Thoughts on travelling – The checklist

I have a checklist – what I look for:

Location, location, location

• Is it near public transport (if using)
• Or, is there parking nearby – what is the cost of parking, is it likely you can find a space if a public car park
• Is there a bar or a coffee shop nearby
• Where is the local tourist office (mainly to get a map, or look for other useful local information)
• Local shop – maybe a bottle of water or some headache pills
• How far to walk to restaurants – check out reviews and make a list of where you think you would like to eat (you can check the menus online or better, when you arrive – pop-in and have a look, maybe have a drink so you can assess the ambience and book a table if necessary)
• Is there something I can see nearby (perhaps I don’t feel like going far, or weather not great). Look at museums, shops, views, something of interest to me
• ATM – always useful and cheaper than changing money in hotel

Hotel

• Wifi – in rooms as well as public areas
• Reception, public spaces with chairs (sometimes it’s good just to sit and think, watch the world go by)
• Coffee shop or bar – check the times it is open
• Restaurant (in case I don’t want to go out)
• Pictures of the bedrooms
• Facilities in the rooms (many hotels now list the facilities)
• Bathroom – shower or bath as required
• Is there a lift (up 3 flights of stairs is not great for my partner)
• Comfortable chairs, small table
• TV, radio – any cable channels likely in other languages
• Coffee machine, kettle (if not, take travel kettle)
• If large hotel, do any travel/tours deliver you to/from hotel (some do, check the tour site, such as hop-on/hop-off bus)
• Is there a shuttle bus to airport or somewhere else you want to go
• Secure place to leave your luggage on day you are leaving (if late travel)
• Late check out possible (sometimes free, sometimes low cost)
• Reviews – check hotel’s own site as well as TripAdvisor
• Booking.com – many hotels are on this site. Read the details, reviews, look at the images – often more than on hotel’s own website

Apartment or other self-catering

• Wifi
• Is there a plan of the accommodation – much easier to see the layout of the space
• Look at the images of all the rooms, lots of information available in photographs
• Linen, towels provided?
• Charge for cleaning?
• Security/breakage deposit? Is there an inventory?
• Garden/outdoor space/balcony – any furniture? Any photograph of the view (or is the view just a general one of the area)
• Refrigerator – freezer as well?
• Hob – how many rings? (How many do you need)
• Is there an oven? A microwave?
• Do I think that proper pans and other cooking utensils are provided – don’t plan to cook anything too complicated
• Tea towel/cleaning cloths (or take)
• Dishwasher (take DW tablets, not worth buying a box)
• Where is the nearest shop/supermarket? Do they actually sell things to make a meal, or just a few tins
• Bath/shower – is there constant hot water?
• Bath/shower – is a non-slip map or grip provided? It’s easy to take a small non-slip map rolled in your suitcase, better than falling
• Table and chairs
• Comfortable chairs – I prefer an upright chair, so if there are dining chairs I am ok
• TV/radio– any cable channels likely in other languages
• Secure place to leave your luggage on day you are leaving (if late travel) – this is often hard with self-catering accommodation
• Late check out possible? (sometimes free, sometimes low cost)
• Reviews – check apartment own site as well as TripAdvisor
• Booking.com – many apartments are on this site. Read the details, reviews, look at the images – often more than on owner’s own website. Often also on AirBnB