Finding accommodations in the Stone Age
The Internet has made booking travel a breeze, especially when it comes to booking hotels or apartments.
I remember the days of phoning “pensioni” (B&B’s) in Italy (at a rate of about $1 a minute!) to try to secure reservations.
Even though my Italian was rudimentary, I could make myself understood. But what if they asked me a question back? It was stressful and scary, because even after I made the reservations, my fingers were crossed there would actually be a room waiting for me when I finally arrived!
The other option, which I used many times, was to have my first and last night’s reservations booked in advance, and then I would just wing everything in between.
There used to be hotel reservation kiosks in every major train station in Italy that would literally call hotels until they found you something that fit your criteria.
Another option was to drop in on places with a sign in the window that read “Rooms-Camere-Zimmer.”
We’ve Come a Long Way, Baby!
Now, I can leisurely sit back and surf my two favorite sites for accommodations: Booking.com and Airbnb.com (or Vrbo.com).
What’s the difference? Airbnb and Vrbo primarily rent whole apartments and homes. They also rent rooms in private homes. Sometimes you’ll find boutique properties such as high-end “glamping” sites or even houseboats. Booking.com focuses on hotels and B&Bs.
With both sites, the interface allows you to easily enter your dates, preferred neighborhood(s) within that city, and check off other criteria important to you such as WiFi, AC, parking, etc.
If my stay is three nights or less, I tend to use Booking.com. Why? Because very often Airbnb’s housekeeping fees are high and not worth it for just a three-night stay. And I may not always need access to a kitchen.
Plus if I do, Booking.com also carries full-service apartments in addition to hotels and B&Bs.
If I’m staying more than three nights, I do like to rent apartments. It’s great to have a refrigerator for cold beverages and light breakfast items like yogurt and fruit.
If you’re concerned about safety in a city you’re not familiar with, I always Google “best neighborhoods for solo female travelers in XXX” or “safe neighborhoods for tourists in XXX” before I look for a property.
I also look at a map of the city to see where the major sites are as well as the major transportation centers.
8 Helpful Tips for Booking Accommodations
- If you’re traveling in warmer weather months in Europe, always rent an apartment with air conditioning. Even if it’s not that hot, most European rentals do not have screens on the windows and if you’re anything like me, you will be eaten alive by mosquitoes!
- Always take the time to read the reviews, particularly the bad ones. You can generally tell if someone’s just nitpicky (or a complainer) vs. there’s a real problem with the property. On Airbnb.com you can read up on the host, see if they own any other properties, and see if they’re “verified” - a good sign that the property is real! This is particularly important if the unit is new to the site as there will not be any reviews yet.
- Don’t take certain amenities for granted! Make sure the bathroom is actually in your unit and not in the hallway! Make sure the unit includes bedding and towels - it’s rare, but some don’t. Same goes for toiletries, like soap and shampoo.
- Don’t assume all properties are going to have an elevator. One of the best features in Booking.com is being able to search the reviews by keyword. I have some mobility issues so I always search three times using these terms, individually: lift, elevator, stairs.
- If I am unsure about anything, I simply send a message to the owner through the site. You can do this with any of the major booking sites.
- I always book a 100% refundable unit with the option to cancel just prior to arrival. Be careful with this on Airbnb because they sometimes take an administrative fee even if you can cancel the booking.
- If there’s ever an issue with anything in your rental, always contact the property owner/manager through the booking site so there is a record of it. Very often the owner will give you a WhatsApp number (or their cell phone) for you to text them but always make sure you record it in the booking site itself, as well. If they don’t respond within a reasonable amount of time, contact the booking site directly.
- Another advantage to Booking.com: the more you use the site, the deeper discounts you are entitled to. I’m now a genius level and save anywhere between 10 to 20% on an average stay.
Give back!
Where would we be without our fellow travelers’ reviews? After your stay, be a mensch and please write a review!
Make sure you include those little tidbits that could make a big difference in the next person‘s stay.
Happy trails to you!
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