How to pick the right lodging type
As travelers, we’re quite spoiled for choice. No matter where you travel, you can choose your lodging based on budget, preferences, and location. But with so much choice, we may be left confused as to what the best type of lodging for you may be. And more often than not, after making the required bookings, you may just walk away from the transaction feeling that there may have been a better deal waiting for you. That’s human nature; we are always on the lookout for something better, and as a well-traveled person, here are a few pointers I can share with you.
Hotels & Motels
These are the traditional go-to’s for most people when they vacation in a different country or location. You can choose between a five-star luxury hotel or a budget motel. These are great options and are probably more readily available than most other options, but there are many factors that should go into your consideration before clicking the ‘book’ button. You can find bargains more easily in off-peak periods – so if you have been dying to taste the life of luxury, you should try going at a time when thousands of tourists won’t be hogging the best sites and raising the rates in all the places where you want to stay.
All hotel chains have some kind of loyalty card system where you can redeem points to upgrade your stay from an ordinary room to a fancy suite, without shelling out extra cash. This is what makes hotel chains so appealing. You know what to expect. If you are the type of person who doesn’t like surprises and wants to know exactly what they’re getting when they are on vacation and want the comfort that comes with booking with a well-known hotel chain, you may be better off going with a hotel.
The only downside is that you usually have to pay a fair bit more. One tip I can offer is that you should look into special deals they may have – if there is a chance you can get a free breakfast just by choosing a special promo, it’s your good fortune. Also, check for student and senior discounts – every penny saved is more you can spend on yourself on your vacation! Another tip would be to check rates with different websites – you may get great deals on travel websites, but you may just strike gold by booking directly with the hotel through their website. A little time and research can always give you a better deal.
B&Bs
You may just get lucky with a B&B. They tend to be a quieter, quainter version of a hotel, with all the comforts of home, often with lower prices than hotels. However, you should always check reviews online to check that you’re not walking into a nest of vipers. If you’re not careful, you could get stuck with a host from Hell, and that is not something you want to deal with when you’re on vacation.
Bed and breakfasts are a great option if you want a home vibe to your vacation, but you also have to be smart about where and when you book. As with the hotels, if you book out of season, you will get better deals. In fact, you’ll often get even better deals with B&Bs rather than hotels, and you’ll have a lot more care showered upon you.
Online rental platforms
Platforms like Airbnb and HomeAway are gaining traction within the holiday accommodation sector, as you end up getting a home away from home atmosphere – and honestly, that sounds so much better than staying in a place which lacks personality, you know what I mean? With Airbnb, you could wind up getting access to exclusive locations that would have otherwise been impossible with the traditional route of hotels and the like. You can choose between budget, location and various other options which will make you think twice about why you ever booked hotels.
If you are on a long vacation, Airbnb is a good option, because you will have access to a kitchen, which will save on eating out on a daily basis. I don’t know about you, but I get fairly sick of eating out if I am away for over a month in a different country. It also turns out to be cheaper. So, if you are looking for a homey feel, without hotel rates, and want to be comfortable in your space, then this may be a great option for you. You may just have to watch out, though, as not a lot of places allow houses within certain strata to rent out, so it may be a legality issue – but we say live wild and take a chance. It’s been a case of so far, so good with me!
Cruises
I think this is somewhat self-explanatory. When you go for a cruise, your lodging is taken care of. All you have to think about is what type of cruise you want to be on, which destination and just go for it. If time is not a big issue for you, then you can try your luck searching at the last minute to get an insane deal on cruises, and if you’re lucky, you can get a steal deal. If you’re a repeat cruise traveler, you’ll end up getting cruise deals for free! Yes, this does happen, so your cruising could actually reward you at a later stage!
Camping
If you are heading for warmer climes this winter, you may be up against the vast hordes of people looking to do the same. If your pockets are a little lighter, but you still want to enjoy yourself, camping may not be a bad option. This way you can travel around, meet interesting people at the campsite, and actually get to see the places in a different light. The only downside is that some campsites cost as much as certain hotels or motels. You should do your research before traveling to check which one works better for you.
If you love adventure, are always on the move, or have found an awesome campsite right on the beach where you wanted to spend your entire holiday, then camping could be your thing. You can often get views like no other form of accommodation can offer. With many campsites being in remote locations, they offer unparalleled views of the night sky and the wilderness all around. Just a quick check up on showers and laundry may not be a bad idea though!
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