When you’re planning your next vacation in Lancaster, PA, remember that where you stay is as important as where you go. Lodging options in Lancaster County run the gamut. So how do you find a hotel that suits your travel style and meets all your needs? Read on for some valuable tips to help you choose the right hotel for you.

1. Look Into the Location

Lancaster County covers 984 square miles, so you might want to find a hotel that’s close to the things you want to do and the sites you want to visit. Do you want to look for crafts, furniture or food at an Amish market—or is outlet shopping more your style? Do you plan to see a show at Sight & Sound or American Music Theatre? Would you like to get a bird’s-eye view of scenic farmlands from a helicopter or hot air balloon? Maybe you’re planning to take the kids to Dutch Wonderland or to see Thomas the Tank Engine. Maybe you want to spend some time exploring the galleries and enjoying the restaurants in Lancaster City, with a visit to the unique shops in Lititz. You can do all that and more.

You could list the places you want to see, pin them on a map and then look for a hotel—or you could just find lodging in Bird-in-Hand, which is conveniently located in the middle of all of the most popular Lancaster-area attractions. Follow Old Philadelphia Pike from Bird-in-Hand and you can get to the shops at Kitchen Kettle Village in Intercourse in about 5 minutes. Two major outlet centers, The Shops @ Rockvale and Tanger Outlets, are about 10 minutes away, as are the Dutch Wonderland amusement park, American Music Theatre and the Strasburg Railroad. Sight & Sound Theatre is also in Strasburg. Lancaster Central Market and the other attractions of downtown Lancaster are only about 20 minutes away, and you can be in Ephrata or Lititz in less than half an hour.

2. Make Sure the Room Is Right

Sometimes you just need to get away—and your hotel room IS your destination. But even if your focus is sightseeing, and you don’t plan to do much in your room except sleep, it pays to do a little research in advance to make sure that your accommodations meet your needs.

In addition to location, what else matters to you? Maybe it’s price, or maybe it’s ambience. Do you want a quiet get-away or a larger hotel with on-site restaurant and recreational facilities? Or is camping more your cup of tea? For many travelers, cleanliness has never been more important. Although you can’t do a white-glove test online, you can get a pretty good feel of what a room is like from the photos. You can also click here to view a convenient comparison chart of lodging options in Bird-in-Hand.

3. ASK ABOUT AMENITIES

Knowing what amenities are available in your room at your hotel can help you plan your vacation better. For example, if your stay includes breakfast, that’s one less meal you need to include in your budget. Bird-in-Hand properties offer a two-hour tour of Amish farmlands to get your sightseeing started for free.

Do you need a refrigerator where you can keep beverages cold or a kitchenette where you can reheat leftovers? If you know that your room has cable TV and Wi-Fi, you might not need to pack a lot of books. If you need a cuppa Joe to get started in the morning, you’ll want to know whether there’s an in-room coffee maker or coffee available in the lobby.

What about special occasions? If you’re planning a family reunion, find out if the hotel offers group rates. Maybe you are celebrating an anniversary and want to make your stay particularly memorable. Look into special offerings like packages that include theater tickets, wine tastings or other experiences.

4. READ THE REVIEWS

Find out what other guests think. Read the guest reviews on sites like TripAdvisor, Yelp and Google, and the comments on the hotel Facebook and other social media pages. Just be sure to focus on the most recent reviews, so you are getting the most up-to-date view of the property. If a reviewer did have an issue, how did management respond? Properties that consistently earn good reviews are happy to post ratings right on their website. For example, Bird-in-Hand Village Inn and Suites received TripAdvisor’s 2021 Traveler’s Choice rating.

5. Find Out About Fine Print

For the best experience, be sure to find out about the hotel’s policies before you book your stay. What are check-in and check-out times? What are the hotel’s policies regarding children? Pets? Do they have any health and safety requirements in place? What is their cancellation policy?

Lancaster County has so much to offer vacationers, whether you’re here for a weekend or an extended stay, and Bird-in-Hand is at the heart of it. We look forward to welcoming you!