Booking holiday accommodation: Hotel, Villa, or AirBnB

Who NEEDS a weekend getaway here? Villa Grand Vista on Koh Samui | Photo by Villa-Finder

Choosing accommodation for your holiday in this day and age is not that easy. Not only do you have a million hotel booking websites, there are also villas, holiday homes, and AirBnBs threw in the mix.

There are no right choices here, only the best choice for the occasion. There are a plethora of factors that would affect which one is better suited, and here are the top threes:

Contents

Where you are going

Different destinations have different things to offer. Everyone going to Bali or Koh Samui is dreaming of a villa, but if you are headed to Hanoi or Bangkok a hotel won’t break your bank and are super nice. In Europe, Airbnb tends to be cheaper and cozier than hotels or if you are headed up to the mountains or a quiet getaway. These are a generalisation, but very much true.

takeshita street harajuku tokyo horizontal
AirBnB is now banned in Japan

There are several places where AirBnB aren’t the best ideas like Japan is making it illegal.

 

Who you are traveling with

Our travel group sitting on a wooden bridge on top of a waterfall at Plitvice National Park, Croatia| Laugh Travel Eat
Are you going on a romantic getaway? Or with a group of friends? Are you traveling solo? Obviously as a solo traveler, booking a villa isn’t exactly the right choice, but it would be great fun as a group of friends or as a couple. You are more likely to meet people in a hostel traveling solo than a hotel, though the later offer more privacy. If you are traveling with your parents, maybe a hotel is better than an AirBnB which might not be easily accessible or to check in and out. traveling as a group of 8 means we prefer to stay close and not in respective hotel rooms

 

What is this holiday/vacation about?

Are you trying to relax? Unwind? Or just to sight see?

I’m going to repeat myself a little here, but for romance and gathering, villas are definitely the way to go, or a big AirBnB. Unless the people you travel with are picky, then you should consider a hotel or a villa with good service.

 

Villas

Who NEEDS a weekend getaway here? Villa Grand Vista on Koh Samui | Photo by Villa-Finder
Who NEEDS a weekend getaway here? Villa Grand Vista on Koh Samui | Photo by Villa-Finder

There are a lot of portals that book villas, you can even get them on Airbnb for example. But most of them are a hit or miss. The one I stayed at in Canggu in Bali through AirBnB was beautiful, but the outdoor furniture were filthy and there was cockroaches. Not ideal.

Baan Mika, a luxury 6 bedroom beach front villa located on Plai Laem Beach, Koh Samui, Thailand | Photo by Villa Finder

I was delighted to find out about Villa-Finder, a great platform with a curated list of villas in Bali, Koh Samui, Phuket, Sri Lanka, and Mauritius. They personally vet and liaise with the owners and connect with a fleet of services to provide for you during the stay. You would also be paying directly to the service provider as Villa-Finder arrange it for you free of charge! They are eco friendly, too, planting a tree for each stay through ReforestAction and Yagasu.

Perhaps a bigger pool? | Photo by Villa-Finder

How it works:

  • Inquire about a villa of your choice and leave a preferred method of contact (phone/email).
  • A staff will reach out with a questionnaire to help facilitate your stay e.g. Airport pick up, BBQ facilities, massages.
  • Enjoy your stay and contact the staff if you require more services!

Search for a stunning villa on Villa-Finder

P.S. They also refund any price difference found online!

