Hotels, Hostels and B&Bs: Where to Stay When You Aren't Staying

Your accommodations on trips can either be your sanctuary after long days, the place where you restore and rejuvenate while being pampered, or they can just be somewhere you leave your stuff. You can pay as little as $20 a night or as much as a couple thousand. With a spectrum that wide, you should make sure you pay for exactly what you want. Maybe you just want to rent a studio apartment, with privacy but not a full hotel with amenities. But sometimes you may want the security and benefits of staying at a resort.

Whether you are looking for a relaxing spa getaway or just a bed for the next 8 hours, make your housing work for your trip. Below I dive into hotels, B&Bs and hostels. The pros and cons of each and when is best to use each.

HOTELS

Hotels can be split by price range into budget and luxury. Think of your budget hotels as ones that will likely have a free breakfast maybe with a few treadmills and free Wi-fi that are generally located close to airports or attractions, both areas with a lot of traffic. Luxury hotels and resorts are going to be the ones with amenities that are closer to attractions, spas pools and restaurants, with robes in the room. These are almost as fun as whatever you are traveling to see or do.

Budget Hotels

Don't be fooled by the name, these can still be a couple hundred a night, $70 to $80 at the least and $500 at the most. These are going out of fashion for solo travelers with the privacy from B&Bs and the cost efficiency of hostels but don't count them out just yet.

Pros

• Good price for a free meal, bed and locked door.

• Usually walking distance from airports, train stations and will have free shuttles.

• Nice to have a room to yourself, and private bathroom.

Cons

• Not always in the safest areas, better for group travel than solo.

• No included fancy amenities like spas and restaurants.

• Not your cheapest option for just a place to sleep.

Best for

• Group low budget travel.

• Trips with a lot of necessary driving/transportation.

  • Ex. in unwalkable cities or instances where you plan to need multiple Ubers.

• Trips focused more on relaxing.

Luxury hotels

These bad boys are the ones with waiting rooms that feel like museums. While not always a realistic price, these hotels and resorts with built-in bars and hot tubs for baths can be the right option for some trips.

Pros

• Relaxing and convenient with the amount of amenities attached.

• Often worth the money, if you have it.

  • You'll get robes, room service, valet and a serious superiority complex stepping out past the doormen into the street full of starstruck passersby.

• Very safe and secure.

• Have plenty to do to entertain yourself.

Cons

• Price.

• Potentially gives an inauthentic, touristy perspective of wherever you are visiting.

Best for

• High budget trips to relax.

• Solo travelers looking to getaway more than explore

  • The amount of activities/services also makes this convenient for meeting other people.
    

BED AND BREAKFASTS

Gaining popularity thanks to Airbnb, there are a lot of options for these, for a variety of prices and options. You can rent anything from a mansion to a tree house bungalow to a single bedroom. But the biggest advantage these offer is being privately owned. The concept of talking with your host, staying hidden among residential areas, and having a concealed address can offer peace of mind.

Pros

• Safer option with a hidden address.

• More customizable to your needs.

  • You can reserve a house with a fridge and washing machine or just pay for a room with a bed for the night.

• More of a natural immersion into the area you are exploring.

• Host may supply food or activities

• Reasonable prices.

Cons

• Hidden fees!

• Able to reject you as a privately owned property.

  • Some hosts have age restrictions based on location or won't allow parties.

Best for

• Travelers looking to explore.

• Solo or group travelers looking to save.

• Travelers with unique needs.

  • Much easier to find B&Bs that are accessible, pet-friendly, or catered to fit your exact need than a cookie cutter hotel room.

• Picture people.

HOSTELS

If you haven't stayed in a hostel before, you might be scared, grossed out, or intrigued. Hostels are not the weird dorms my mothered explained to me. There are a variety of rooms types or bed pods to book. Many have free or very cheap meals and all are full of interesting people who are looking to explore. Some do free or paid tours around the area or activities in the hostel. Make sure to read the descriptions and reviews to find one that fits you. Party hostels are great for young solo travelers to find a safe group of people to explore with, but there are also family or slower-paced hostels.

Pros

• Cost efficient.

• Great way to meet people.

• Good for exploring the area.

• Don't often need reservations too early.

Cons

• Not much privacy.

• Less security than other options.

  • Although most will provide a locker.

Best for

• Solo or group travelers fewer than 5 on a budget.

• Any traveler looking to be immersed in the area.

• Trips for adventure less than relaxation.