How We Book Accommodation

Mish
Jun 16
3 min read

Updated: Jul 2

How to Book Hotels and the Mistakes That Taught Us Everything..

Booking a place to stay can feel like playing travel roulette, but after years of trial, error, and one too many bathrooms without doors, we’ve learned a few things. We've put together our tips on How to Book Hotels or find the best kind of accomodation to suit your trip.

As a former travel agent, I (Mish!) like to do my research. We usually book ahead so we can find something fabulous, but not too fabulous for the budget. That said, during our recent Camino walk, we booked accommodation one day at a time. And you know what? It was kind of brilliant. Spontaneous, freeing, and zero regrets.

Whether it’s a hotel with poolside cocktails or a city apartment with a washing machine and good coffee, here’s how we approach accommodation these days, and the tips we’d give our past selves if we could.

🛎️ 1. Book Refundable-and Check Back Later

We usually book with Booking.com and mainly choose the refundable rate. Then, a few weeks before the trip, we pop a reminder in our calendar to revisit the booking. If we’re still in love with it, great. If not, we can easily swap it out. Sometimes Booking.com even offers last-minute upgrades that feel like a cheeky freebie, even when they aren’t.

🏡 2. Pick the Right Style for the Trip

We love mixing it up:

Apartments when we want to explore and feel local.
Hotels when we want facilities and a bit of pampering.

A washing machine, decent coffee, and a bathroom with a door (you’d be surprised!) are top of the list for longer stays. If it’s a relaxing escape, we’re checking for pools, bars, and on-site restaurants. Also: we lean toward adults-only or less kid-focused hotels—because peace is a vibe.

📍 3. Location, Location… You Know the Drill

If we’ve ever regretted a booking, it’s usually because we compromised on location. Lesson learned. If you’re heading to Barcelona to soak up the buzz, don’t book 20 minutes out just to save $40 a night. You'll spend that on taxis, and your patience.

Our rule now? Ask: Why did we choose this destination? What do we want to be close to? Then book accordingly. If you really aren't sure about the best location, jump on google maps and find where the restaurants are clustered most of the time you'll find yourself in a good spot.

📶 4. Wi-Fi and Bathrooms: Non-Negotiable

Two red flags for us:

Shared bathrooms (no thanks).
Poor Wi-Fi (we’re digital types, and we want to stream and share!).

Check the amenities carefully and don’t assume every listing has what you need. A hotel with "Wi-Fi in common areas only"? Nope. An apartment with a “kitchenette” that’s just a kettle and a spoon? Hard pass.

📝 5. Don’t Just Read Reviews—Decode Them

We read reviews on Booking.com, Google, and TripAdvisor—but only the recent ones. And here’s the trick: not all bad reviews are relevant. Some people just love to complain. Click into their profiles. If they’re chronic whingers, move on.

The real gold? Reviews that align with your values. If someone’s complaining about a lack of kids’ facilities, great! That might mean it’s perfect for us.

💡 6. Bonus Tip: Upgrade Tricks & Treats

Keep an eye on your Booking.com dashboard. Sometimes you’ll see a sneaky offer to upgrade your room for a small fee, or just for free if it’s available. It might not change your life, but it’ll feel like a win. And we love a win.

❤️ 7. One for the Couples: It’s Not About Space

Yes, space is nice, but for us, it’s not everything. You don’t spend that much time in your room, and when you do, you’re close. That’s the whole point, right?

Ready to Book Smarter?

Accommodation shouldn’t make or break your trip, but let’s be honest, it can. If you’re a fellow over-researcher (hi, I see you), or just want to avoid common traps, I hope these tips help you book better, rest easier, and focus on what you came for: the adventure.

✨ Want to see our favourite stays? Or what we packed for our trips? Head to the blog index or explore our Camino de Santiago series.

Mish xx