Accommodations

What I look for

I don’t set a hard budget. I look for places that meet our needs at the lowest price. I’m happy if it’s less than $150 per night, but I’ll go higher if needed.

Here’s what I look for. We prefer smaller, locally-owned places to giant resorts and faceless chain hotels. We find them personable and genuinely welcoming, and they often have more local flavor.

How to find the perfect place

Here’s how I find a place to stay:

1. I start with any guidebook recommendations that meet our needs. I don’t think I’ve ever been disappointed with one. They’re often full, though, because lots of people use the same guidebook.
2. My next stop is Booking.com because they have the best filters. It’s great for comparison shopping. (For our trip to Asia I used Agoda, which is related to Booking.com.) 
3. If I don’t find a place there I’ll try Airbnb, then Vrbo. I’ve found them a good source in places where more traditional lodgings are either scarce, expensive, or both. 
4. If I strike out with all of those I’ll dig into Google maps or websites of local tourist organizations or tourist sights, which sometimes list lodging options. The Blue Ridge Parkway, for example, is tricky because it weaves through out-of-the-way towns and villages.

When to book

I book lodgings as soon as I can.

• It saves time while we’re there
• It saves stress about where we’re going to sleep
• The best places fill up fast. For example, many US national parks open reservations a year in advance and may sell out in hours (or even minutes). In places with repeat visitors, people may book the following year when they leave.

How to book

Regardless of how I find a place, I book direct unless I’m using a credit or otherwise find a great deal. When I compare the final price from Booking.com with booking direct, booking direct is often the least expensive. It’s also best for the host, since they avoid third-party fees. It can be mildly inconvenient to track down details if you need to change something or cancel but I’ve generally found hosts very, well, accommodating. For some places booking direct might be the only option.

Tips

• Shop around, because I’ve seen the same room listed on different sites for different rates and with different rules.
• Watch out for fees not included in the nightly rate when comparing prices. Some hotels charge resort fees. Many vacation rentals charge a cleaning fee and/or a service fee. Sometimes there’s an extra (hefty) charge for hotel parking. 
• Then again, some places include extras such as breakfast or a free lift to the local train station or port. A free breakfast can save time and money. (Eat enough and you can skip lunch!)
• Don’t rule out hostels because you don’t want to sleep in a dorm. Many have private or family rooms with baths that are just as comfortable as a more traditional hotel room, though less expensive and with more spartan decor. They also tend to have shared kitchens and social opportunities, if you want to meet other travelers.
• Don’t forget perks you might have. For example our Delta Airlines credit card offers an annual Delta Stays credit if you book through them. (I once booked a room on New Year’s Eve because I hadn’t used the credit yet!)