Top 7 Shepparton Accommodation & Places to Stay, Victoria [2024]

What Does Accommodation Mean?

Accommodation refers to a room, building, or lodging that provides shelter for a person to stay, sleep, and live. 

There are many different types of spaces that classify as accommodation. However, in the hospitality industry, the term refers to a room at a hospitality company such as a hotel, resort, hostel, motel etc. 

Why Should You Book Directly With Hotel?

If you’d like to book a hotel room online, you can do so using one of two options: directly via the hotel’s website or through a third-party website. You may be wondering what the difference is between booking directly compared to using a third-party website.

Here are the advantages of making a reservation directly with a hotel:

You’ll Get the Best Price, Without Any Hidden Fees

Price is one of the most important variables that we take into consideration when making a hotel reservation. Nowadays, the web provides a platform for numerous third-party booking services that all claim to offer the best price. But, do they really?

The reality is, hotels tend to offer the best rate when guests book directly with them. But, at the same time, hotels are very clear about their prices to avoid misunderstandings that might affect the guests’ experience. Because of this, when you book directly with a hotel, prices are final and free of hidden fees.

You Have More Flexibility to Request Special Arrangements

Most people go on vacation to take a break from the normal constructs of life and experience something different. This may include fulfilling certain wishes and desires. 

When looking for a place to stay, you may want a hotel that’s close to the beach, one that has a pool, or maybe you’d like breakfast included. This information is easy to find online, whether through the hotel’s website or third-party websites. 

However, finding the right place to stay gets a bit trickier if you want to request something special, such as a room with a certain view or arrangements for a honeymoon or a special occasion. 

If you want to make a special request, it’s always a good idea to speak directly with hotel personnel. Doing so avoids any possible miscommunication that may occur when using a mediator.

Your Reservation is Confirmed Instantly and Securely

The ability to securely book a hotel reservation online has existed for years. But even though technology has advanced significantly, some people still doubt if a reservation has been approved or if a transaction was completed securely. Moreover, these doubts can multiply when booking through intermediate parties: Did the hotel really get my reservation? What if the availability was wrong? What if they don’t have the kind of room I booked?

When you book directly with a hotel, there’s no risk of discrepancy regarding availability. Additionally, your reservation is confirmed at the moment, and you know that you’ll get exactly what you booked.

Reservation Conditions and Policies are Transparent and Oftentimes More Flexible

Most of us are accustomed to accepting policies without reading them. We tend to check the little box agreeing to certain terms and conditions without much thought because policies are usually long and written in a very technical language.

Transparent and clear policies are very important for hotel reservations. However, policies can change depending on how you book, even for the same hotel. Typically, hotel policies are clearer when booking directly with the establishment, and cancellations and modifications’ terms and conditions may be less strict.

You’ll Receive Personalised Information and Attention Regarding Your Trip

You might have a few, or maybe a lot, of questions that need to be answered in order to plan your trip. Many travellers have shared their experiences and provided information online about most places in the world. However, there’s nothing like the advice of a local.

Hotel personnel are locals that strive every day to make the experience of their guests special. No online service can beat that. When you book directly with a hotel, your relationship begins at that moment. This relationship is important to offer personalised service and curated information regarding activities and experiences that contribute to an unforgettable experience.

What Are the Things to Look for in a Hotel?

The hotel you book for your vacation can make or break that vacation.

We all want to spend that yearly time away from work the best way possible. The accommodation will largely influence your experiences of the part of the world you are visiting your book – coming back to a clean and cozy hotel room after a busy day in the city or after a wonderful day of hiking or snorkelling, having a hearty breakfast in the hotel restaurant before you set off for new adventures and enjoying a tasty dinner to crown your day makes all the difference.

Here are a few tips about what to look for in a hotel to enjoy your holiday.

Rates

Many hotels choose to advertise their rooms at travel agencies and on booking websites, allowing you to check out rates and facilities quickly. Make sure you know exactly what is included in the rate you have found. Does it include meals? Is the breakfast continental, full English, Scandinavian-style buffet? Do you get free access to facilities such as the pool? – these are all very important questions and the best booking platforms provide all the information you need.

Location

Your choice of accommodation should depend on many factors, with the location being among the most important aspects to consider. Make sure you choose the location of your hotel based on the activities you are planning for your vacation – if you want to visit attractions that are in the city centre, choose a hotel that is close to the central area, especially in large cities, to avoid having to spend long hours commuting; if it is a beach vacation that you are planning, it is a good idea to choose a hotel that is close to the beach, it is the beach that you want to enjoy and not the city traffic.

Facilities Offered by the Hotel

It is a good idea to find out as much as you can about the amenities offered by the hotel you are considering. Wi-Fi connections, for example, are pretty much standard these days, but even so, don’t assume anything, check it out. Make sure you determine your priorities in terms of the activities you have in mind – if you are planning a lazy vacation, look for a hotel that has a pool or a wellness centre with a sauna and massage; if you are planning to spend most of your vacation visiting attractions outside the hotel, make sure that your room provides all the comfort that you need to be able to relax and prepare for the next adventure. And ensure there are no bed bugs! 

What Makes a Good Accommodation?

