When you take a trip away from home, you probably want to see the sights, but also relax and rejuvenate.
For the best of both worlds, you need to reserve a room or suite at a luxury hotel, where a professional concierge can help you book activities and secure tickets to events, and where you can snuggle into a comfortable bed after a long day, without compromising on any necessities.
But how do you go about finding the right luxury hotel for you and your fellow travelers? Follow these tips to book the perfect stay.
Define What Makes a Hotel “Luxury”
So many hoteliers and hotel chains insinuate their lodging is luxurious, but they don’t offer the amenities and features to back up those claims. Before you can book a luxury Austin hotel, you need to know what to look for.
A hotel can only be considered a luxury one when it provides truly upscale accommodations with amenities like a private pool; concierge services; fine dining restaurant with room service; day spa; valet parking; exclusive fitness center; and rich furnishings.
Luxury hotels don’t have only some of these features; they have them all. Don’t confuse a short list of amenities with the offerings of a truly luxurious hotel.
Use the Internet to Your Advantage
“Google is free,” as the saying goes. If you’re visiting Austin, Texas, your best bet at locating a luxury hotel near all the city’s hot spots is to employ an Internet search engine to search for keywords like “luxury hotel in Austin.”
Using the guidelines for what makes a hotel a luxury one, eliminate any search engine results that don’t meet the requirements. Now that you have your short list, you can begin really considering which hotel to stay in during your trip.
Then, narrow down any luxury hotels that don’t have the best guest reviews. If you’re going to invest in a stay in a luxury hotel, you should expect perfection.
Ask a Travel Agent
It sounds old school – and it is – but many travel agents are able to suggest luxury hotels that will meet or exceed your expectations. Working with a travel agent to book your vacation can take some of the stress off of you, so you can simply spend your days looking forward to your trip, rather than stressing over the details.
Ask a Friend or Family Member
The people you associate with most frequently have likely traveled to cities like Austin, Texas, and stayed in luxury hotels. Leverage their experience by asking them if they enjoyed the hotels and the amenities they provided. Be sure to ask about nightly prices, location, and anything else you should expect if you opt to stay there.
Word-of-mouth recommendations are often the most reliable way to determine whether you’ll enjoy something – and luxury hotels are no exception.
Talk to the Locals
One of the most interesting things about traveling to new places is interacting with the locals who live there full-time. You can get great restaurant and activities recommendations from them – and there’s also a great chance that they’ll know which luxury hotel is best, especially if they’ve had friends and family members visit them at any point.
And even if they don’t have many visitors, they will have at least heard stories about all the area hotels and can regale you of these tales so you can make a decision about where to stay the next time you visit.
Visit Other Luxury Hotel Facilities During Your Trip
If Austin, Texas, is a frequent destination for you, you can “test drive” other luxury hotels in the area by visiting their restaurant and lounge for a meal or cocktail and socializing with the guests.
It’s fairly easy to gauge what your stay there may be like, especially if you see some of the facilities and amenities firsthand.
Consider Price Last
Whether something is “expensive” is subjective; it means different things to different people. However, you can expect a luxury hotel to cost significantly more per night than, say, a two-star motor inn.
If you’re looking for true luxury, amenities that will help you relax and unwind, and well-appointed rooms, then price should be the last factor you consider. Generally, most luxury hotels will cost about the same per night based on the city’s cost of living and location. Unless you’re staying at an all-inclusive resort, any outlying price will be rather rare.
You’re Ready to Start Your Search
Now that you know what to consider and who to ask about luxury hotels in Austin, you’re ready to begin your search in advance of your next vacation.