How to Choose Accommodation That Does Not Ruin the Trip
Accommodation decides how a trip feels far more than its star rating suggests. A plain room ten minutes from everything beats a beautiful one that requires two buses, every single time.
7 min read
Judge location by walking time, not distance
Two kilometres is nothing on a flat street and a lot uphill in Lisbon at 30 C with a suitcase. Before booking, drop the address into a map and check the walking route to the station and to the district where you will eat.
The useful test is whether you would happily walk back at 22:30 after dinner. If the answer is no, you will take taxis and the cheap room was not cheap.
Read reviews for patterns, not scores
An 8.6 with three separate mentions of street noise means street noise. A 9.4 based on eleven reviews means very little. Sort by most recent and read the two and three star reviews, which are usually the most factual.
Ignore complaints about things that do not apply to you, and weight anything mentioned more than twice: noise, smell, hot water, stairs, and the difference between photos and reality.
- Worth paying more for: quiet room away from the street, air conditioning in summer, a lift above the second floor, breakfast when mornings are early
- Rarely worth it: hotel spas you will not use, rooftop bars, a view you see for ten minutes a day
Apartments versus hotels
Apartments win for stays of four nights or more, for families, and for anyone who wants to shop at a market. A washing machine on a two week trip is worth more than a concierge.
Hotels win for short stays, early flights and any city where you want daily housekeeping and someone to hold luggage. They are also more reliable: apartment check-in is where things go wrong.
Things to confirm before paying
Check-in time and how late arrival works. Whether there is a lift. Whether the price includes local tourist tax, which is usually charged separately and in cash in Italy. Cancellation deadline.
For apartments, ask how keys are handed over. A self check-in code is easier than meeting someone who may or may not be on time.
When to book
For spring and autumn in popular European cities, two to four months ahead gives good choice at fair prices. For August coastal stays and festival dates, five to six months.
Book refundable rates early and re-check prices once about a month out. Rates do sometimes drop, and rebooking takes five minutes.
