Considerations when booking Holiday Accommodation
The two major expenses on a vacation are usually the travel (fares or fuel) and the holiday accommodation.
These are a set item in your travel budget and while you can make some savings (e.g. cheap flights) they are the two constant costs over which you have little control other than choice of type of fare and lodging. Other expenses such as entertainment, dining, activities and tours are more in your control.
Location
Obviously, the type of vacation you choose will determine the accommodation location to a great extent. However, if it is too far from the focus of your trip, such as a beach or a ski slope then it may just not suit – after all you don’t want to spend a lot of time going to and from your hotel or wherever you are staying.
If it is a trip to see scenery in a larger area (e.g. Lakes District in the UK), then, perhaps just being near to central is sufficient. Location can make or break a vacation if you don’t do your research first.
Type Of Accommodation
The type of lodgings will depend on your budget, trip focus, length of stay and location. Nowadays, many hotels and resorts offer a variety of options – family oriented, no kids (!), catering for retirees, sports (e.g. golfing vacations), naturist, cooking (e.g. Tuscany), gay and lesbian, luxury.
And, styles: from 5 Star to caravans and anything in between, including B & B’s, cabins with self catering, chalets, service apartments, pensiones in Rome and motels.
You may need self catering facilities with a kitchen and washing machine, particularly if taking the family. Other types may be hostels for backpacking, or a chalet or resort style apartment to provide comfort and access to facilities. Knowing the type of Accommodation you want can save a lot of time when searching online.
In Paris try this link for good service Paris hotels
Facilities
Again, this aspect depends on budget – having all the ‘bells and whistles” will cost a lot more than a self catering apartment – which, in many ways may be preferable if traveling with children.
Even caravan parks often have pools and recreation areas for kids, so they may be 
an alternative for the budget conscious family. Additionally, there is the benefit of a laundry, and, many parks also have site specific bathroom facilities, rather than communal.
It’s standard to expect a TV in resorts and hotels, but the higher the star rating, the more they have in the way of in-room spas, room service, cable, and gyms, plus on site shopping in exclusive stores.
DESIRE RESORT RIVIERA MAYA
Some factors to consider
- Stay reasonably near public transport – this will obviously depend on the size of the place or city you are visiting.
- The point is that after a busy day of sightseeing, shopping or whatever – why subject yourself to a tiring hike from the station back to your lodgings etc?
- This is more so if you are on a trip that involves vigorous physical activity of some sort. After a hard day on the ski slopes, or a hot day on a beach, or from a cross country walk – do you then want to have lug yourself and your gear a long way back to your holiday accommodation?
- This just takes the restfulness out of a holiday. You don’t have to stay in a central location (can be prohibitively expensive), but staying near public transport access can give you best of both worlds.
- In rural areas it can be smart to research the layout of the region, note what you want to see and then find accommodation central to that region. One, this allows you to stay at the accommodation longer and take advantage of longer stay rates.
- Two, it also allows you to be free of constant checking in and out – and additionally, you can get a better feel for the locale and the people. Thirdly, the staff get to know you and this can mean better or more personal service.
What do you do is the public transport is poor or not available – then choose to stay as close to the focus of your vacation (e.g. the beach or golf course) as possible.
Costs / Budget
There are many websites available to research both types and costs of accommodation. It may be advisable to confirm the suitability of your choices 
with a travel agent – to ensure the veracity of what is said on the web pages!
Check availability, and book early to avoid disappointment during peak holiday periods as the best accommodation can be pre-booked years in advance.
Always obtain an email confirmation of your reservation with a booking number, and re-confirm within the week of your departure. Take copies with you – to ensure that when you arrive you get what you contracted for.
Many discounts and bargains can be found when traveling out of the peak tourist / holiday season. In countries such as Italy.
The start and end of the summer tourist season can provide some great bargains and the weather and climate is still generally perfect for getting out and seeing the sights.
You can also negotiate about rates, even in places like London – when the off season means they are looking for people to stay. Use sites like Last Minute Hotels and so on – they buy blocks of accommodation to sell at discounts.
If you are going to the tropics, just be sure you aren’t traveling in hurricane season!
Whatever accommodation you decide upon, be it hotels, resorts, backpacking hostels, bed and breakfast chalets, apartments, or a house, enjoy your holiday and relax in the thought that you have done your homework and found the best accommodation for yourself
