Author: Ethan Caldwell

Choice Hotels International is one of the world’s largest lodging franchisors, with options ranging from budget-friendly roadside hotels to upscale and extended-stay properties. The company traces its roots to the Quality Courts network created in 1939, but today’s portfolio is much broader. Travelers can choose among 22 brands designed for different budgets, trip lengths, and travel styles. Quick Answer Choice Hotels International is a global lodging franchisor with 22 brands spanning premium, midscale, extended-stay, and value segments. As of March 31, 2026, Choice reported more than 7,500 hotels and 650,000 rooms in 51 countries and territories. Its portfolio includes Comfort,…

The minimum age to book or check into a hotel is not the same everywhere. Many properties accept guests at 18, while others require the registered guest to be 21 or older. The rule can change by hotel, city, country, and even by property within the same brand, so young travelers should verify the exact hotel’s policy before paying. Quick Answer In the United States, many hotels let guests check in at 18, but 21 is also common, and the rule can vary by property. Major brands do not use one universal age across every hotel. Always check the exact…

Hotel age requirements can be confusing because the age needed to make an online reservation is not always the same as the age required to check in. A traveler may be a legal adult and still arrive at a property that requires the primary guest to be 21. The safest approach is to verify the exact hotel’s policy before paying. Quick Answer Many hotels require the primary guest to be at least 18 or 21, but there is no single age that applies to every hotel, chain, or country. Before booking—especially if you are 18 to 20—check the specific property’s…

Finding a cheap hotel is not simply a matter of choosing the lowest nightly rate. The best-value stay is the one that fits your overall trip budget after you compare the full accommodation cost, location, transportation, parking, useful amenities, cancellation terms, and any taxes or optional extras. A little comparison before you book can prevent a “cheap” room from becoming an expensive stay. Quick Answer To find cheap hotels, compare the total stay price across several booking channels, test flexible travel dates, check nearby neighborhoods, join free hotel loyalty programs, and compare the hotel’s direct rate before paying. Also factor…

Bed bugs are small, flat, blood-feeding insects that can hide in mattress seams, headboards, bed frames, luggage, and other narrow crevices. Because they are skilled hitchhikers, travelers can encounter them in hotels of any price or cleanliness level. A quick room inspection before you unpack can reduce the chance of bites and of carrying bed bugs home in your belongings. Quick Answer Before unpacking, place your luggage in the bathroom or another hard, elevated area. Use a flashlight to inspect mattress seams, the box spring, headboard, bed frame, and luggage rack for live bugs, shed skins, eggs, or rusty-dark spots.…

The minimum age to rent a hotel room can be confusing because there is no single number that works for every hotel or destination. A traveler may be a legal adult at 18 and still arrive at a property that requires the registered guest to be 21. The safest approach is to check the exact hotel’s policy before paying for a reservation, especially if anyone in the group is under 21. Quick Answer Many U.S. hotels allow guests to check in at 18, while others require 21 or another minimum age. There is no single age that applies to every…

Hotel housekeeping is easy to overlook because much of the work happens while guests are away from their rooms. In the United States, however, leaving a small daily gratuity is a common way to thank the person who cleaned your room, replaced towels, handled trash, and restocked supplies. The key is knowing how much to leave, when to leave it, and when local customs call for a different approach. Quick Answer In the United States, a practical baseline is $2 to $5 per day for hotel housekeeping, left daily with a note so the correct housekeeper receives it. Tip more…

How much you should tip a hotel maid—or, as hotel staff are more commonly called, a housekeeper or room attendant—depends on where you are staying and how much work your room requires. In the United States, a flat nightly tip is more useful than a percentage of your room rate. Abroad, local customs can be very different, so it is worth checking before leaving money behind. Quick Answer In the U.S., $2–$5 per day remains a common etiquette range, while current 2026 guidance also supports $5 or more per night as a practical baseline. At luxury hotels, large suites, or…

Hotel prices can vary dramatically from one trip to the next. A room that is affordable on a quiet week may cost far more during a festival, convention, holiday, or major sporting event. The good news is that travelers who compare the right details—not just the advertised nightly rate—can often find comfortable accommodation without spending more than necessary. Quick Answer Hotel prices vary widely, so there is no single normal nightly rate. Recent U.S. industry averages have been around $160 per occupied room night, but your actual total can be much lower or higher depending on city, dates, hotel class,…

The cost of a hotel stay can change dramatically depending on where you travel, when you stay, the room you choose, local demand, and what is included in the rate. A basic room outside a busy area may cost far less than a suite in a city center or resort during a major event. The best way to budget is to compare the total cost of equivalent stays, not just the first nightly price you see. Quick Answer There is no single standard hotel cost. Prices vary by destination, travel dates, demand, hotel category, room type, cancellation terms, amenities, and…

Donald Trump and the Trump Organization have been involved in hotels for decades, but answering how many hotels Trump “owns” requires an important distinction. A hotel can carry the Trump name without being a building that Donald Trump personally owns outright. Ownership, management, condominium interests, joint ventures, and branding arrangements can all differ from one property to another. Quick Answer As of July 2026, Trump Hotels lists eight operating hospitality properties worldwide. That does not mean Donald Trump personally owns eight hotel buildings outright. The portfolio includes city hotels, golf resorts, and an estate hotel with different ownership and operating…

Las Vegas has one of the largest concentrations of hotel rooms anywhere in the world, but the number changes as resorts open, close, renovate, or reclassify rooms. The latest official Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) inventory provides a much clearer answer than the older rounded figures often repeated online. Quick Answer Las Vegas had 150,300 hotel and motel rooms across 292 lodging properties as of December 31, 2025, according to the LVCVA. That is the best current official inventory available in 2026. Most of the city’s biggest resorts are on the Strip, while thousands of additional rooms are…