Here are seven things you should look out for in hotels to make your short stay as comfortable as possible.
Free Wi-Fi
Let’s be real, lots of Nigerian Hotels do not offer free Wi-Fi. Sometimes you may be asked to pay for your access to Wi-Fi. At best the ones that do have free Wi-Fi, have a shaky network. But there are a few who are a class above the rest. They not only offer free Wi-Fi but they are strategically located where there is a strong network reception for other Wi-Fi providers. So before settling with a hotel choice, make sure they either offer free Wi-Fi – if you are the type that relies heavily on the internet to work – or have a strong network reception for your pocket-held mobile Wi-Fi device.
Dry cleaning services
Unless you plan to
travel with a portable steam iron, it is good to book a hotel with affordable dry cleaning services. If your hotel room has an ironing board and an iron, all well and good. If not, find out if their laundry services are efficient, free or not.
Good security
Security is all-encompassing. Not just the presence of able-bodied security guards at the premises, but also the choice of neighbourhood where the hotel is located. Also, the quality of materials used to construct the building. Yes, there are some hotels who look great on the outside but on the inside, the room doors are faulty; doors with non-functional keyholes or that do not shut properly. Watch out for these.
Electricity
Some hotels say they have generators but run them for a short period of time. You need a hotel that can assure you of constant electricity whenever the power goes out. It could be backup generator that runs through the night and stays up long enough for you to check out. Also, make sure the generators, inverters or any other electrical backup can carry the Air Conditioning (AC). Although it’s a given that all hotels have ACs, be sure to confirm that the voltage can carry them, lest you may be given a standing fan to compensate.
In-room dining
When booking a hotel for a business trip, it is always a good thing to check for their dining options. Complimentary breakfast is a great incentive for choosing a hotel to lodge in. It reduces the cost of money spent on feeding in the town visited. Also, make sure the hotel has in-room dining services. That way if you have to work with a deadline on a project, you can order the food up to your room.
Working space
If your business trip involves you working on documents or a laptop, make sure you book a room with a workspace. A workspace includes good lighting with a table and a chair where you can work. The seat should be upright and comfortable for long hour sittings just in case you need to pull an all-nighter in preparation for a presentation.
Easy access to transportation
Some hotels have small parking spaces, only a few vehicles can park within. It might prove a chore to get a cab to come and pick you up from there. Sometimes getting cab services may be difficult because the hotel’s location may be obscure. So go for hotels with ease of access to transportation; they can either be close to a popular commercial road or the venue of your event or on a commonly used route. That way, it is easy to call a cab or find transport to your business meeting without walking long distances to the nearest bus park.
So before you book a hotel, call to make enquiries to ensure these basic needs, as well as other preferences, are met. You deserve a comfortable place to call home when you are away from home.
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This article was first published on 14th May 2018
ann
Ann Esievoadje is a freelance writer who is passionate about encouraging a reading culture and personal development. She has authored two books, The Quilt (fiction) and Being Mummy and Me (non-fiction). She manages Pulchra Publishing which offers a content creation/editing, transcription, different forms of writing (including Ghostwriting) service and her blog, Life Love and Anything Goes at annesievoadje.blogspot.com.ng. You can reach her at annesievoadje@gmail.com
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