Accommodations and their various types play a big role in how we enjoy travel, but they also make up a huge chunk of travel costs. In our experiences, they tend to make up around 15-75% of the total trip costs (depending on the length of the trip and what other expenses are involved). After all, you have to have a place to sleep at the end of every day on your trip, right? Having accumulated nearly 30 years worth of chasing waterfalls around the world, I’ve taken a detailed look at the various classes of accommodation that we’ve personally experienced. Each type has its own set of appealing features as well as drawbacks, and there’s some overlap between these categories as providers seek to evolve their offerings to cater to all sorts of needs and preferences.

As you plan your own trip, you’ll want to choose your accommodations wisely, especially in a world of rising costs and uncertainty. After all, your stays can set the tone for an entire trip or break the budget and limit what’s possible on that trip. No one accommodation type works for everyone, and even we’ve shifted our favored types of stays over the years as our needs and tastes have evolved.

In this article, I detail the pros and cons as well as provide personal examples of the various accommodation types that we’ve considered and experienced. That way, you get a better idea of what your choices are and determine what’s right for you as you juggle the various considerations to make in order to get the most of your trip against the constraints of time and money.

1. Hotels, Lodges, Inns, and Cruises

Choosing a hotel often means paying for the benefit of a professionally managed stay where many aspects of your stay have been taken care of for you. They’re what we think of when planning our travel and considering a place to stay, and I’d imagine the same is true for most other people.

We tend to favor hotels as we’ve gotten older. One of the main reasons is that they tend to have an around-the-clock reception, which really helps with our schedule flexibility, especially when we show up outside of the normal late afternoon check-in hours. If we show up early, most provide a complementary luggage storage option. If we show up late due to a late flight or a very busy day of travel on the road, there’s still someone to acknowledge our booking and check us in without hassle.

Another big plus regarding hotels is that they’re usually centrally located. This allows us to walk to or take mass transit to restaurants or atmospheric tourist-friendly areas without the need to worry about getting caught up in city traffic. This gives us something to look forward to when we wind down a day of touring, especially after chasing waterfalls that were away from built-up city centers).

Given the service-oriented nature of hotels, they also provide a familiar and structured environment where things like room service, daily housekeeping, concierge assistance, on-site amenities (e.g. restaurants, gyms, swimming pools, spas, etc.) are often taken for granted. Even little things like international electrical adapters, hair dryers, tissues, shampoo and conditioner, towels, etc. are usually provided. Some hotels even have a laundry room as doing our own laundry is surprisingly hard to come by when we’re constantly on the go during our longer trips. And if you have heavy or bulky luggage, most hotels have elevators or lifts so we wouldn’t have to lug them up multiple flights of stairs.

However, hotels come with their own set of challenges. They can often be expensive, especially for those in prime locations or during peak seasons (and this includes parking expenses, which is often not included in room rates). There might also be less opportunity to interact with local culture making the stay feel less authentic or impersonal, especially if the hotel is part of an international chain (e.g. Intercontinental, Starwood, Hyatt, Hilton, and Marriott come to mind). After all, hotels tend to adhere to standardized service models that are designed for the expectations of international tourists. The rooms can also be quite small, and this is particularly the case if the hotel is situated in a central location where land is very expensive and scarce.

That said, there are options like boutique hotels as well as inns and lodges that try to distance themselves from the impersonal hotel chains and present more of an intimate and more authentic experience more commonly seen in other accommodation types like bed and breakfasts, home stays, and some short-term rental apartments or homes. Even some big hotel chains are trying to expand their amenities offered such as included breakfasts as well as self-catering aspects like a kitchen and refrigerator. Heck, some of our most memorable stays happened to be hotels with an included high quality breakfast that compelled us to delay our hotel departures (especially in countries where quality food might be expensive or hard to come by due to spending more time in remote rural areas).

Speaking of full service accommodations, another type of stay that feels like a full-service all-inclusive hotel are cruises. In this instance, you pretty much stay in a vessel overnight while stopping at various ports to do some land touring during the day before continuing on with the voyage. In addition to sightseeing cruises, there are also some cruises where the activities and amenities on the vessel themselves are the main attraction.

