Holiday Accommodation Guide: Avoid the costly mistakes

Holiday accommodation can make or break a trip. A bit of planning and being picky goes a long way for a memorable holiday trip.

With a few smart steps and a checklist, you can avoid unnecessary surprises and possibly a ruined trip. In return you will get quicker check-ins, be in the heart of the tourist zone, shorter walks back to the hotel, a secure, comfortable and pleasant base to start and end each day.

Hotels, motels or something else?

For this guide, the focus is on hotels and motels rather than Airbnb-style stays.

Airbnbs are great value for extended stays over a week or more or accommodating large groups requiring more bedrooms in a large apartment or villa. Airbnb however carry their own distinct challenges from hotels and motels.

Traditional hotels have hard‑to‑beat perks like 24‑hour reception, daily housekeeping, on‑call maintenance, and room service when you roll in late and hungry.

They are also bound by local and industry regulations, fire and security safety standards and star‑rating criteria, which means you have a clearer idea of what to expect before you arrive. The same set of benchmarks all over the World.

Location is everything

Location is first and foremost non‑negotiable. Being in the heart of the action, close to key sights and a metro or transport hub, will shape how easy and enjoyable your days feel. Remember you want to soak in the atmosphere and vibe the moment you step out of the hotel.

A centrally located hotel lets you pop back for a shower, a quick lie‑down or downloading photos to review before heading back out again and again.

These regular breaks back in the hotel will give you much needed respite. Instead of staying out all day just because your room is miles away.

In many historic European cities, including Rome and Tbilisi, the best locations often have smaller, family‑run hotels converted from old 3 to 4 story apartment blocks. Strict heritage and height controls keep big hotel chains and developers at bay. Great news if you prefer charm, character and short walking distances over giant lobbies.

The bigger and 5 star hotels In older cities are often found outside the main tourist precincts. I have seen large 4 and 5 star hotels away from tourist locations but next to a slum or shanty town. They depend mainly on tour groups and they are bussed to various attractions and back each day. So never assume all 4 and 5 star hotels are likely well located.

How long should you stay?

For most trips, for each location, a classic 3‑day, 2‑night stay is enough to see the main highlights without feeling rushed. Big cities like London, Paris or Rome call for an extra day or two.

If you arrive long before check‑in or fly out well after check‑out, hotels will store your luggage. Use these valuable hours to see the sights or enjoy drinks and bites at nearby tourists spots and take in the ambience, atmosphere and mood.

If you are travelling for the sun and the sea, for rest and relaxation, you are unlikely to move from location to location, then your stay may go all the way to one weeks or more.

Booking through online platforms

Always book thru an Online booking platforms such as Booking.com, Expedia or Agoda. They have a huge range of properties in one place and rates are often discounted. Regulars user are given further discounts.

They also act as go‑betweens if there is a language barrier or a dispute. They also list far more detailed information than a hotel’s own website. This is because hotels must complete the platform’s detailed template to be listed.

Details include room descriptions, amenities even with photos of each room type which reduces misunderstandings about what you are actually booking.

Here is a simple process that works well. Set your preferred location, enter your dates, then start refining with filters. Using filters thoughtfully can turn hundreds of options into a tight shortlist that fits your needs and budget.

The power of filters

Filtering by property types, choosing “hotel” removes hostels, guesthouses, apartments and other wildcards in one click. Review scores are your next secret weapon; targeting places rated 8 out of 10 or higher. Avoids a lot of common headaches, reservation mishaps, poor service, and poorly maintained properties. And lastly you want to be close to your area of interest.

If your budget is tight, it is usually smarter to go a little further out or choose a smaller room but do not go below the 7.5 rating. Any thing less is a gamble on comfort and certainty. 7.5 seems to be the clip edge from experience.

Peering into Google Maps

With the shortlist, it is time to zoom in—literally. Using Google Maps and Street View lets you “walk” around the neighbourhood before you book.

You check what the building and frontage looks like and what is on the street outside. You can scout for nearby cafés, supermarkets, ATM machines and metro stations, and spot anything awkward like being on the wrong side of a canal or major road.

In Rome, for example, I stayed within walking distance of a taxi rank and metro station. And plenty of cafes, restaurants and small retail stores all around. Turning every evening into an easy wander to dinner with plenty of options close by. Little details like this make returning to your room between outings feel effortless rather a mission. That coupled with the sights and rich history of Rome, made it into a wonderful trip to remember.

Reading reviews

High review scores are helpful, but the real find is often buried in the written comments associated with the lowest review scores.

Look for structural issues like weak air‑conditioning, unreliable hot water, unpleasant smells or ongoing construction noise. Followed by hotel conduct issues like overbooking, last‑minute cancellations by the property, incorrect room types given to unexpected charges.

Reviews can also highlight cultural or local quirks that matter, such as a hotel refusing to check-in couples without a marriage certificate, or a property that only accepts cash despite claiming they accept card payments. I recall reading the 5 star hotel in Tashkent turning away a couple with reservations as one of the partners is an Uzbek national. They could not produce a marriage certificate. Something they were not told of earlier.

Poor breakfast buffet is another recurring theme. If multiple guests describe it as disappointing, it might be better value to book room‑only and enjoy breakfast at a nearby café instead.

Choosing the right room

Room photos and descriptions on booking platforms are important and should not be overlooked. Look closely at layout and furniture. If you plan to work, a proper desk and chair might matter more than an extra sofa and coffee table. Also look out for outdated furniture and furnishings.

Check room size, bathroom style, view type and amenities such as kettles, safes, blackout curtains or USB charging points, depending on what you value most.

Pay particular attention to “view” type. Do you want the windows facing a wall, a motorway or a marina, the sea or scenic mountains. It might cause you a little extra but it is worth it. All hotel photos will invariably and understandably show the best scenes.

Be cautious with “2 single beds or 1 large double” options that are “subject to availability”. You might not get what you hoped for. It is also worth scrolling further down the room list. Sometimes a larger or better‑located room is only a small price jump away—or occasionally the same price altogether.

Chain hotels with loyalty programmes

I have colleagues and friends with Airline or Hotel Chain loyalty programs who have accumulated considerable points that they can redeem for hotel stays. And they use them without a second thought. I am also a member of particular chain but I only use it when it serves my purpose as location is key for me.

Tbilisi is an excellent example where there is no 5 star chain hotel in the old city which is the very heart of the tourist zone. You have to cut across the city to reach the Old City. I am sure you can’t do repeated runs back to your hotel room to take a break. Staying in the right place, taking in the right atmosphere, vibe and feel makes a lot of difference.

In Tbilisi, I covered all aspect of the Old City from attractions, the scenery, the F&B outlets to the night life. All within walking distance from my picked hotel over 3 days and 2 nights. Only the visits to the Chronicles of Georgia and the Holy Trinity Cathedral called for Yandex rides.

Remember, location is paramount and non-negotiable.

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