 

AirBnBs

I’ve stayed at some stunning Airbnb and crappy ones in my life. From a crazy beautiful apartment in Zadar Croatia for 8 girls to a matchbox ant-infested apartment in Lipari, Sicily, I’ve got some tips for you:

  • Read all about check in and check out rules. If you are carrying large luggage and arriving early or late, it can be difficult to find storage if you have a rigid check-in system at your AirBnB. If you want to be able to leave luggage, then you’d have to sieve through the listing or find a storage locker nearby.
  • Accessibility – some don’t have lifts or requires some intricate instruction to enter or find and it can be unclear at times. So watch out for any information on that! It’s usually reflected by travelers who have stayed there. I’ve found a beautiful apartment but the doors are thumbprint access only, which means you need to wait to get in and out.
  • Cleanliness – not guarantee in AirBnB listings, so it’s best to read the reviews thoroughly before you commit to booking it. It’s really a mixed bag as I’ve stayed at sparkling clean places but also dusty apartments. You also won’t have make up service or toiletries most of the time.
  • Apartment and country laws – some countries or apartments have specific rules on day/week rentals. For example, you might get asked to have your passport photocopied staying in an AirBnB in Bangkok, so it could be troublesome if you are not aware or don’t speak the language to communicate.

Get 30 USD off if you are new to Airbnb!

Hotels

Hotels are the usual safe choice, but which website to book them on and how do you choose the right one? I usually end up using bookings.com or hotels.com, because of the discount and loyalty program. Agoda and Expedia are both popular, too, as is Trip.com that offers packages and good discounts.

My sis admiring the nightsky of Asakusa from the lobby of the Gate Hotel Kaminarimon, Asakusa, Taito, Tokyo, Japan | Laugh Travel Eat
My sis admiring the nightsky of Asakusa from the lobby of the Gate Hotel Kaminarimon

Whenever I book a hotel, I tend to use Bookings.com because of the free cancelation function in case of last minutes changes. More often than not, I end up staying through them because rooms run out closer to the time. Generally, I find a lot of deals ends up being similar in price once whatever ‘fees’ are added in. However, if you are unlikely to change your itinerary then booking the cheapest platform would make sense.

A few notes on booking hotels:

  • Always check their reviews on both the booking website and TripAdvisor to get a clear idea
  • I usually turn the rating filter of at least 8/10 on, as well as for air con and WiFi
  • Check other traveller’s photos, as more often than not hotel listing uses flattering angles

 

Note: the post is sponsored by Villa-Finder but all opinions are my own

Heading on holiday? Here's 3 questions to ask when choosing your accommodation option #traveltips #airbnb #villa #hotel
Pin me!

Thinking about what to accommodation option to choose for your holiday? Here's whether to choose a villa, hotel, or airbnb and tips on how!

One thought on “Booking holiday accommodation: Hotel, Villa, or AirBnB

  1. Dina says:

    Great overview – home stays are always a good option as well. I generally like Airbnb spaces and shared Airbnb when I’m traveling solo to meet locals. I haven’t been to a fancy villa yet, will check them out with your suggestion site next time!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Ad Blocker Detected!

