My advice for booking quality accommodation
Today, in the tourism market, accommodations are very numerous. They exist in different forms: the hotels we all know, AirBnbs, homestays, etc. Finding the perfect fit, or rather the perfect pillow for your ear, is not necessarily easy. It can prove tedious, especially when we have very specific expectations!
I will give you some advice to choose your accommodation wisely - without forgetting that the best way would be to contact me ;) :
What are your expectations?
They are very important and not to be overlooked! What level of comfort do you want during your stay? 2, 3, 4* or a homestay? What amenities do you need? Are you a massive fan of hotel breakfasts? Go for a pure hotel experience. If, on the other hand, you want to feel at home with a kitchen/kitchenette, perhaps an AirBnb accommodation will suit you better. It all depends on you and your desires! Leave nothing to chance and ask yourself all the questions.
What is your budget?
Take stock of the amount you are willing to spend per night. On accommodation booking platforms, you can filter by applying the corresponding price range. Also, research the cost of living on-site, which will give you an idea of the average price to enjoy decent comfort.
Location is super important
In the same way that you bought or rented your house or apartment, location is super important. For example, if you plan to discover the beautiful city of Vienna in Austria, or any other European capital, it is best to make sure that the accommodation is located near the city center (to enjoy all activities/entertainment on foot). If it is difficult to find one right in the heart of the city due to budget constraints, make sure to check that a metro/bus/tram station is nearby to make your travel easier and your stay enjoyable. If you have to spend 45 minutes on public transport just to find a place to eat, that is clearly not ideal.
Check customer reviews
This is THE criterion to take into account before validating anything! You will notice on platforms like Booking.com or Hotels.com, the customer ratings for each accommodation you browse. There is often an average rating and then a breakdown by category (welcome, cleanliness, location...). It is important that these ratings match your expectations. Generally, if a rating is out of 5, I never select accommodations below 4/5 because, in my opinion, that is the minimum required to avoid disappointment. Same here, you can filter your searches based on quality and these shared ratings.
Take a look on social media
There you go, you have selected 1 or 2 favorite accommodations. Now, you want to take action and book. I advise you to also check the rating of the accommodation on Google (if it matches the rating you saw on the booking platform). Read the comments and especially rely on recent reviews. You can complement this by checking if your accommodation has an Instagram account and if they post regularly, creating a desire to stay there. If so, it means this accommodation takes its external communication and, logically, customer experience to heart.
To finish on a high note, take the plunge and call the hotel
Ask them for practical info. This will give you a first impression of their hospitality. Take the opportunity to mention the price you found on that famous platform and create some competition. You never know, you might save a few euros, and generally, hotels prefer direct bookings.
If, however, you are afraid of having to speak English on the phone because you are not comfortable with Shakespeare's language, don't call the hotel but call me!
