Trip Planning and Accommodation Booking
Traveling should be enjoyable. Fortunately, experienced travelers have accumulated excellent recommendations over the years that can help you avoid unpleasant situations.
Get the best hotel room. Travelers have many ways to secure the best hotel room at the lowest price. For example, booking 24–48 hours in advance can save you money, as the establishment will be confident that the room will not go unused, since canceling the booking within a day is no longer possible. If you are registered on websites that alert you to price drops, you will receive instant notifications when the room price decreases.
Sometimes the price for a longer stay can be lower than for a shorter one. Before confirming your booking, compare prices for a week and a month of stay. Don't hesitate to ask the host more about the conditions and costs. This approach will not only help you save money but also learn more about the host. Ask all the questions you have: does he provide Wi-Fi and a hairdryer, and can he recommend the best cafes and bars?
Make friends and save on accommodation. If you are a young solo traveler, staying in a hotel may seem boring.
Meet fellow travelers and stay in youth hostels. Of course, the quality of rooms or amenities may differ from a five-star hotel, but many hostels have common areas for socializing and host small events where you can make new friends. Usually, hostel accommodation is not available for travelers over 50, but you can make connections on websites or apps.
House-sit in exchange for free accommodation. If your trip is not tied to specific dates and you are not very demanding about living conditions, you can stay in a house that needs looking after or where there are pets that require care.
There are several websites where people offer to let you stay for free while they are on vacation or away. Most of these homes are located in the suburbs, but if you have a car or don’t mind taking public transport, this is a great way to save on accommodation.
For those who are fine with their own company while also valuing social interaction and wanting to see the city through the eyes of a local, there’s nothing better than staying in the same house with a hospitable host. Be sure to read reviews from previous guests before confirming your booking. And carefully look through the photos of the house to know what to expect. For instance, if you are booking accommodation on Airbnb and want to ensure the authenticity of the photos, check for the Airbnb symbol in the upper right corner of the image. The phrase "Verified Photo" means that the photos were taken by a professional photographer for the company.
Compare travel dates and public holidays. Different countries have their own religious and public holidays that can affect your trip. In some cases, hotel accommodation prices may be higher than on regular days. Holidays can also affect the operating hours of popular tourist spots and even the sale of alcohol. However, they can make your trip more interesting, as festivals, celebrations, and concerts are held in honor of the holidays.
Read blogs, reviews, and comments from other travelers. What Google suggests in the top search results is not always the best.
Companies and travel agencies pay large sums for advertising, so the most truthful information comes from the reviews and stories of travelers themselves. By the way, bloggers with a smaller number of followers often provide more accurate and reliable information, as the likelihood that they were paid for advertising is very low. You can also use social media to find attractions and hidden spots. Searching through Instagram by a specific location or hashtag will show you beautiful places and great restaurants that you might not find on popular travel websites.