Advertisements fund this website. Please disable your adblocking software or whitelist our website.
Thank You!
Want an off-line guide for Cinque Terre?
Including exclusive photo spots and tips Plus more travel tips in my FREE resource library
Your Information will never be shared with any third party.
Download THE travel planning spreadsheet
Get THE travel planning spreadsheet I use to plan your trip and track your finance!
Your Information will never be shared with any third party.
Get a free travel plan & finance spreadsheet!
And get access to my exclusive resource library with map itineraries, travel checklist and more
Your Information will never be shared with any third party.
Download a one-page price list for reference on your trip to Chiang Mai!
Have it handy so you know what price you should pay when you haggle!
Your Information will never be shared with any third party.
Download your FREE map for Ljubljana
Get a copy of the map for your trip to the Slovenia captial! You can probably do everything in 1 day
Your Information will never be shared with any third party.
Download your FREE map for the Lake Bohinj region
Lake Bohinj region is big - so get a map of my favourite spots to make the most of your trip!
Your Information will never be shared with any third party.
Download your FREE map for Lake Bled
Get a free map of best viewpoints, sights and restaurants in Bled for your trip!
Your Information will never be shared with any third party.
Download your FREE map for Milan
Get your map of what to see in Milan in 48 hours - including tips and tricks
Your Information will never be shared with any third party.
Download your FREE map for Taormina
Know where the best spots in Taormina is with this Google My Map
Your Information will never be shared with any third party.
Download your FREE map for the Lake Bohinj region
Get this comprehensive map with transport stops and routes clearly marked for your trip to Bohinj!
Your Information will never be shared with any third party.
Download your FREE map for your trip to the Peak!
Get this comprehensive map with transport stops and routes clearly marked for your trip to The Peak
Your Information will never be shared with any third party.
Download your FREE map for Prague!
Get this all-in-one map for the best viewpoints, top 5 and restaurants pick in Prague!
Your Information will never be shared with any third party.
Get free destination maps for your travels
Join my exclusive resource library with map itineraries, travel checklist and more. Currently most popular: Milan, Lake Bled and Hong Kong maps
Your Information will never be shared with any third party.
Download the free 1 day Itinerary for Hong Kong!
Make it easy to find all the spots and follow with the infographic
Your Information will never be shared with any third party.
Download your map for Eze and Monaco
the all-in-one day trip map with bus stops, sights and viewpoints labeled for you
Your Information will never be shared with any third party.
Download your 3 day map itinerary for Danang
Enjoy a 3 day trip that you don't need to plan!
Your Information will never be shared with any third party.
Do you want to know all my blogging secret?
Sign up to hear first about my Ultimate blogging beginners course
Your Information will never be shared with any third party.
Download your FREE map for Hoi AN!
Get this all-in-one map for the Hoi An old town and best restaurants
Your Information will never be shared with any third party.
Download your FREE map for Hue!
See Hue in 2-3 days with this guide!
Your Information will never be shared with any third party.
Download your FREE map for Phong Nha!
Where the caves are, what there's to do and where to eat in Phong Nha!
Your Information will never be shared with any third party.
Download your map for Padua!
It include my entire day's itinerary, not just the top 5!
Your Information will never be shared with any third party.
Download your map for Sirmione
This might be a small town, but knowing where to go will still help your day!
Your Information will never be shared with any third party.
Download your map for Sirmione
This might be a small town, but knowing where to go will still help your day!
Your Information will never be shared with any third party.
Download your map for Verona!
My all in one guide to Veona including secret spots, restaurants and top sights!
Your Information will never be shared with any third party.
Download your map for Chiang Mai
Get the exact map hat I prepped for the trip with restaurants, sights and spa locations marked on!
Your Information will never be shared with any third party.
Download your map for Nara!
Get the itinerary for food, temples and deer spotting in Nara!
Your Information will never be shared with any third party.
Download your map for Macau!
Get my 48 hours itinerary for Macau
Your Information will never be shared with any third party.
Download your map for Macau!
From how to get there to what to eat after in Yuen Long
Your Information will never be shared with any third party.
Download your map for Central & Admiralty
get your half day itinerary to the heart of Hong Kong!
Your Information will never be shared with any third party.
Download your Shui Long Wo Hiking Map
It isn't hard - but better safe than sorry ;)
Your Information will never be shared with any third party.
Get all 9 spots with 1 map!
For the hiking views, you'll need to read their respective articles for transport options!
Your Information will never be shared with any third party.
Let's hike West High Hill!
Let's get you from the Peak to some stunning vista!
Your Information will never be shared with any third party.
Get a map of my favourite restaurants in Hong Kong
This map would be updated as I add more!
Your Information will never be shared with any third party.
Get my Angkor + Siem Reap Itinerary
Restaurants, markets and more
Your Information will never be shared with any third party.
Get my 7 days Tokyo Itinerary!
Including all the spots in the post and more!
Your Information will never be shared with any third party.
Get your FREE Nusa Penida Map
Including all the spots in the post and more!
Your Information will never be shared with any third party.
Get my Singapore map!
Including all the spots in the post!
Your Information will never be shared with any third party.