Pros of Staying in a Hotel

• A wide selection of services that cater to both leisure and business travelers.
• Security and reliability with professional staff available around the clock.
• Convenient amenities and often a consistent quality across the chain.
• Additional extras such as concierge services to help plan your itinerary.
• Usually conveniently and centrally located
• Elevators or lifts for hauling lots of luggage up and down several stories
• Most have the option of included or paid breakfasts

Cons of Staying in a Hotel

• Higher costs, particularly at upscale or centrally located properties.
• Limited personal interaction or local flavor compared to smaller, locally managed accommodations.
• Less space and a more formal atmosphere which might feel impersonal and less authentic.
• Limited parking or higher cost of parking structures

Examples of Hotels and Cruises during our stays:

• Park Hyatt (Vienna, Austria) – centrally-located in a lavish building that was once a historic bank that just happens to be run by a big hotel chain; expensive parking ($70 USD per night, I recalled); stayed during our Germanic Europe trip in Summer 2018.
• Leonardo Hotel, formerly Drury Hotel (Galway, Ireland) – centrally-located by the Latin Quarter with one of the best Irish breakfasts we’ve had on our trip; expensive but even mini-bar items were included; stayed during our Irish Road Trip in Summer 2024.
• Ginzanso (Ginzan Onsen, Japan) – this was a standout full-service hotel with spacious tatami-styled rooms each with a private onsen, traditional dinner and breakfast, and convenient location. Other Japanese tatami-styled accommodations with hot springs worth mentioning that we’ve done during our Northern Japan Road Trip in Summer 2023 are Dai-ichi Takimotokan and Kiki Shiretoko Resort.
• Zedwell Piccadilly Circus (London, England, UK) – this was an example of a lower end hotel that was very basic and no-frills serving as more of just a place to stay as opposed to an experience. It had a very small room dominated by beds with no furniture though it did have an ensuite and it was centrally-located next to the theatre district and Chinatown. We stayed here during our Southern England part of our Summer 2024 trip in Europe.
• Hotel Rialto (Venice, Italy) – this was a centrally-located hotel right above the Rialto Bridge across Venice’s Grand Calan (can’t beat the views). Our room also just so happened to have a kitchen for self-catering. We stayed here during our classic Italy trip during Thanksgiving Week in 2023.
• Intercontinental Bora Bora Le Moana Resort (Bora Bora, Tahiti) – this is perhaps the highest end of hotel stays that we’ve done. Instead of a high-rise hotel, we stayed in a luxurious overwater bungalow during our off-season visit to Tahiti in December 2012.
• Auberge Saint-Pierre (Mont-Saint-Michel, France) – this is an example of a charming inn situated within a tidal island that can be cut off from the rest of France in high tide. It’s a small-scale hotel in a historical fort so there’s no elevators and lots of steps to lug our luggage, but it’s centrally-located right in the action. We stayed here on our first trip to France in 2012.
• Nonis Apartments (Santorini, Greece) – despite its name, this is really more of a small-scale hotel experience as we had a room with a terrace and view into the submerged crater of Santorini Island while the room itself was partially built into a cave. We stayed here on our first trip to Greece in May 2010.
• Havasupai Lodge (Supai, Arizona, USA) – this is an atypical example of a basic accommodation that we actually had to hike 8 miles to (though there were helicopter and mule options). Even though this wasn’t a backpacking trip, it pretty much was treated like one. In fact, during our stay, we had to deal with a power outage and lack of a hot shower. We stayed during Thanksgiving Weekend in November 2002.
• Holland America Alaskan Cruise (Inner Passage from Seattle, Washington to Juneau, Alaska and back) – this is an example of a typical cruise that we did when our daughter was not a year-old yet. It spanned 8 days where every night was spent on the large-sized vessel, but we did land at Juneau, Sitka, Ketchikan, and even Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. We stayed in late Summer 2011.
• Kerala Backwaters House Boat (Kerala, India) – this unusual stay is like a primitive cruise as we were guided in the brackish backwaters of Kerala while getting authentic Keralan cooked meals during our overnight cruise and stay. We experienced this on our trip to India in November 2009.
• Presidential Nile River Cruise (Nile Valley, Egypt) – this was an example of a typical cruise experience except it felt more intimate thanks to a pretty tight yet inclusive social group on this voyage. We had included meals and tours, and we stayed on the boat for every night with stops along the way like the Valley of the Kings, Luxor, Edfu, and Aswan. We experienced this on our Egypt trip in Summer2008.
• Hurtigruten (Bergen to Svolvaer, Norway) – this was more of a functioning cargo and ferry boat (our rental car was one of the “passengers”) that also had rooms for guests using it as a cruise. It was surprisingly communal as our daughter made friends with other international guests as well as some of the staff. We experienced this on our epic Scandinavian Road Trip in Summer 2019.

