Gearhungry logo. Gearhungry logo.
  • Gear
    • Gun Cleaning Kits
    • Pocket & Folding Knives
    • Penlights
    • Slingshots
    • See More
  • Home
    • Essential Oil Diffusers
    • Cold Brew Coffee
    • Tea Makers
    • Hygrometers
    • Meat Cleavers
    • Lunch Boxes
    • See More
  • Tech
    • Shower Speakers
    • Mini Projectors
    • HDMI Cables
    • Smart Doorbells
    • Gadgets
    • Electric Toothbrushes
    • Vertical Mouses
    • CD Players
    • See More
  • Tools
    • Torque Wrenches
    • Tool Chests
    • Torque Screwdrivers
    • Ratchet Screwdrivers
    • Spirit Levels
    • Breaker Bars
    • Tool Bags
    • Cordless Lawn Mowers
    • Locking Pliers
    • Electric Precision Screwdrivers
    • See More
  • Fitness
    • Fitness Gifts
    • Boxing Gloves
    • Gym Equipment for Your Home
    • Curl Bars
    • Barbell Collars
    • Mouthguards
    • Speed Bags for Boxing
    • See More
  • Style
    • Leather Belts
    • Stretch Denim Jeans
    • Trucker Hats
    • Beard Trimmers
    • Men’s Walking Shoes
    • See More
  • Fun & Games
    • Chess Sets
    • Adult Jigsaw Puzzles
    • Graphic Novels for Adults
    • Basketballs
    • Beach Volleyballs
    • Gundam Model Kits
    • LEGO Technic Sets
    • Adult Coloring Books
    • Laser Tag Sets
    • Frisbees
    • See More
  • News
  • Blog
  • More
    • About Us – Learn More About GearHungry
    • Editorial Guidelines: How We Create Reviews and Buyer’s Guides
    • Advertise
    • Brand assets
    • Contact
  • Home
  • Blog

What To Look For When Staying In A Lodge On Vacation

By GearHungry Staff
Last Updated November 15, 2019
GearHungry Staff
GearHungry Staff posts are a compilation of work by various members of our editorial team. We update old articles regularly to provide you the most current information. You can learn more about our staff here.
Learn about The Gearhungry's Editorial Process
GearHungry may earn a small commission from affiliate links in this article. Learn more

How To Choose A Lodge For Your Vacation

Staying in a lodge has always been a popular choice for vacationers. They’re easily one of the best choices for a romantic getaway, family vacation, or even a solo-trip. But now, with apps like Airbnb and Booking.com, there’s more choice than ever. Whether you’re looking to stay in a ski lodge or a country lodge, there are thousands of options available. We’ve been doing some research so you know what to look for when staying in a lodge on vacation. Here are our top tips for booking the perfect lodge vacation.

a vacation lodge

1. Decide If You’re Going To Explore Or Not

First, before you even start looking, you should decide what you’re going to do on your holiday. If you’re the adventurous type, you might want to get out of the accommodation and take a look around the local area. But, if you just want to get away from it all, staying inside might be just what you need. The reason we’re telling you this is that you’ll get much cheaper rates on a lodge that isn’t in a desirable location. The lodge itself might be perfect, but you wouldn’t want to leave the four walls. Of course, if you’re planning a trip to Aspen for a lodge vacation, you’re going to have to cough up some serious dough.

2. Check The Local Facilities

Whether you’re planning to explore or not, you should check out what local facilities there are. If you’re looking for some peace-and-quiet outside of the big city, you can’t expect the convenience of city life. For example, local shops might close early and there might not be one at all. This could be a nightmare if you run out of booze and snacks and there’s no way to get anymore. They don’t have Uber Eats out in the sticks.

a lodge in the woods

3. See If It’s Eco-Friendly

There’s nothing like a guilt-free getaway. If you want to relax your mind and reconnect to nature, you probably want to go for an eco-friendly lodge. Their pretty easy to find nowadays and won’t cost you much more than a normal lodge. Of course, if you are going to go eco-friendly, don’t expect power showers and Wi-Fi. You’ve got to make sacrifices if you’re going to save the planet.

4. Ask If It Has Wi-Fi

This isn’t that important for everyone, but for those of us who need to stay connected, a strong Wi-Fi connection is important. How else are you going to post pictures of your perfect lodge getaway on Instagram? Most modern lodges now have Wi-Fi, but sometimes you’ve got to ask for the password before you get there.

a lodge in the winter

5. Find Out If It’s Pet-Friendly

What’s the point in a relaxing holiday if you can’t take your pets with you? Some vacation lodges don’t accept pets, so it’s really important to check this out beforehand. The good thing is, if it’s pet-friendly, you know the owners are going to be cool.

