I've been looking at lots of hotels, apartments and B&Bs lately. And, I've started to think about the process I use to choose where it is I want to stay. When booking accommodation, it's so easy to become overwhelmed with the endless array of options, not the least of which is cost. Unlike choosing where you want to live, a hotel stay can be over and done with before you know it. Some may say that it doesn't make much of a difference then, but I'd argue the contrary. If you've only got a few days to spend in a place, you want it to be perfect for YOU. Don't let yourself get overwhelmed by details like amenities, cost, or exact location, even. Get off those booking sites and take a step back and start researching neighborhoods. Just like choosing your first apartment, you want to make sure you choose the right 'hood for your needs.
When I first started traveling, I wanted to be in the heart of it all, a stone's throw from the perfect sightseeing attraction. But, a seasoned traveler knows that tourist sites mean tourist prices and you have to retreat into lesser known areas to find the real deals. Over the years, I've developed a new mode of searching for accommodation. First and foremost, I find a neighborhood where I'd be happy eating dinner every night of my trip. Chances are at some point in your trip, you're going to be tired, unmotivated and perhaps even lazy. It's easy to get myself going in the morning, but around dinner time I usually crash. I like to give myself the option to spend a low-key night in the 'hood, or a chance to rest and refuel from a long day before a night on the town. I might go further to say, I want to stay in a neighborhood I would actually live in, but that's not always easy to determine from afar. So, before you get overwhelmed and delve into search mode, I implore you, ask yourself the question, "Where do I want to eat dinner?"
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