When I am going to be staying somewhere that isn’t my home for a long time, I want to feel as comfortable as I would at home. My accommodations are the place where I relax and recharge to be ready for the activities I have planned during my vacation. When booking accommodation, I search for hotels and Airbnb that offer:
- Clean
- Enjoy great amenities
- The things I plan to do are close by
- Budget-friendly
- Beautifully designed or decorated
When choosing a vacation, I take into consideration the following factors:
1. Set Your Budget
It’s crucial to know your budget before you start shopping. It will guide you and help you to narrow down your choices. When I use sites like Booking.com and Expedia, I adjust the price range to only see search results that I can afford.
Only $300 was required to spend a week in an Airbnb. This may have been my best find. It was not only a lovely studio apartment, but my host hosted me. She let me use her phone to avoid racking up my bill when calling home. Her husband drove me around in a taxi, and she was happy to translate for me.
I had a teacher’s salary, so I did not budget much for the trip, but I got more than I bargained for.
2. Check Reviews and Talk to Others
To truly understand the quality and authenticity, I read reviews on trusted websites. Some reviews may not be accurate, but real-life experiences and opinions will give you a better idea of the situation and help you make a more informed decision.
Ask someone you know who has visited the destination that you are booking where they stayed. Asking locals, reading local travel guides or visiting travel blogs like mine are all options. Forums. Asking locals about a destination can be a great way to learn about hidden gems and lesser-known accommodations. They also know about unique experiences, which will help you plan an enjoyable trip.
3. Consider Safety, Location and Proximity
Do some research on the area where you can accommodate. You can use the Travel Advisers list or any other search engine to assess the safety of an area. This is especially important if you are travelling alone. Consider the distance between the accommodation and the airport, public transport, or key attractions on your itinerary.
When I went to Tulum in Mexico, I selected the most beautiful Airbnb with lovely rooms, a swimming pool on the terrace, and a nearby market. It was a difficult trip because I didn’t realize that it was located in a new neighbourhood, which was not on my GPS, and local taxi drivers had no idea how to get there. My brother was able to teach each taxi driver the correct route, but that wasn’t something we wanted to have to do every time we left our Airbnb.
I do a lot of research before I travel, but this incident has made me go the extra mile to ensure I know what I will be doing.
4. Which one? Hotels, Airbnb or hostels: which is best for you?
Choose the right accommodation for your travel style. Hotels provide convenience, amenities, a constant level of service, and proximity to others, which is good for solo travellers. Airbnbs, on the other hand, can provide a more immersive and local experience. Although I don’t personally stay in hostels, I know of people who have done so and saved a lot of money.
Consider an accommodation with a unique offer. The Good Hotel, Antigua Guatemala, employs mothers from the locality to work in the hotel. It also partners with local businesses and donates part of its profits to ensure local children are able to attend school. One of the main reasons I chose this hotel was that it was a place where you could give back.
5. Check Amenities
Be sure to check out the facilities and amenities offered by the accommodation. You may consider staying at a hotel that has a restaurant, onsite pool, gym, spa or even if you have a kitchenette to prepare your meals. The amenities you need for your trip will determine what’s important to you. As I spend more time outside than in the room, I don’t usually prioritize amenities when searching for a hotel. However, it’s nice to find them once I arrive.
6. Flexible Cancellation and Flexibility Policies
When I book a hotel, I usually use Expedia and always make sure that I have flexible options. It is also a good idea to check their cancellation policy and buy travel insurance. If your plans suddenly change, you want to ensure that you don’t lose any money.
It is also important to confirm how much you’ll have to pay as a security deposit. You may have to pay a fee of $50-200 at the time of check-in. In a recent post, I told a story of my trip to Miami and the $150 security deposit that my hotel required per night. It was a hassle because this information was not disclosed at all during the booking process. It is important to be aware of these things before you travel, as they may affect where you stay.
The key to choosing the right accommodation for your trip is matching your needs and preferences with the available options. You can save yourself a lot of trouble by doing your research in advance.
