Having someone on site 24×7 can be very helpful. It’s the kind of resource that is not fully valued until something goes wrong. Also, if you arrive at the hotel before check-in time it may be possible to leave your luggage at the hotel freeing you up to begin exploring the city.

• TIP:  Grab a business card from the front desk so that you always have the phone number and address of the hotel. If you lose your phone or your battery dies you will lose all of your information. Having a business card in your pocket will come in very handy.

• TIP:  If you do not speak the local language having hotel staff that speak english can make your stay much more enjoyable.

• TIP:  If you arrive before check-in and are unable to leave your luggage where you are staying, check the train station to see if they have lockers available. Also, there are several apps and websites  that list places to store your suitcases.

Do I need a hotel with an elevator? Many hotels in Europe are in older buildings and therefore do not have an elevator.  You need to determine if this is an issue for you. Because the buildings are older the passage ways and stairwells are more narrow and steeper than in the US. Carrying heavy luggage yourself can be challenging.

Having a coffee pot or tea pot in the room might be a good consideration.

Your health and safety are paramount do not sacrifice its importance in favor of other criteria or suggestions when selecting a hotel and its surroundings. 

Summers in Europe can get quite warm. Air conditioning is not always available.  If you want air conditioning be sure to check for it.

Some hotels in Europe that offer a washer/dryer in their rooms are providing a small unit that both washes and dries. Generally these units work on small loads and take a very long time (up to 6-7 hours to dry)

If you plan to use the hotel Wifi make sure to use a VPN application to safeguard your data.

Should I find a hotel that offers breakfast or just pick up something on the way to the first activity? It depends on what you like, how adventurous you are, and how much effort the hotel puts into breakfast. Smaller hotels that offer breakfast tend to offer something that is somewhat limited and repetitive. The flip side of this is that the breakfast is in your hotel, ready for you and you know what to expect, Eating in a hotel might be a bit pricey, however if you look around you can always find more reasonable places that include breakfast. Usually you can opt to pay for breakfast at the hotel on the days you want to eat in.