Places to Stay

Finding places to stay in Europe can be fun. There are so many different choices available, from American chains(why go to Europe to stay in a place you could stay in at home)to truly unique lodging (cave hotels in Spain or an ice hotel in Sweden.)

Location! Location! Location!

When choosing the neighborhood you want to stay in consider:

• Generally, the further outside a large city you are willing to stay the more money you can save.
• Find out what kind of public transportation is available and how easy and economical it is to use.
• Do you want to be in a quiet neighborhood or a lively part of town?
• Do you want to be within walking distance of major tourist attractions?

What Type of Accomodation is Right for You?

• Your budget
• How much on average do you want to spend for a night's lodging?
• Would you rather spend less on places to stay and more on eating at nice restaurants?
• Are you willing to be further outside the city to save money or do you want to be where the action is?

• How many people are you traveling with
• Are there children or teenagers in your group?
• Will you need to rent more than one hotel room for your group?
• How much privacy/space do you need?
• What kind of amenities are important to you?
• Do you frequently use the amenities of a large hotel?
• Is wireless internet access a necessity?

1. If money is your most important consideration in selecting accomodations, then perhaps a hostel or an affordable European chain hotel is the best choice for you.
2. If lots of space is a major factor for you, then think about doing a vacation home swap or vacation rentals.
3. If you're up for something really different, try some type of unusual hotel.
4. If you want to get to know the locals and/or socialize with other travelers, pick a bed and breakfast hotel or rent a room in a private home.
5. If you prefer small and charming, look for a boutique hotel that interests you.
6. If this is a "trip of a lifetime" and only the best will do, then search for that special luxury accomodation.

Booking in Advance

Maybe

But consider this:

• What time of year are you traveling?
Everyone in Europe goes on vacation in August so if you are traveling then you will probably want to book most or all of your lodging in advance.
• Are you going to a popular destination at the height of the season?
Again, you should book in advance.
• Did you have a set itinerary or are you going to figure it out as you go.
If you want to be able to take advantage of great places you hear about from locals or other travelers, you'll want to wait.

At the end of a trip, I like to know I will be able to get to the airport on time. If I have an early morning flight, I will sometimes just spend the night near the airport. Not the most interesting accomodations but practical when you have to leave at 6:00 AM or even earlier.

I often travel with my itinerary only partly figured out. Sometimes I'm not sure whether I'll want to spend more time in Dubrovnik or on an island off the coast of Croatia.

You don't always know which destinations you will enjoy the most. If you have prebooked every night you have little freedom to change your plans.