Your holiday accommodation is one of the most important decisions you’ll make when planning a holiday. Beyond the location and the price, factors like the local amenities, flexibility, suitability and reliability of the booking platform are all important too, and affect how comfortable and stress-free the trip will be.
Your accommodation choices can influence your routine when away, your transport options, budgeting and even the pace of your holiday. You have a lot to choose from, like serviced apartments, boutique stays and large resorts, with something for every budget and every travel plan.
Location And Accessibility
Choose your accommodation so it’s close to the things you’re planning to do. Having a shorter travel time will save energy, and give you more time for activities like outdoor walks, local markets or museum visits.
Confirm physical access before you book, especially if you have accessibility issues. Look for wheelchair access, step-free entrances and accessible bathroom layouts.
If you need Wifi for work or planning whilst you’re away, verify you’ll get free Wifi, and check the speed and reliability before you book.
If fitness matters, check if there’s a fitness center or a swimming pool on site, and if it needs advance booking.
Consider your meal options when choosing your accommodation. You could choose to go self-catered, bed and breakfast or even all inclusive, if you don’t want to be thinking about what and where you eat.
Setting A Realistic Budget
Make a list of the major expenses, like your transportation, accommodation, food, activities and transfers. Accommodation is usually the most expensive outlay, so you need to decide how much of your travel budget you’ll allow for your accommodation.
Consider 30 to 50% of your trip budget to accommodation depending on your trip length and the destination. If you plan to stay longer, go for lower nightly rates (like hostels, homestays or camping), for short stays in city centers, hotels or resorts might justify the higher cost.
Factor in the hidden and one-off fees into your travel budget. Look at cleaning fees, service charges, resort fees, security deposits and taxes when booking vacation rentals or an Airbnb.
Checking Cancellation And Refund Policies
Before you hit the book button, make sure you check the cancellation and refund policies. While non-refundable rates look tempting due to their lower price point, but they don’t give you any flexibility if an emergency comes up.
You can look for accommodations that offer a “free cancellation” window, typically 24 to 48 hours before check-in. Check the fine print on partial refunds or credit notes, so there aren’t bad surprises.
Look For Unbiased Reviews
The official property photos are designed to show the accommodation in the best way, but they won’t tell you the full story.
You need to check out some unbiased reviews from previous guests, so you know what it’s honestly like, and whether it’s worth your time and money.
Start by checking third-party platform like TripAdvisor or Google, as they’re more likely to provide an honest look at the experience, rather than the curated testimonials found on a property’s own website.
When you’re browsing, look for any potential patterns, rather than isolated complaints. If you see multiple guest mentioning a noisy environment or poor cleanliness, it could be a recurring issue.
Look at the recent reviews, to make sure the feedback is reflecting the current state of the accommodation. Also, look for some guest-uploaded photos, giving you a warts and all view of the rooms and the facilities, so you avoid any unpleasant surprises when you arrive.
Hi, my name is Gemma, and I’m the owner of MakeupMuddle.com. I’m a true beauty obsessive, and love writing about anything to do with beauty – I have been a beauty writer since 2012.