If you have an international trip that you want to plan, there are a number of factors you need to consider like, making sure you have your passport, booking flights, getting time off work, and of course, deciding where to stay. With the rise of Airbnb and the abundance of online travel agent sites, there’s no short supply of possible hotels and residences where you can stay when you travel abroad. But how do you make the right choice? Here are tips for booking the right hotel for you when traveling overseas.
Factor in proximity
If you’re planning a trip to a famous city, like Athens, Greece, or Barcelona, Spain, you likely want to make sure that you choose a hotel where you can easily get to the major part of the city. You may be able to find a cheaper hotel that’s a significant distance away from the city, but if you know that transportation is going to be an issue (if taxis are scarce or transportation is known to be expensive), then it’s probably a good idea to spend the extra money to stay closer to the city. In some cases, hotels that are more centrally located are not as nice (since they’re paying for real estate, not luxury), but if you’re planning on spending most of your time out of the hotel, it won’t really matter anyways. Being able to walk to your planned activities is a luxury, and it will save some headache to know you don’t have to worry about additional transportation once your plane lands and you arrive at your hotel.
Double check the details
Especially in older part of the world, do not trust that hotel owners maintain their websites frequently. The last thing you want is to book a hotel room for your trip, and then arrive at that hotel to find that it no longer exists. Do your due diligence to research your potential hotel choices. Use travel review sites to find recent reviews from past customers to help you make the most informed decision. Also, do an address lookup online to make sure that you can verify it across Google Maps and other online authenticators. This is a small step that can save you a big hassle down the road.
Hotel vs. Airbnb
If you’re trying to decide between staying in a hotel or staying in an Airbnb, there are a few options to consider. First things first, some travel destinations may not offer Airbnb, so that rules it out pretty quickly. Secondly, consider the general safety of your travel destination. If crime is high, then a secure hotel is probably the way to go. If safety is not as issue, and you want a truly personal experience – maybe if you’re traveling somewhere remote or on an environmentally-driven trip away from major cities – then an Airbnb may provide a truly unique and personalized option.
In many cases, your Airbnb can provide a memorable experience in-and-of itself! If you want a true taste of local flavor, décor, and home-living, Airbnb is definitely the way to go.