This post brought to you by Country Inns & Suites By Carlson. The content and opinions expressed below are that of Surf and Sunshine.
Our family has been busy traveling for the last month and we have a jam-packed schedule planned for June as well with weddings and hopefully a getaway for my husband’s birthday too. As we’re busy booking flights, rental cars and hotels, I’m always looking for the best deals and the best value. It’s not just about the money spent, but what I can get for my money that matters.
5 Things To Look For in a Winning Hotel
Free Wi-Fi
I’m always astounded when hotels don’t offer free wi-fi and yet it’s something I run into on a regular basis. It’s a small annoyance but it adds to the cost of your hotel stay and it’s something to keep in mind, which is why I always make a mental note of the hotels that do offer free wi-fi.
Complimentary Breakfast
For a family of four, complimentary breakfast could easily save you upwards of $30 each morning. Plus, by grabbing a meal at the hotel you save time waiting at a restaurant, which means more time during your day for activities. Country Inns & Suites offers a complimentary, hot “Be Our Guest Breakfast” served every morning. The options include build-your-own omelets, breakfast burritos, waffles & more! But you can also get grab-and-go options for those busy mornings too – perfect for early starts and long days.
A Pool
No matter how jam packed our days are, whether we spent them at waterparks or amusement parks, the kids are always looking forward to staying at a hotel that offers a pool. Somehow despite falling asleep with dinner halfway to their mouths upon arriving back to the hotel, they’re full of energy and dying to go to the pool. But hey, it works as a great bribe to get them through the day right?
Little Conveniences
Little extras can make a huge difference in your stay. Having a fridge and microwave in your room is so helpful with small children. It’s great to be able to store little snacks and beverages, and also prepare quick meals to help stay within budget. Having access to a business center is convenient for printing last minute show tickets, maps or itineraries. And for the kids who always get tired of their own toys and books, Country Inns & Suites offers a Read It & Return Lending Library with books from Penguin Random House. It’s a unique idea and definitely something that would make the hotel stand out in my memory. Other little conveniences found at Country Inns & Suites include a fitness center, free weekday paper, complimentary cookies and coffee too.
A Rewards Program
Rewards programs are one of our favorite ways to get the most out of our travel. Not only is it an incentive to stay again, but also most times rewards members receive added perks during their stay for their loyalty. I find that businesses are more willing to go out of their way to accommodate guests when they can see brand loyalty.
Starting April 15th, Country Inns & Suites is launching a “Double the Fun” offer. Guests who Book Now at Country Inns & Suites and provide their airline membership detail at check-in can earn double points or miles through four different participating airlines. The Rest Comes Easy!
Why would you want to book with the Double The Fun offer?
These are all must-haves for me too! We’ve joined a few rewards programs to be able to choose from a chain of hotels that tend to have these amenities, too
Definitely, these are all very important to me (though I can do without the pool sometimes)…free wi-fi and complimentary breakfast are two biggest things that I look for (plus cleanliness). I also like a complimentary shuttle.
Look if they have free wi-fi they really do care about their clientle! I hate when hotels still try to charge thats unfair as I already paid to stay here…I wanna work with free wi-fi!
Any time we travel with the kids, we definitely place a premium on hotels with pools (except in NYC). I tend to try to stick with the same brand so we can save a bit and earn some upgrades or free nights – seems like every brand has one!
It is so weird to think that some places dont offer free wifi. I never book a hotel without a pool – going for a swim is my favorite part of staying at one!