When a person decides to travel, usually the first thing they plan is which hotel to stay at. This person could either choose to bypass this planning and simply arrive at their destination and hope to find a hotel with availability and near the location where he or she hopes to be, or this person could find and make reservations at a hotel prior to arriving at the chosen travel destination. Of course, the second option is the best. No one wants to take a chance that they will not have a place to stay, especially if they are tired from traveling.

So, what is the best way to find hotels? Asking people for recommendations will work if the person traveling knows other people who have been to the same location. However, this is not always the best way, since different people want to be close to different things while on their trip. Another way to find out is by going to a travel agency and asking for their help, but even then, they are going to want to know where you want to be close to.

Deciding on which hotel to stay at usually requires the use of maps, unless the person has been to the destination several times and knows exactly where he or she wants to stay. Maps are going to provide all of the necessary information a person will need in order to decide which hotel to stay at. There are many maps available that are detailed to specific cities showing exactly where most of the hotels are located and their distance to other places of interest around their location. These maps can be found on the internet by typing in the desired destination and pulling up a city map with different businesses highlighted. Another resource is travel agencies, which can provide clients with maps along with suggestions based on the needs and desires of the traveler. Through the cities travel and tourism office, a person can get many brochures and maps regarding the area which will also give the traveler a good idea on which hotel to stay at based on features and location. Certain hotels websites will also have a map provided that will show where that particular hotel is located and what is around it, along with the distance from the hotel to popular attractions, sites and other businesses such as restaurants, gas stations and supermarkets.

Once a person has decided on a hotel, it is always a good idea to request a map from the hotel. Some hotels will have maps that have information about the area around the hotel itself, making travel plans even easier for the guest. These maps may be different then what is available online or what a person can find through other resources.

No matter where the map comes from, it is important for the person planning their travel to become familiar with the destination prior to arrival, including knowing where their hotel is and how far it is from where the person either needs or wants to be.