Finding nice accommodation is a skill, but finding “the perfect accommodation” is a craft that takes a little more flexibility.
No one really ever tells you what you should know about searching for it. It’s just one of those skills that are considered “common knowledge.” A task so easy, it doesn’t bear wasting time on. Yet, depending on the result of your search, your accommodation can ultimately make or break your trip. And what most people don’t know, is that the perfect accommodation consists of more than just a high-end room with a fancy breakfast. It’s a fluctuating fancy that needs to suit your current budget, style, location preferences, and the timeframe you’re working with.
And in order to do all that, it’s going to require a bit more of your time and energy to create that perfect fit.
Therefore, this environment of the perfect accommodation remains (for many people) this massive unknown in their traveling experience.
- They don’t know where to search for it
- They don’t know how to save on it
- And they don’t know what is to their advantage once they have it
And that’s a problem.
Where To Search For The Perfect Accommodation
Thanks to search engines, finding accommodation has become super accessible for the eager traveler.
However, because there is so much content out there now to sort through, the task to find the perfect accommodation can often times feel quite overwhelming. But it shouldn’t.
Finding the perfect accommodation is going to look different for everyone, but it should feel the same. Accomplishing, yet satisfying. To get there, you first need to know where to look (I’ll provide more details on that, including my favorite resources for accommodation searching in a future article). Once you have enough resources on where to go to find the perfect accommodation, you should then learn the ins and outs of each one to help save time when it comes to your search. After conquering these two steps, you’ll have set up the ideal foundation for finding the perfect place.
So even though the internet has oversaturated you with information, if you learn those 2 key points of where to look and how to best use those resources, finding your perfect accommodation is going to be much easier (and a lot more painless). I can’t tell you how many hours I’ve wasted scrolling through hotel booking websites to find something that fit all my requirements in my definition of a perfect accommodation. When, in reality, I could’ve save a lot more time (and headaches) had I known what I know now.
Find you a few good booking websites you know and trust, learn the ins and outs of those few chosen sites, and you’ll no longer have to stress over finding your perfect accommodation.
How To Save On It
Finding accommodation is one thing, saving on that accommodation is another.
Some sites like Booking.com or Expedia.com have their pages set up in a way that it appears as if you are already getting the lowest price on the market for the locations you’re looking into. Truth is, you’re not.
What most people don’t know, is that sites like Booking.com charge a fee for hotels and hostels alike to use their services. Which in turn, increases the fees that you, the customer, are charged. I, personally, like to use booking sites merely a resource for finding accommodation, not for actually booking it. Instead, once I’ve found a place I’d like to stay, I personally reach out to that location and book directly through them. By omitting the middle man and going directly to the original source of accommodation, you completely bypass the extra service fees those booking websites charge (and can oft times find better deals by doing so).
Reserving accommodation outside of booking websites requires you to take an additional step by contacting your place of interest, but it can also save you money by doing so. With the last accommodation I booked, for example, I was able to save a total of 70 euros by booking directly through the hotel. So if your perfect accommodation also needs to fit perfectly into your budget, this is a super hack to keep in your back pocket.
The perfect accommodation is always better when it’s discounted 😉
(You’ll get more tips on how to best use those resources to your benefit in that same future article I mentioned above.)
What To Do With It Once You Have It
Once you’ve figured out where to look and how to save, you need to remember that in booking your accommodation, you aren’t just paying for a place to stay, you’re paying for a service.
While that service will vary depending on the type of accommodation you have booked (hotel, hostel, AirBnb, etc.), the general attitude behind the service is the same: offer a fantastic guest experience so hopefully you’ll return in the future. Within this guest experience, there are free perks.
The key is knowing what to ask for. Like upgrades, for example. If you book directly through your chosen accommodation and that accommodation happens to be a hotel, you can ask for a free upgraded room, especially if it’s a special occasion. Maybe they say no, but you’d be surprised what perks you might end up with. A perfect addition for your perfect accommodation experience.
Paid services sometimes come with free perks. I was gifted a signed book from a nice hotel in Budapest, Hungary on my 26th birthday. I’ll always remember that birthday.
The perfect accommodation can always be a little better, if you just ask.
For more great tips like this one, check out my other articles on packing and budgeting!
