart of a big city, which are near major hubs such as train stations and shopping centers, usually charge more money than hotels located on the outskirts of the city. Although hotels in the former location offer a taste of the city, they may also be huge tourist attractions and thus not give you an appropriate sense of the atmosphere; hotels in the latter location may give you better access to local spots, which provides you with a real sense of the metropolis.

You need to determine whether you are interested in staying in an independent hotel or one that is part of a chain. Each option offers its own charms. If you stay at a hotel chain, you may be familiar with the set standard of service and offered amenities before you book a room. If you stay at an independent hotel, you may be offered a more personable, unique experience, including benefits that differ from or exceed those offered by a chain. Your choice to stay in a chain or independent hotel may also depend on if you are traveling with small children. Then, you need to select one that is both welcoming and accommodating to the needs of both you and your kids.

The next step to take when searching for an appropriate hotel is to check independent hotel ratings. You may do this online through a hotel search engine to see customer reviews and guest ratings for listed hotels. These sites generally include a rating system and commentary from previous hotel guests, so you may draw your own conclusions from the information they provide. And, keep these write-ups in perspective; certain mentioned flaws may have been corrected or may be due to author bias.

The hotel you choose may either positively or negatively impact your trip, so make sure you do your research and select the hotel that best meets your personal requirements.