Accommodation (or where to stay) can be the most challenging aspect of planning a trip. Here is a list of six options on where to rest your head after a long day of sightseeing.
When you’re planning your travels, transport and accommodation are the two main things you need to arrange. How are you going to get there, and where are you going to sleep?
Choosing accommodation might appear to be simple, but then you realize that there are more options than you first thought. So what’s available, will you be able to still stick to your fitness routine, and which is best for you and your travel partners?
This post lists 6 six accommodation options when traveling so you can decide which is the perfect fit for you.
Option #1: Hostels
For anyone traveling on a budget, hostels provide a great option. Like the one pictured above in Lisbon, The Traveller’s House. However, you won’t find hostels available everywhere.
They’re easy to book across Europe, in parts of Asia and in Australia, but you could struggle in the United States, where they’re not so popular.
Hostels usually have shared dorm rooms, as well as private rooms. They often have a kitchen too, allowing you to save more money by cooking for yourself.
Option #2: Hotels
Hotels are the option that people tend to be most familiar with. They come at a range of price points, from budget to five-star.
If you don’t think a hostel is for you, you could still find an affordable hotel using a comparison site.
Hotels can be basic, or they have lots of facilities, from bars and restaurants to gyms and swimming pools.
Accommodation Option #3: B&Bs and Guesthouses
Somewhere in between a hostel and a hotel, staying in a bed-and-breakfast or guest house usually means that you’re sharing someone’s home.
However, they’re running their home as accommodation for travelers, so it’s a business too.
As a B&B suggests, you usually get breakfast included in your stay. These types of accommodation can provide a more homely feel if you’re looking for something more intimate.
Option #4: Aparthotels and Serviced Apartments
If you’re looking for something more private but still with some of the benefits of a hotel, a serviced apartment or an aparthotel could work for you. You can find these options on Airbnb and Booking.com.
These are often groups of apartments that might have some of the same facilities as a hotel, such as a restaurant or business center. And it will be taken care of like a hotel room, so you don’t have to worry about cleaning.
Accommodation Option # 5: Self-Catered Property
Some people prefer to have much more control over their accommodation. If you’re traveling as a group, it can often make more sense to rent an apartment or house.
You’ll usually save money compared to a hotel, and you’ll get the run of the property. That usually means a full kitchen and maybe even some perks like a private swimming pool. However, you will usually be expected to clean up after yourselves.
Option # 6: Alternative Accommodation
You can find all kinds of quirky and unusual accommodation if you want something a bit different. Camping isn’t particularly weird, but it does offer an alternative to sleeping in a real bed.
In some places, you can also discover things like farm stays, beds in monasteries and churches, and even accommodations like treehouses and tiny cabins. Or you can opt to use Couchsurfing.com and stay for free with a local.
You don’t have to go for the normal options if you find them a bit boring, there are always ways to find a different type of place to stay. You have lots of different types of accommodation to choose from when you travel. Find one that suits your budget and your needs.
What a great article!. I am bookmarking it to read it over again after work. It seems like a very interesting topic to write about. Your posts is really helpful for me.Thanks for your wonderful post. I am very happy to read your post. It is really very helpful for us and I have gathered some important information from this blog.
You are very welcome, I am glad I could help!
I think this is the cleanest, most easy to read post I’ve came across that breaks down the types of accommodations out there so easily!
Thanks Trang, much appreciated!