A hotel may seem like a bargain until you realize how far it is from everything you want to see. The room is nice, the photos look promising and the price is certainly attractive. Then there is the daily commute, the taxi bills and time spent going backward and forwards.
This is something that often gets overlooked when booking a holiday. People spend hours comparing hotel prices but don’t always pay enough attention to where the hotel is located.
Accommodation in the center can be more expensive, sometimes a lot more expensive. But there is something to be said for being able to walk to restaurants, shops and popular attractions. There’s no need to keep checking transport apps every time you want to step outside, and going back to the hotel for a break doesn’t become a major undertaking.
But it’s not always necessary to pay more for a central location. In some cities you have great public transport so it’s not too hard to live a bit further outside. Indeed, quieter neighborhoods are often far nicer than the busy tourist areas where hotels tend to be more expensive.
The mistake is to choose a hotel based on price alone. The cheaper room that requires two taxis and an hour of travel everyday may not be such a bargain after all. And there’s not much point paying a premium for a location you rarely use, as most of your time is spent outside the city.
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It helps to look at the places you actually want to visit before you book your accommodation. How far from the hotel they are, whether there is public transport nearby and what it might be like coming back late in the evening.
The same kind of thinking should apply to booking flights. Skyscanner allows you to compare different flight options but the cheapest time to arrive is not always the most convenient. For example, if you arrive very late you may pay more for a taxi or have a different check-in.
The most expensive hotel or the room closest to all the attractions is not what makes a good holiday. It’s about finding somewhere that makes the trip easier without spending money on things that don’t really matter.
Sometimes it pays to pay a little more for the right location. Sometimes it really isn’t. The distinction usually becomes apparent when you look at the actual travel plans.
