Okay, let’s talk about how I actually find a place to stay when I travel, using nothing but a good old search engine. It’s become second nature now, but I definitely have a process.
Starting the Search
First thing I do is pop open my browser. Doesn’t really matter which search engine, they all pretty much do the job these days. I start super broad. Let’s say I’m heading to London. I’ll just type in something simple like “accommodation London” or “places to stay London”.
You get a flood of results, right? Big booking sites, hotel chains, sometimes blogs or travel articles. It’s a bit overwhelming at first, but it’s just the starting point.
Getting Specific
Now, the broad search is useless on its own. I need to narrow it down. The most important things for me are usually dates and budget. So, I’ll modify the search. I’ll use the search engine’s tools, or just type it in like “hotels London October 5th to October 10th under £150”. Already, that cuts out a lot of noise.
Sometimes I have other needs. Maybe I need parking, or it has to be pet-friendly. I just add those keywords: “pet friendly hotels London October 5th to 10th”. The more specific I get, the better the results usually are.
Digging Through the Results
Okay, now I have a more manageable list. I usually see a mix of ads, map results, and links to booking platforms and direct hotel websites.
- I glance at the map results first. Location is key for me. Is it near the tube? Is it in a neighborhood I like? The map gives me a quick visual.
- Then I start opening links in new tabs. Lots of them. Maybe a couple of options from *, one from *, and if a specific hotel looks interesting, I’ll open its own website too.
- Comparing prices is the next step. I check the same hotel on different platforms. Sometimes the hotel’s direct site is cheaper, sometimes a booking site has a deal. You gotta check!
Reviews and Pictures are Crucial
Price and location aren’t everything. I spend a good amount of time looking at reviews. And I don’t just look at the star rating. I read recent reviews, both good and bad. What are people complaining about? What are they praising? I look for recurring themes. If multiple people mention noise or dirty bathrooms, that’s a red flag for me.
Pictures too. I look past the fancy professional shots if I can. I try to find traveler photos if the review sites have them. They give you a much more realistic idea of what the room actually looks like.
Making the Choice
So now I have maybe 3-4 tabs open with serious contenders. I’ve checked the price, location, reviews, and photos. I double-check the cancellation policy – that’s important! Then, it’s usually a gut feeling. Which one feels like the best balance of cost, comfort, and convenience for this specific trip?
Once I’ve decided, I go through the booking process, either on the platform I found the best deal on or directly with the hotel. I always make sure I get a confirmation email right away.
That’s pretty much it. It’s not rocket science, just a bit of digging and comparing using the search engine as my main tool. Takes a little time, but I usually end up finding something decent that fits what I need.