Either it is a two-star hotel or a five-star hotel, it should have some following qualities to become a good accommodation place for the tourist and guests.

WARM WELCOME BY THE STAFF

Either it is your first time in a hotel or more than that, a good hotel should have a staff that welcomes their guests every time with a pretentious smile on their faces. They should always greet their guests in a way that looks like they care for them, and they are always welcome here, regardless of any class difference. They should do this as a part of their generosity, not as a part of their job.

PROVIDES HONEST INFORMATION

Nothing is more than honesty, either you are running a business or a hotel, in both cases, your honesty towards your clients or guests matters a lot. It is the moral duty of the hotel staff to provide honest and correct information regarding the charges of the room and the services provided by the hotel. They should give true information to the tourist about the sites of the city which they can visit in the minimum budget instead of promoting the sites for which they are getting a commission to promote them.

KIND TO PROVIDE EXTRA SUPPORT

A good hotel should always be ready to provide and give extra support to their guests no matter what. They should always be available for their guests in case of any emergency or mishap. They should always look after their guests and provide properly ready rooms instead of adjusting them in unprepared and disorganised rooms. It is better to arrange the room in any nearby hotel and if not possible, then tell them honestly that no room is available instead of squeezing your guest into a dirty room.

LOCATION OF THE HOTEL

Whether it is a shop, a restaurant, or a hotel, the most important is the location. The location of your hotel should be extremely good and a bit different from other cheap hotels. It is good to get or build a hotel near a natural location like a waterfall, etc., that serve beautiful location to the guests from the balconies of their luxuries suites and amazing services by your well-trained staff. The hotels located in such places are mostly far away from the city and a bit expensive. But they provide extra services to their guests when they are paying a huge amount to achieve all these benefits like transport services to shop and travel easily from hotel to other interesting locations.

CLEANLINESS COMES FIRST

Cleanliness and hygiene are very important, not only in your room but in your washroom and the place where you are dining. A good hotel always takes care of such petty things as these are the small, little things that help in making your name in the industry and win the trust of your guests. Therefore, not only the rooms etc. but the staff responsible for the cleaning and other things should also be neat and clean to exhibit the importance of hygiene and cleanliness in the hotel.

SHOULD NOT CHARGE EXTRA

Hotels can never be good and famous until and unless they put the hospitality of the guests first instead of running it as a business to earn dollars from them. Therefore, they should always be generous and kind towards their guests and take care of their little things. If you have a hotel and want to be a great one, then it is good to stop charging extra money for the little services like Wi-Fi or extra soap, etc.

FEEL LIKE A HOME

The hotel’s staff and services should be good enough to provide comfort and care to the guests, so they feel like they are at home. Their breakfast should be ready and serve uniquely and differently to make them feel special.

FAST SERVICE

Make sure the service of your hotel should be extra fast, and staff should always be ready to assist the guests even at midnight. The hotel staff should ensure that everything is at their place and the guests are having a pleasant and wonderful time here.

ROOMS SHOULD BE SPACIOUS

The rooms of the hotel should be spacious enough to accommodate the guests and their luggage properly, it should not only be spacious but comfortable with all the necessities and luxuries like a tiny fridge having chocolates and champagne, etc. A large T.V with a king-size bed for comfortable sleep at night.

RECREATION AREAS

A hotel can never become the top and a famous hotel unless it has some recreation areas for the entertainment of its guests like a big size swimming pool where people can enjoy and have some fun. In the same way, a gym in the hotel is a must, especially for the people who are extremely health-conscious and cannot afford to miss their gym.

How To Book a Hotel Without a Credit Card?

Most people think they need a credit card to make a hotel reservation. But this often isn't true. Instead, a traveller can use a debit card, or even cash, to secure accommodations. 

Finding a hotel that takes cash or debit instead of credit can take some work. However, many locations want your business and will make the transaction happen. So don't count out travel because of debts or the desire to live a cash-based life.

Use a debit card with a Visa or MasterCard logo to make your reservation. Often, the hotel reservation system doesn't even recognize that you're not using a credit card. Still, check before using this method to see if the hotel charges fees for such transactions; otherwise, you might have an unexpected debit from your checking account to cover the fee.

Call ahead to see what the hotel's policies are regarding debit and cash reservations. Some hotels will accept a debit card but at check-in will withdraw a fully refundable amount per day to cover incidentals, such as the minibar or pay-per-view movies. Even more, hotels will accept cash along with checking account information. Others won't accept anything but a credit card.

People with no credit card greatly increase the hotel's risk in having you stay there." An upfront cash amount will do much to assure the management that you're responsible and able to handle the liability for the room.

Inquire at small, local non-chain hotels in addition to corporate establishments. A local hotel may be more amenable to working with cash since it's not tied to any sort of corporate procedure. If any local residents are willing to vouch for you, ask the hotel manager to call them for a reference. The extra tie to the community may raise the manager's confidence level, making it more likely that you'll land the room.

Set up a PayPal online payment account to reserve the room. PayPal is an accepted method of payment on several travel sites, and you only need a bank account to use the service. Therefore, a credit card wouldn't be necessary to pay for a reservation. Call the hotel ahead of time to find out about fees for incidentals and whether they're payable through PayPal.