2. Motels

Motels are essentially basic, more affordable hotels that cater to travelers on road trips as these accommodations emphasize easy access to vehicles and a quick check-in process. They’re typically situated near highways and major roads while being away from congested, built-up urban areas, thereby making them more of a simple stopover solution. The straightforward design of motels tend to have rooms providing direct access from the parking area, which is a big plus for those with a lot of luggage or a vehicle they prefer to keep close by. As a result, motels are optimal when road trip convenience and budget are top priorities (with experiences and social interactions taking a back seat).

This is a class of accommodations that we’re quite familiar with since chasing waterfalls often involves driving to rural, suburban, or regional areas as opposed to built-up urban centers. We primarily use them when going on road trips around the United States, which makes sense since motels came from road travel culture that had its origins in America’s car-centric way of life. That said, we’ve also stayed in them on road trip-friendly countries abroad such as in Australia, New Zealand, and Canada.

Given the no-nonsense nature of motels, they tend to lack in authenticity and cultural experiences. In fact, our stays here often aren’t memorable since they’re really just places to spend the night and then move on. I guess you can say this basic approach to accommodations can be a positive or negative depending on what you’re after.

That said, over the years, some motels have expanded amenities to behave more like a boutique hotel or a self-catering lodge while still remaining budget conscious. Some may include a continental breakfast with the room rate while there are others that even offer a kitchen to appeal to those who would rather self-cook than eat out all the time. Even if there’s not a kitchen, most motels have a refrigerator to keep leftovers and/or groceries from spoiling, or if you need to keep your beverages cool.

Pros of Choosing a Motel

• Offers convenience for road trips with easy parking and a straightforward layout.
• Typically lower rates compared to hotels, making it a cost-effective choice.
• Simpler processes, from check-in to check-out, mean less fuss.
• Often situated in areas that provide quick access to highways and attractions.

Cons of Choosing a Motel

• Limited in-house amenities and services may require you to seek out dining or entertainment elsewhere.
• The overall experience may feel less polished compared to a formal hotel stay.
• Hit-and-miss cleanliness and thin walls may make for a less restful stay
• Motels can sometimes be located in less central areas of a destination.

Examples of Motels during our stays:

• Motel 6 (Bishop & Tulare, California, USA) – this is an example of a typical chain motel that has a clean room with a mini-fridge, comfortable bedding, private bathroom and shower, and parking spaces right in front of the rooms. Other similar motel chains we’ve stayed at include Holiday Inn Express, Courtyard Marriott, Best Western, Days Inn, Quality Inn, etc. We’ve stayed at these particular Motel 6s on trips to the Sierras on May 2005 and August 2010.
• Best Western Plus, now Best Western Frontier Motel (Lone Pine, California, USA) – this is another typical motel chain property, where we actually used this place as a base to make the long drives for day trips in Death Valley in 2017.
• Econolodge (Ithaca, New York, USA) – this pretty basic yet economical budget motel was kind of our base for exploring the Finger Lakes region of Western New York in May 2007. Nothing about the stay was memorable (which can be both good and bad), which is pretty typical of our motel experiences in general.
• Prospector Inn (Escalante, Utah, USA) – this is an example of a clean, spacious, and comfortable mom-and-pop motel that was comparable in quality with the standard chain motels. It also had a restaurant (good Navajo Tacos) in a small town within the Grand Staircase National Monument. We stayed here in May 2003 and September 2006.
• Gorgeous View Motel (Watkins Glen, New York, USA) – this is another typical motel stay, but it had a good location near the Watkins Glen Gorge with a view of Seneca Lake. It has amenities similar to a typical chain motel, but it’s locally owned and run. We stayed here during our New England-Eastern Canada Road Trip in 2013.
• Seafoam Lodge (Little River, California, USA) – despite the name, this is another example of a scenically-located lodge that acts more like a motel though it has a little more character than your typical no-frills type. We stayed here during our Northern California Coast Road Trip in November 2020.
• Clearwater Lakeshore Motel (Mackinaw City, Michigan, USA) – this motel was memorable not so much because of the amenities in the room, but because they had fire pits on a beach along the shores of Lake Huron with a view of the Big Mac Bridge, where we cooked Smores. It was a rare example of a motel that yielded a lasting memory. We stayed here during our Great Lakes Road Trip in 2015.
• Great Ocean Road Motor Inn, now Great Ocean Road Studios (Port Campbell, Victoria, Australia) – this motel showed that you can get a quality stay in a scenic location on a road trip outside of the USA, and in this case, we were close to the famous Great Ocean Road. We stayed here during our Southeastern Australia Road Trip in November 2006.
• Residence Inn Grand Junction (Grand Junction, Colorado, USA) – unlike a typical chain motel, this example of chain motels offered self-catering like Hyatt Place, Homewood Suites, etc., and we’ve stayed in many of these, especially when we try to self-cook and control what we’re eating at the expense of time. Our stay in Grand Junction happened during our American Southwest Trip in April 2017.
• Hrauneyjar Highland Center (Hrauneyjar, Iceland) – even though it’s not a motel by name, it pretty much behaved like one. This facility had basic rooms with a common dining hall and reception (no meals included on our stay). It’s just a place to stay, but it’s located high up in the Thjorsardalur Valley, and it was near one of the routes to get to the remote Lannmannalaugur. We stayed here during our first trip to Iceland in Summer 2007.
• Tom Price Motel (Tom Price, Western Australia, Australia) – in the Outback, you’re looking at very long driving distances, and so roadhouses and mining towns like Tom Price are like oases in the middle of the desert. This was purely a basic and functional stopover for us though we did use it as a base for visiting Karijini National Park on our way to Coral Bay. We stayed here on our first Australia trip in June 2006.

3. Intimate Accommodations – Bed and Breakfasts, Homestays, Farm Stays, and Guesthouses

This category is kind of a catch-all for small-scale accommodations where you usually engage directly with the host, which in turn puts you closer to the local customs and cuisines as well as the culture and heritage. This accommodation type includes bed and breakfasts (B&Bs), homestays, farm stays, and guesthouses, among others. They differ from hotels and motels in that these accommodations are small-scale “mom-and-pop” operations that really seek to give you that feeling that you’re a guest in someone’s home.

Choosing intimate accommodations usually means opting for a more relaxed pace and deeper interaction with local hosts, their way of live, their stories, and even their social circles. It works well for those who seek a deeper connection with the location and its people. In fact, our most memorable stays tend to belong to this class of accommodations.

That said, we’ve often stumbled into staying in these types of stays because they happened to be the only option remaining due to the remoteness of location or the lack of larger scale accommodations resulting in limited choices due to the small size of the town itself. And in that sense, finding intimate accommodations has been a happy accident for us. That said, the pacing and schedules of the host (e.g. meal times, check-in times, location) may not jive with our road tripping needs when we’re trying to make the most of our limited time chasing waterfalls.

Nevertheless, like with hotels and motels, there are varying levels of service, amenities, immersion, and charm. Here’s a brief run down of some of the choices typical of intimate accommodations.

Bed and breakfasts (B&Bs) give travelers an opportunity for more personal service. These lodgings are often run by locals in houses that highlight heritage and character. Staying in a B&B allows a visitor to experience local traditions directly, often through warm interactions with the hosts and homemade meals (including the namesake breakfast offerings).

