7 steps to plan the perfect trip
As you already know, we love to travel and are on the road as often as possible. We place more value on seeing as much of a country or island as possible than spending a week lying by the pool at a large hotel complex. In general, we are not fans of large hotel complexes and prefer small hotels or charming B&Bs. As long as our daughter is still young, this works quite well for her too. When we plan a trip, we now almost always follow the same principle. For us, it's the perfect mix of flexibility and still seeing and experiencing a lot in a relaxed way. Here's how we do it. Maybe you'll find some inspiration here too:
1. Research: Where do we want to go, what do we want to see?
Every trip starts with a little research. Once we've decided where to go (usually based on our bucket list, the weather, recommendations, or sometimes just cheap flights), we look at the local highlights, the places we definitely don't want to miss, and the activities available. To do this, we read blogs, ask friends who have been there before or even live there, or, more recently, ChatGPT. Then we see how far apart these places are and where it makes sense to stay overnight. This usually results in a rough route.
2. Why we stay overnight in different places
We like to remain flexible when traveling and not have to drive long distances back and forth. In addition, some places are especially beautiful in the evening, and a cozy dinner can be enjoyed in a much more relaxed manner without having to get back in the car afterwards. That's why we often book our accommodations in different locations. This brings us closer to the sights and saves us the daily drive back to our accommodation. Since we usually travel very light and rarely unpack our suitcases completely, it's no problem for us to move on every few days.
3. Get an overview at booking sites
When it comes to searching for accommodation, we almost always start with the big platforms such as Booking.com, Expedia, or Airbnb. These sites provide a good overview of prices, availability, and what the hotels or vacation rentals have to offer. Above all, we use the map view to see the location of the accommodations. In Austria, the tourism association websites are now also excellent, and many offer the same overview of bookable accommodations, but with little or no commission. This means that smaller B&Bs or private rooms that do not appear on the major platforms can often be found.
4. Optional: Last-minute booking
We usually travel outside of peak season and love to book spontaneously, often at the last minute, just one day before arrival. Of course, this tip isn't for everyone, especially if you have specific requirements or have to travel during peak season. But for us, it has almost always been worth it: we have found great accommodations and often gotten real bargains. It also gives us flexibility, allowing us to stay longer in a place we like or switch from a beach destination to an excursion destination if the weather isn't cooperating. Since we never stay in the same accommodation for very long anyway, it's not a big deal if the only room available isn't absolutely perfect.
5. Location is crucial
For us, the location of the accommodation is usually the most important criterion. We love being able to walk to a restaurant, stroll through the city, or spontaneously run to the beach in the evening. We want to avoid having to drive all the time and look for parking spaces when we're on vacation. Of course, we don't always have the perfect choice, especially when we book last minute, but so far it has always worked out. Once, due to a lack of suitable accommodation on site, we decided to stay in another town, which in retrospect was perfect.
6. Weigh up price and amenities
After location comes price and what you get for it. Unfortunately, we often have to accept that we can't have everything on our budget :), but for us it's more important to travel more often than to spend a lot of money on one trip. We decide based on what is more important to us at that moment, or in that place, or in that weather:
- a room with a balcony, but only a simple breakfast,
- a hotel just outside town that lends out bicycles free of charge,
- or accommodation in a perfect location, which may not have the most modern facilities.
These small compromises make it exciting for us, and sometimes they lead us to discover special places. We often just skim through the reviews, and it's often the same things that are criticized. If we prepare ourselves for this, e.g., a fantastic location on a dream beach but a very simple room, then we really only go to the room to sleep and enjoy the rest of our time on the beach.
7. Book directly with the hotel
Wenn wir unsere Favoriten gefunden haben, schauen wir immer, ob wir direkt beim Hotel buchen können. Meistens ist es günstiger, oder es gibt bessere Konditionen (z. B. Frühstück inklusive, kostenloser Parkplatz oder flexiblere Stornierungsbedingungen). Falls die Hotel-Website unübersichtlich, sehr veraltet oder kompliziert ist, buchen wir aber trotzdem über die großen Plattformen, wo es sich oft auch lohnt Punkte, oder Meilen zu sammeln.
Frequently asked questions about finding accommodation when traveling
1. How do I find the best accommodation when traveling? The best way to start is by doing a little research on the region and using major booking sites such as Booking, Expedia, or Airbnb to get an overview. Pay particular attention to location, reviews, and value for money.
2. Is it cheaper to book directly with the hotel? Often, yes. Many hotels offer better prices or extras such as free breakfast, an upgrade, or more flexible cancellation policies on their own websites. It's always worth checking directly.
3. Is it worth booking accommodation last minute? That depends on your type of trip. If you are flexible, you can get some real bargains last minute. However, if you have specific requirements (e.g., sea view, pool, or boutique hotel), it is better to book earlier to be on the safe side.
4. What is more important: location or amenities? That depends on your priorities. For us, location is crucial—we would rather have a simple room in the center than a luxurious hotel far outside the city. But if you want to spend a lot of time in your accommodation, amenities play a bigger role.
How do you plan your trip?
We love traveling this way. It gives us flexibility and allows us to easily change our plans if, for example, we get a tip from other travelers while on the road or the weather isn't cooperating. Of course, we also understand that many people want to have their long-awaited annual vacation confirmed well in advance with all their wishes and extras, or prefer to stay longer in the same hotel, which is fine, of course. After all, everyone can do as they please ;). How do you plan your trip? Are you more of a “last minute” or “early bird” type? Let us know in the comments!
Here are a few examples that we found lately:
