cheeky guide to what to look for when booking and best ways to book

• Some advice I’ve learned the hard way
• What to look for when booking accommodation
  • Remember jet lag exists
  • Websites that are your friends
  • Expectation vs budget
• My booking story

Some advice I’ve learned the hard way

So, you’ve got your plane tickets all booked and you’re getting excited. Now it’s time to book those initial nights at your chosen destination. What now?

Well, here’s a big piece of advice I’ve learned along the way: when you see something that seems ideal for your needs, don’t wait around. As Shia LaBeouf and Nike would say, “Just do it” – book it. It might sound obvious, but it’s still something I managed to overlook when booking accommodation. After spending hours – and yes, I mean hours – trying to find the ideal place, I fell into a rabbit hole of deals, locations, and perks. So, when I came across accommodation that seemed perfect, a little voice in the back of my head would say “what if,” and back on the search train I’d go. Even in short spaces of time, these places would get booked up while I was still searching for something that didn’t exist. See, I told you I’d make some mistakes and be honest about it on this blog, so you don’t commit the same errors.

Now, let me be clear: Research into different hotels, motels, or hostels, etc. is a good thing. But what I’m saying is, once you find it, book it. Because the grass is most likely not greener, and your mind is just stuck in the middle – sorry to break it to you and myself.

What to look for when booking accommodation

Allow me to let you in on some secrets when searching for these places that I have found very helpful.

• Remember jet lag exists
• Websites that are your friends
• Expectation vs budget

Remember jet lag exists

Factor in jet lag when planning, particularly for your first night upon arrival (although I’d recommend considering the first couple of nights). If you’re traveling a long distance or entering a different time zone, one thing is certain – unless you’re Superman (and if you are, why are you reading this?), your body clock will be out of sync. This means you’ll feel exhausted and won’t be in the mood for dealing with lots of admin initially. So, even if you’re traveling on a tight budget like myself and hostels are your top choice for accommodation, it’s okay to spend a little more. I highly recommend booking a secure hotel with your own room, allowing you to recharge in a peaceful environment where you can keep to yourself.

When searching for accommodation, especially if you’re traveling with someone, you can find some great deals if you know where to look. I’m talking prices not too far off from those of some hostels.

Websites that are your friends

Below are some good websites to find great accommodation for your budget

• Booking.com
• Airbnb
• Expedia
• Trivago
• Google Accommodation (no link just a google search)
• Premier Inn

Each of these websites offers similar great features; the differences between them boil down to prices and personal preferences in terms of visual appearance and user interface. One particularly handy feature shared by all these websites is the inclusion of a map displaying all available accommodations along with their respective prices. This allows you to quickly compare distances from the city center against prices for each hotel, making your decision-making process more efficient.

Premier Inn stands out from the other websites mentioned due to its unique approach. Unlike the others, which aggregate listings from various sources to find you the best price, Premier Inn is its own chain of accommodations. I’ve included it here as it offers some really affordable rooms, especially when booked well in advance. One advantage of Premier Inn is its consistent high standard and interior design across all its accommodations, providing you with a clear idea of what to expect regardless of where you’re staying with them. So, don’t overlook Premier Inn; I’d recommend taking a peek at their offerings.

As for my personal strategy, it may seem a bit unconventional but it’s proven to be highly effective. I typically start by using Google Accommodation, which gives me access to a map and prices at a glance. From there, I narrow down my options and often end up on one of the other websites previously mentioned to continue my search and compare prices before making a booking. While this process can be time-consuming, setting your budget and preferred distance from the city centre in the filters can significantly streamline your research. Additionally, I always consider transport costs when evaluating accommodations. While staying slightly further from the city centre may initially seem cheaper, the additional transportation expenses to reach the main attractions can sometimes offset any savings. Therefore, it’s often more cost-effective in the long run to book closer to the city’s main attractions, even if it means paying slightly more for accommodation upfront.

