I like to think I’m pretty good at planning trips. Spreadsheets, Google maps, itineraries, PowerPoints–you name it, I’m all over it. I mean, I successfully coordinated 14 people into a foreign country and we only lost one. So…that’s a pretty good success rate.
People tend to marvel with gaping maws at my ability to choose awesome yet affordable places to stay, so here are some tips I’ve learned over my travels:
Set your priorities
Think about what is most important to you when looking for accommodations. For me, safety is usually pretty high, especially when going abroad or somewhere you just don’t know. After that, its cleanliness and private bathrooms.
If you don’t have a car, location may be important to you–is it within walking distance to The Thing You Wanted to See? That will likely make it more expensive (if other people also want to go see That Thing). How’s the public transit in your destination city–maybe it will suffice to find a hotel that’s within walking distance to a bus or metro stop.
You do have car? Then be sure to check out the parking situation: will there be enough spots for your car? Do you have to pay to park? Is that cost included in the room?
How much time will you actually be spending in the hotel room? If you’re going to be out all day and partying into the wee hours of the night only to crash blindly into your room at 5am tumbling into bed with your club clothes on and getting up to catch your flight at 8am without even opening your eyes, you might be willing to save on a less posh hotel. However, if you think you’ll be spending a lot of time in your room between events, spend the money to make it a pleasant place to come back to.
Are you trying to save money by cooking some of your meals? (Hint: the answer is yes. You should.) Better make sure there’s a kitchen and a fridge available to you.
Spread the cost
The more people you can fit into one room, the cheaper it is per person. Make sure you’re all comfortable with the sleeping arrangements though…
Look at costs per person per night
There can be quite a bit of sticker shock when you look at the total price for four people over five nights. Break it down into more manageable amounts so your brain can handle it.
Look outside the box hotels
Sure, chains are safe but they’re pretty boring. Look for a quaint bed-and-breakfast owned by a charming couple, or a well-reviewed hostel (we’ve found some hostels that really are no different than hotels), or stay on a farm or in a castle if you can find one. You’d be surprised what’s out there and what’s affordable. (Need I mention our adorable bed-and-breakfast in a country chateau again? No. No I do not. But it’s too late now.)
Buy in bulk
Staying for a week in one place? Renting houses and apartments by the week is such a great trend. Just make sure it’s from a person or leasing company you can trust, and keep all of your paperwork and contact info in case anything should go balls-up. Also keep in mind that there may be additional taxes and fees for renters, including a safety deposit which may or may not be refundable and even travel insurance to cover damages. Be confident that you know what all the fees and commitments are before signing.
Reviews are king!
If you found your accommodation candidate online, there will be a review online. Check the most popular ones, like www.tripadvisor.com, www.hotels.com, or www.hostelworld.com (not just for hostels). Don’t go into overkill, though, pick one (I’d start with Trip Advisor or Hotels.com) and stick with it. Use secondary sources if there aren’t many reviews or if you’re not convinced one way or the other. And remember to take reviews with a grain of salt–usually those travelers who are motivated to give a review either had a terrible or a stellar experience (like that one time in Costa Rica when we stayed in a hotel run by Nazis and I couldn’t wait to get home and write a bad review of it. And then the owners sent me a nasty message and then I totally PWN’D THEM WITH MY BRILLIANCE!!1!). People who were just plain satisfied are less likely to voice their opinion. Reviews from official travel guides can be useful too, but just remember that they are getting paid to stay somewhere and write about it. Those effing bastards.
And with these tips, you too could stay in a fabulous six-story townhouse in Paris, just around the corner from a great Metro line, for just about $360 for eight nights. HOW ABOUT THAT.
Posh living room
Swank rooftop terrace
Well-appointed kitchen during dinner prep
If you’re really going to Paris, here’s the site where I found our townhouse: Paris-Be a Part of It! Which I found through Craigslist, of all places.
*A funny side effect of spreading the cost: you might find yourself in a crowded public area and realize that ALL of that crowd are your travel partners. Like stepping off the Metro, looking down the line to see that everyone who got off the next three cars are your friends. Or that everyone standing in front of Notre Dame are your friends. Or that everyone watching and competing in the final stage of the Tour de France are, in fact, your friends. Or walking down the street to your apartment, you might run into another group of your friends going to the grocery. It makes you feel like you’re really living in the city for awhile.
Umm…I know ALL of those people. Not just the ones in front. Every person in this photo. Even way in the blurry back.
Oh I’m nostalgic now!! I love your writing.
By the way, who did we lose?!
Thanks buddy. We lost good ol’ Albert, remember? No, we actually didn’t lose anyone, but not for lack of trying!