Find Better Trip Accommodation Faster: Make A Priority List
- Updated: 04/08/2022
Part two of the five article series, “How To Find Just-Right Accommodation In Five Steps.”
After settling on a trip budget and confirming lodging options in the right price range are available – step one of the five steps to finding just-right accommodation – it is time to move on to step two, getting cozy with your list of lodging needs and wants.
For me – my top feature of any trip accommodation is extra space.
Identify Your Top Lodging Priority, And Stick To It
I discovered after the end of many travel days – whether they were incredible, long, or not-so-perfect – my family group stood to benefit from spreading out and getting some separation.
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To get extra space on a trip to Dublin, Ireland, for example, we rented an excellent two-bedroom duplex Airbnb above bustling Camden Street.
And in Washington D.C., where rentals were largely unavailable and expensive for our fixed travel dates, extra space came in the form of an oversize family hotel room with a curtained alcove and a bunk bed (plus video gaming system) at what was formerly the Kimpton Rouge, now rebranded as the Kimpton Bannecker.
On occasions, I have made the mistake of tossing my top priority of extra space to squeeze into lodging I was smitten with. Perhaps even fitting us all in one standard hotel room to afford the accommodation. And rarely – unless the property was truly breathtaking, and we spent a great deal of time outdoors – have I found the tradeoff to be worth it.
So, I stick to my top priority, and we all get what we need on our trips – a bit of extra breathing room and a good night of sleep.
Set Your Priorities Using A Template, Or Wing It
To keep your own accommodation searches focused, I recommend thinking through what you and your group need and want most to make your trips successful.
When I want to go formal on my lodging priorities, I use a ranking worksheet like the one I show below to track the key features I would like to find. Click here and scroll to the bottom half of the worksheet to view a sample list of lodging features.
Or download this editable version of the Lodging Priority worksheet that you can rank and use for your own trip planning.
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Other times I will keep it loose, being familiar enough with what I need to book that I do not formally write anything down. Instead, I just keep track of the priorities in my head.
Why Bother Making A List?
Why bother to think through and keep track of this kind of list?
Because it is too easy to get carried away when travel-planning. A beautiful website, or a limited-time offer, can reel you in, causing you to stray from what is most important for your group.
Knowing what your top lodging priorities are and sticking to them will guarantee greater trip satisfaction and enjoyment.
Knowing what your top lodging priorities are and sticking to them will guarantee greater trip satisfaction and enjoyment.
For example, on a city trip, does walkability rank high? Then avoid staying at a place far from popular sites and dining options, even if it is radiating swank because it will not be worth it. The extra travel time required to get to the center of things will add unnecessary frustration to your trip.
Conversely, if sticking to a strict budget is the most important – you may be willing to trade-in on proximity to ensure affordability.
In this case, widening your lodging search to include lovely bedroom communities outside the city center connected by excellent public transportation will reward you with cheaper lodging, less expensive dining, and more financial breathing room for your travel budget.
A Priority List Example: A Beach Trip
Using the worksheet format shown above, see below for a sample priority list for our beach stay in Kauai.
Above, I share detail for our top five priorities.
- Two or more bedrooms. Accommodation should include a separate space for the kids – ideally two or more bedrooms – to give everyone the chance to spread out.
- Location. We want to spend a lot of time on the beach. So, finding a place within easy walking distance to avoid the hassle of having to pack up the car is ideal.
- Three beds. One child is an intensely active sleeper. Anyone who shares with her will not sleep well. A place that guarantees three separate beds for the four of us will ensure we will all sleep more soundly.
- View. Living landlocked in the Midwest means we can never get enough of the ocean. So, if we can find lodging with a view, we will want to book it.
- Budget. The nightly rate should fit our trip budget. If it does not, we either have to adjust the current budget to make room for it, stay fewer days, or commit to spending more money.
Does this priority list work? Heck, yeah. Keeping all of the above in mind, for our Kauai trip – I found and booked a stunning two-bedroom condo through Airbnb, facing the ocean and only minutes from Kiahuna Beach, on the western edge of the Poipu Beach area.
Even though the nightly rate was above our budget, we were more than willing to keep food costs down by making our breakfasts and lunches and staying reasonable on dinners to afford the view.
A Permanent Priority List Fixture: High Ratings
There is one thing on my lodging priority list that never changes, and that is my requirement that any property we book has a high rating, regardless of cost and lodging class. And the rating is the result of several authentic-sounding reviews cross-checked on different sites.
I don’t bother to put this priority on my worksheet if I am using one because if a property is not highly rated – at minimum a 4.5 or above on a 5 point scale – I do not book it. An average, or below-average rated place, is not worth it.
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Properties with spotty guest experiences are more likely to generate issues. Spending your vacation time trying to fix something, clean something, or wait for an answer to how something works, especially when the owners or management are unresponsive to queries, can be extraordinarily aggravating.
Poor service and poorly maintained lodging can easily make what should be one of the most enjoyable aspects of your trip – where are you staying – to one of the least.
Once I find a place that is highly rated and meets at least most, if not all, our top priorities, everything else is icing on the accommodation cake.
So, once I find a place that is highly rated and meets at least most, if not all, our top priorities, everything else is icing on the accommodation cake.
Is breakfast included in the room price? Are we considering a stay at an inn that offers afternoon snacks? Does the property offer access to a gym or a pool?
Depending on the place – these extra features may be the thing that helps tip the balance to book one hotel, inn, or rental over another.
Now you know your lodging must-haves – you will want to pinpoint the best location to stay. Learn more in the article “How To Pinpoint The Right Location For Your Trip Lodging,” part three of the “How To Find Just-Right Accommodation In Five Steps” series. Also part six of our “Amazeballs Guide To Better Family Travel.”
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Hi, I am Janice and and I run the Gather and Go Travel blog. I am a travel writer, blogger, and bookhound, specializing in family and group travel. I have traveled extensively domestically and internationally to 40+ countries. I am fascinated by other cultures, religions, and languages—and love to share what I have learned in my writing. For more on my background, read my bio, our story, and how to work with me.
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10 Responses
You are welcome, thank you for reading.
We appreciate your recommendation that accommodations offer a separate area for children, ideally two or more bedrooms, to allow everyone to stretch out. My sister wants to take a family trip. I will advise her to get accommodations with separate spaces.
Thank you, I am glad it helped.
It was helpful when you said to consider what your group needs the most. My family is planning on going on vacation during our kid’s winter break from school in a couple of weeks, so I wanted to make sure I knew how to find a good hotel for us to stay in. I’ll keep these tips in mind as we search for one for our trip!
You are welcome, Iris, thank you. I’m glad to hear the post may have helped you.
Thank you for mentioning that making a list of your top accommodation objectives and sticking to them can increase your likelihood of having a more enjoyable and satisfying stay. My husband and I intend to take a vacation for our first anniversary. Before making a reservation, I’ll make sure I’m informed about the hotel’s lodging options.
That sounds like good timing, have a great trip!
Have a great honeymoon, thank you for reading!
I appreciate you bringing up how bad hotels and services can easily ruin what ought to be one of the highlights of your vacation. I’m taking my husband on a honeymoon excursion. For our honeymoon, we intend to visit somewhere that offers bed and breakfast lodging.
I like that you suggested having a priority list when finding lodge rental properties, and we should consider what we or our group want and need the most for a successful trip. I will tell this my husband because he said that we will start looking for accommodation to book for our anniversary in December. He said that we already need to have a booking made before October to ensure that we get lower rates or better options as well.