6. Make Sure It Has A Hot-Tub

The perfect romantic lodge has to have a hot tub, especially if it’s in the mountains. There’s no better feeling than cracking open a bottle of champagne with your loved one and watching the snowfall from the comfort of a hot tub.

lodge interior

7. Book Early

This is an age-old tip that all experienced holidaymakers know. You have to book early to snap up the best deals. Yeah, it’s super romantic to decide last minute that you want to book a weekend away, but isn’t saving money just as romantic? Not only will you get preferred rates if you book early, but you also have your pick of the best lodges. You know, the ones with hot tubs and amazing lake views.

8. Take Your Own Booze

Here’s another super romantic money-saving tip. Buy all of your booze before you go. Fill your suitcase with champagne, beer, and wine that you’ve bought at the supermarket for a fraction of the local prices. Even better, buy it around the holiday season when supermarkets put on amazing deals.

a vacation cabin

9. Read Reviews

One of the greatest things about the internet is consumer reviews. Whatever you’re buying, you should be able to find someone else who’s bought it (or in this case, booked it) before. That means you don’t have to book on the word of a travel agent or make your decision based on the photos. Read every review and look for reoccurring themes. If a couple of people have said it was dirty when they arrived, it’s probably going to be dirty when you arrive. But don’t be put off by one bad review – there’s always someone who likes to complain.

10. Check Out The Safety Features

We’ve all seen horror movies about lodges in the woods. Don’t worry, we’re not saying you’re going to see a boogeyman, but it’s worth checking out the safety features anyway. Holiday accommodation is always a target for thieves, so it’s worth checking out the safety feature on offer. Does it have a fireproof safe? Are there locks on the door? You get the picture.

cosy cabin

11. Don’t Travel In Peak Times

Another age-old traveling tip is not to travel during peak times. If you’re lucky enough to be in a job that will let you take time off whenever research the least busy times for your preferred destination. The lodge owner will be keen to book it out, so you might even be able to get a discount. On travel apps like Airbnb, you can always message the owner and suggest a price. If they agree, they can send you a special offer.

12. Look At The Photos

Obviously, you’re going to look at the photos, but you need to look at them critically. If they’re low-resolution photos, there’s not much you can do. But if they’re decent-quality, you can zoom in really take a look at the state of the lodge. Also, look at what angle the pictures are taken – sometimes you can put two pictures side-by-side and get a better idea of the layout. If you’re not satisfied, ask the owner for more pictures and even a floorplan of the property.

Share

Sign up for our newsletter
Related Reads
Gear post-thumbnail
Best Hard Shell Luggage In 2022
author-image
by GearHungry Staff
Last updated: May 31, 2019
Style post-thumbnail
Best Garment Bags In 2022
author-image
by GearHungry Staff
Last updated: April 20, 2019
Style post-thumbnail
Best Rolling Duffel Bags in 2022
author-image
by GearHungry Staff
Last updated: October 28, 2018
Gear post-thumbnail
Best Bike Travel Cases In 2022
author-image
by GearHungry Staff
Last updated: September 3, 2019
Style post-thumbnail
Best Travel Wallets in 2022
author-image
by GearHungry Staff
Last updated: October 31, 2018
Gear post-thumbnail
Best Luggage Sets For The Organized Traveller in 2022
author-image
by GearHungry Staff
Last updated: February 22, 2018
Style post-thumbnail
Best Tumi Backpacks in 2022
author-image
by GearHungry Staff
Last updated: October 8, 2018
Gear post-thumbnail
Best Travel Adapters In 2022
author-image
by GearHungry Staff
Last updated: March 25, 2019
Gift Guides post-thumbnail
Unique Graduation Gifts In 2022
author-image
by GearHungry Staff
Last updated: March 10, 2020
Sign Up Now
GET THE VERY BEST OF GEARHUNGRY STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX
Gearhungry logo
  • Home
  • About Us – Learn More About GearHungry
  • Contact
GearHungry – West Hollywood, California
8605 Santa Monica Blvd
PMB 30337
West Hollywood, California 90069-4109 US
GearHungry – Denver, Colorado
1624 Market St Ste 226
PMB 30337
Denver, Colorado 80202-1559 US
GearHungry ©2025 Privacy policy Affiliate Disclosure
DMCA.com Protection Status