Tips on choosing accommodation

Budget: This is the number one criteria most people will look at before booking. Knowing how much you want to spend on accommodation alone will determine a big part of your search. If you have a budget of $200 a night, it will automatically eliminate anything over that mark. Purpose: Second criteria you need to look at is, ?What is the purpose of trip You may say it is something as general as a vacation or a business trip, but it is good to actually specify what you want. You may be traveling for a business trip yes, but you also may want to relax, or explore the country you are going to. You may want a vacation, but do you want try something adventurous, or you just want a spa? Deciding on these things will help you plan where to stay, and this could probably save you time and money too since you can choose the right accommodation that can cater to all your needs. Time Frame: The length of your stay at a certain place may influence the type of accommodation you want to look for .A long trip will cost more if you stay in a hotel rather than a hostel, but a short trip and a slightly more expensive hotel near the area where you want can save you transportation costs as well. The time you will spend at the hotel can also affect your decision. If you are going to be out all day and only sleep there, you may not need all the other luxuries as you won?t have time to use it.3 Options : Now that you have your criteria for your accommodation, you have plenty of options regarding accommodation. Besides hotels, there are other types of accommodation that you may want to try to fit your needs. Look at your budget, the duration of your stay, and your objectives. Then look at the options that are available to you. The various options are: Hotels ? Hotels are the most common accommodation that you will find. They are usually well advertised and are located in decent areas of interest at a certain tourist location or city. Most of them can be a little more expensive than most, but they pay that back with additional services. This is perfect for the business trip, or that indulgent vacation you've been planning. Most Hotels have their own websites already if you want to book online. Tip : Booking online is most of the time cheaper than booking by phone or on location. Hostels ? Hostels are usually low budget accommodation. They have fewer services than a hotel, and sometimes a bit further away from important tourist sites. However, hostels have a culture unto their own as the less expensive rates invite a younger and more diverse crowd. There are in fact Youth Hostels that have age limits on people who want to stay. Hostels are perfect for the backpacker adventurer on a budget. It is also a nice option for those who want to stretch their budget and explore more. Some hostels do have a website where you can book a room. Make sure to look up some pictures and reviews of hostels if you never stayed at one before, as it won?t suite everyone. Rental Apartments/Villas ? These are places, like an apartment, house or villa which you can rent for a long time for your vacation or business trip. This is a good option for those who want more privacy and have self catering abilities. Usually the rates on these apartments can save you money from hotels especially of you are staying for a significant amount of time. Some hotel services though may be lacking depending on the apartment being rented, but most offer standard even luxurious amenities. Apartments are perfect for a couple or group of people who want their privacy, or a whole family that is staying for a long trip in a foreign country. Bed and Breakfasts/Inns - Bed and breakfasts are similar to hotels, but at a smaller scale. More likely they are found across the country side of a country. They offer accommodation for a night and some breakfast (hence the term). But nowadays some ?B&B's? operate almost at the level of a small hotel. B&B's are good for that quick overnight stay at a location. Most are cheaper than a full fledged hotel but offer some of the services that the hotels have.. Not all bed and breakfasts are listed online. Try searching for forums if there are ?B&B's? in the place you are going to. Camping Areas - By far the cheapest accommodation you can pay for is a camp site. Of course you need your own tent and other camping equipment. Once you have it, you can search for listings of campsites that you can use in your target country. Most officially camping areas provide bathroom services to those who stay. Camping areas are of course for those who have a fair experience in backpacking and the outdoors. Research ? Use the tools available to your exposal. There are many websites on the internet that will advertise specials for accommodation available. You can get higher star rating at a lower price just by comparing sites and doing some research. Another way to choose a good hotel is by going on word of mouth. What do your friends think about various hotels in the region? Has anyone you know had a particularly good (or bad) experience of hotels around about the one you are looking for? These can be good ways to ensure you get good value for money out of your hotel, and it can also be a great way to ensure you don't get disappointed. Additionally, the recommendations of people you know aren't tainted with commercial interest, and if someone tells you they had a good experience, they're more likely telling the truth than if you hear it from the hotelier himself. Review. Look if the accommodation you chose matches or at least covers most of the things you want. Read reviews from other people who stayed there and look at the pictures available. If you are happy go ahead and make a booking.