Hey all,here are a few of my pointers for when I check in.First of all,where is the hotel/resort located. Hotels located on the highways are the worst,the merry truckers keep you awake the whole night while they whizz by with screaming/screeching horns .The best bet would be a place tucked cozily away in the folds of the town away from the highway yet easily accessible both by private cars as well as cabbies,who are grumpy about travelling on unpaved roads.Next, are the rooms tiny ? They should be decently spacious,a balconey/window seat is an attraction. Lawns,coffee shops or lounges are great for evening,when you just want to chill after sightseeing or meetings,perhaps with a cuppa or two in the company of friends or family. Also,the hotel should provide room service.I have heard about the Ginger chain of budget hotels that offer rooms for 1k per night, no frills.Meaning,no room service,cable,laundry etc. Its too sterile an atmosphere, I personally like to be catered to .Whats a pleasant stay without some TLC? The hotel should have clean sheets, rooms and bathrooms should be cleaned everyday,ashtrays emptied.A clean empty ashtray means a clean hotel.Most hotels offer sightseeing packages,if in doubt about the cost,visit local travel agents who almost always offer these packages on a daily basis in season.Avoid booking with the first agent you come across,I have checked with different agents and there is a huge difference in rates.       While travelling abroad,do check if the hotel features a luggage room.If you’re travelling abroad in the same locale but need to stay elsewhere for a few days,say for winter sports or sightseeing in a place a few hundred kms. away, you don’t want to be carting your luggage to and fro. Many hotels provide luggage rooms free of cost,so you can re-check in on your return from your mini-trip and save precious money on the rooms you vacated in the meantime.You would be surprised at the amount of people that don’t use this service. All in all,a hotel is a home for a short while,so make sure you pick yours carefully.