Expectation vs budget

As you search for your first few nights of accommodation on the previously mentioned sites, it’s crucial to remember that with a low budget, you can’t expect the best of the best. It may sound obvious, but as you browse through the options, it’s easy to get sidetracked and start daydreaming, expecting more than what your budget can provide. This can lead to hesitation in committing to the ideal accommodation within your budget (guilty as charged). Additionally, it pays to read absolutely everything because sometimes things are too good to be true.

Let’s entertain a sadly real example: Jordan, a really nice and cool guy, is browsing for a place on Trivago. He comes across a hotel that looks amazing and perfect for himself and his mate (let’s call him Matt), who will both be jet-lagged. The hotel boasts a fancy lobby, complimentary breakfast, a gym, and stunning views of London – everything seems perfect. Just as Jordan is about to book, he scrutinises the details of the room offered at the cheap price and realises it has no windows. Upon further investigation, he discovers it’s a tiny room in the heart of the hotel with a shared bathroom, to the other budget rooms. Suddenly, the price doesn’t seem as appealing for what you get, and he decides against booking it. Phew. End of definitely fake example.

Now, what colour were Jordan’s eyes? Just checking to see if you were paying attention to that example.

So, the lesson here, cough cough, I mean, the example teaches us to read everything because sometimes that’s how they get you. They lure you in with premium rooms, hiding the actual room you’re booking among them, so you get lost in the allure of the other rooms.

My booking story

Let me spin you a tale, a true saga of our quest for finding accommodation in London for the first couple nights– brace yourself for the excitement!

Once upon a scorching summer night in Wanaka, Jordan (we will call him that) found himself immersed in the task of browsing Airbnb for potential accommodations. In search of the perfect accommodation for himself and his buddy, whom we’ll call Matt, Jordan aimed to find a budget-friendly option that still met their needs. As he sat there, a bead of sweat trickled down his forehead, his eyes poised on the screen as he scrolled through various listings.

CLICK CLICK, he froze… the perfect Airbnb stared back at him. His eyes shifted bouncing to the other side of the screen to the description. “Room with Rachel” it read. CLICK, Jordan swiftly clicked off, a look of frustration met with a bead of sweat, he needed their own place after a long flight they could rest easy. Chatter from around the corner turned into a loud ringing noise there… there it was, the perfect Airbnb, it was not a myth it was staring at him. Heart pounding he read the description, it truely was perfect. He opened messenger and sent the link to Matt to which he agreed it was great! They decided to wait and book it tomorrow night as it was late… so was their decision. The next day Jordan opened is laptop the price had skyrocketed, then within 10 minutes the property had gone off Airbnb.

As days passed, Jordan found himself immersed in the relentless pursuit of the elusive accommodation beast. He scoured various websites, each one feeling like a dark forest teeming with unknown dangers. Premier Inn emerged as his next battleground, offering another tempting deal: a hotel in Hammersmith, still under construction but promising luxury upon completion. The price seemed too good to be true, luring Jordan and Matt in like unsuspecting prey. Yet, just as they prepared to pounce, a smoke bomb of uncertainty obscured their vision, and the opportunity slipped away, vanishing into the murky depths of the internet out of their price range.

Frustrated Jordan began to do one million pull ups a day and develop the worlds greatest body… no, not even close, Jordan found himself ensnared in a web of online searches, each click leading him deeper into the labyrinth of accommodation options.

Then, like a beacon in the darkness, the Arriva Hotel materialized on Expedia’s horizon. Nestled near Kings Cross station, its proximity to essential places promised a haven amidst the chaos of London and jet lag. Though slightly pricier, the convenience and quality beckoned Jordan like a siren’s call.

This time he used the wisdom of the eagle and swooped down booking it, determined not to let it slip through his fingers like so many before. As the booking confirmation flashed on his screen, a sense of relief washed over him, knowing that this time, fortune favoured the bold.

So, what do we learn from this definitely not false tale? When you come across the perfect spot, don’t hesitate to book it. Otherwise, you will end up like me, a worn out frail young man who has been through too many battles with booking sites. But hey, at least this accommodation should give me a much-needed energy boost.

Happy booking, and enjoy the hunt.