B&B, HOUSE OR HOTEL?

These days, there are so many lodging options available to choose from that making a choice can be overwhelming. How do you choose the right one from the myriad of options available? 

Many people think that the most important factor to consider is price. However, the most important thing to consider is actually the size and composition of your travel party. When trying to decide what kind of lodging to book for your next trip, ask yourself the following:

1. Are you traveling solo or with others? 
2. If you are traveling with others, what personal tastes and needs might they have? Is anyone in your group handicapped? Will anyone need a quiet place to work? Is anyone on a special diet that might require an in-room kitchen? Does anyone need a fridge for medication? 
3. How long do you intend to stay? The longer you intend to stay, especially when traveling with others, the bigger you will want your space to be. 

You’ll also want to consider your own personal taste and travel style. When I travel solo, I prefer the quiet comradery of a B&B. B&Bs are usually charming houses with lovely furnishings. On my last road trip, I picked Hall Place B&B in Glasgow, KY specifically because it was old (which I love) and absolutely gorgeous. The owner was quite welcoming and I felt comfortable there. It was the perfect choice for me during that solo trip.

When our family went to the Outer Banks, we needed more space than even a large hotel suite would have afforded us. We needed plenty of space to stretch out and enough rooms that we could each find a private little corner when we’d had a bit too much togetherness. Since several restaurants were still closed due to Covid, we also needed a good-sized kitchen to cook most of our reals. We found this great beach apartment that met our needs beautifully. 

When traveling with friends, we're usually just crashing somewhere for one or two nights and all we want is a clean, safe place to lay our heads, so any decent chain hotel will do. 

There are so many wonderful and affordable lodging options available these days and, with a little bit of research, travelers are often able to score excellent lodging at an economical price. You can research hotels on the web and book directly, but I often find better rates on travel discount sites.

I have long been a fan of Expedia.com, which not only offers great prices on all kinds of places to stay, but also offers phenomenal rates on rooms (often free) if you bundle your hotel, air and car package through them. Another company that I've been using over the past year is Booking.com. You can't go wrong with either site.