Yellow Pages® | Articles for Hotels-Accommodation

Accreditation/Standards/Ratings of hotels explained

Choosing the right hotel can be time-consuming, especially with such a huge range of choices and options available. Business travellers have different expectations and requirements than families on holiday. To assist with making the right choice, AAA Tourism Australia provides a guide to hotel accreditation and ratings throughout Australia.

Gold Coast hotel pool with high rise holiday apartments in background.

Common loyalty and points-earning programs and their benefits

Many hotels and hotel chains offer loyalty or points earning programs to encourage brand loyalty and guarantee return bookings from their customers. Although there are other things to consider when choosing a hotel, these programs often offer worthwhile discounts and benefits to members.

Luxury hotel room with bottle of champagne and glasses.

Things to consider when staying at a hotel with children

Travelling with children can be either fun and exciting, or a challenging experience. A little forethought and planning can make all the difference between a memorable and a forgettable holiday. Make sure the accommodation you book is suitable for the whole family. Some hotels are not child-friendly and may even actively discourage children staying with them. Here are some things to consider when staying at a hotel with children.

Top 5 Things to look for when choosing a hotel

When choosing a hotel, you’ll be faced with a varied array of options. Filtering through these choices to find the hotel that suits you or your travel companions’ requirements can be a challenging task. Doing your research before you book can make all the difference to how much you enjoy your stay. Here are 5 things to look for when choosing a suitable hotel.

Front of boutique hotel with Hotel sign.

What are the differences between self-serviced apartments and hotels?

When booking your next trip, should you choose a self-serviced apartment or a hotel room? Here are some of the common differences between the two to help you make your decision.

What can I expect for the different star ratings for hotels?

Choosing a hotel can be daunting with such a huge range of options available. AAA Tourism, run by Australia’s seven state Auto Clubs (NRMA, RACV, RACQ, RAA, RACT, RAC, AANT), has an internationally recognised star rating system for all types of accommodation in Australia, from houseboat to luxury hotel. The five star rating was designed to make the task of choosing a hotel a little easier for travellers. The five star hotel rating system is determined by the following:

Negotiating a good deal – do I have to pay the listed price?

It’s a nice feeling knowing you have received a good deal, but many people don’t know how to go about asking for a discount. When booking a hotel there is often no need to pay the full listed price, as there are a number of ways of negotiating a better deal.

Typical hotel extras and what they might cost you

When booking a hotel you may want to consider the extra services available and how much they might cost. Hotels routinely offer extras such as late check out, room service, internet, car parking and more. You may find that some of these services are included in the price of the room while others command an additional fee.

Room service tray with salad and dressing.

Seasonal Rates Explained

Most hotels and other types of accommodation available to travellers vary their room charges according to what is commonly termed “seasonal rates”, which govern the cost of accommodation at different times of year. Seasonal rates are usually categorised by Low Season, Shoulder and Peak Season.

Summer shot of beach and high rise on the Gold Coast.

What’s the difference between a hotel and a motel?

Nowadays the difference between hotels and motels has become less distinct than in former years. Hotels and motels both provide accommodation for travellers with a varying range of facilities and services. The key differences are listed below.