B&Bs tend to offer a cozy, homelike environment where every detail is personally managed by the host. Travelers who choose a bed and breakfast often appreciate the attention to detail and personalized recommendations on local activities. Many B&Bs are set in historic buildings or scenic country settings, which add to the overall charm of the visit.

Homestays involve staying with the host in their home or in a room of their home while sharing common areas like the living room and dining room. These are less formal and can be less service-oriented compared to B&Bs. It’s pretty much as if you’re like a temporary roommate or housemate as there’s no real expectation of service nor attention to detail that you would otherwise expect with a B&B. Similar types of experiences can be had with staying in or even volunteering in say some religious institution (like a temple, mosque, church, cathedral, or abbey).

In fact, homestays have grown in popularity over the years because they can provide an opportunity to learn new cooking techniques, discover family traditions, and even pick up local dialects. Some hosts might even invite you into their social circles, sharing community events or local gatherings that go beyond the typical tourist experience. This openness can transform a simple overnight stay into a vibrant cultural exchange.

Farmstays are similar to homestays in that you’re essentially a guest in someone’s property, but in this instance, we’re talking about sharing someone’s farm. Some famstay hosts provide true farm-to-table meals while others may even organize local tours like horseback riding or local hikes. For true immersion and an even more intimate look at the local way-of-life (as well as an option to facilitate longer-term stays), you could find yourself helping out or working at the farm.

That said, we’ve been in many farmstays where the hosts or owners have parts of their property specifically designated or re-purposed for accommodating tourists. This kind of makes these farmstays behave more like a guesthouse, lodge, or hostel as opposed to the intimacy of a B&B or homestay. Speaking of guesthouses…

Guesthouses (sometimes called pensions) are essentially purposefully-built accommodations right on someone’s property to accommodate guests. They can be self-contained villas, multi-unit condos, cabins, or rooms in a separate partition of a property or home. They can contain shared restroom and shower facilities or even have Ensuites (i.e. their own private bathroom and shower).

Like with farmstays, these tend to have a degree of detachment from the hosts, but we’ve also been in some guesthouses where the hosts were outgoing enough to engage with us like what hosts of a bed and breakfast might do. In fact, some guesthouses also provide home-cooked breakfast and even dinner. So there’s definitely some overlap and range of host engagement with this kind of accommodation.

Advantages of Intimate Accommodations

• Personalized service and advice from hosts who are typically passionate about local culture or willing to share local secrets with guests (especially B&Bs and homestays).
• A warm, home-like atmosphere that often feels more intimate than a standardized hotel experience (especially B&Bs and homestays).
• The charm of historic or uniquely decorated properties that tell a story about the area.
• Opportunities to enjoy homemade meals and regional specialties (especially B&Bs and farmstays).
• Opportunities for a cultural exchange and deep immersion in the local way of life (especially homestays and farmstays)
• The chance to live like a local and see a destination from a different perspective (especially homestays).
• More affordable rates (especially homestays and farmstays) compared to hotels

Drawbacks of Intimate Accommodations

• Fewer facilities and amenities than larger hotels, which might not suit every traveler.
• Limited privacy given the home-based setting and sometimes fewer on-site staff (especially B&Bs and homestays).
• Availability can be restricted due to small number of guests that can be accommodated, especially during peak tourism seasons.
• Your travel itinerary may not be compatible with the host’s operating rhythm (think late breakfasts and/or late check-ins that may complicate your travel schedule; especially B&Bs and homestays)
• Idiosyncrasies and mannerisms of the people you’re sharing the living space with (whether it’s the hosts or other guests in B&Bs and homestays) could be triggering
• No lifts or elevators for the more heritage buildings, which can be an issue if you have lots of luggage

Examples of Intimate Accommodations during our stays:

• Casa das Obras (Manteigas, Portugal) – charming 18th century manor house that felt like it could have been part of a tour of an aristocrat’s home or castle. It had a decked out living room and game room as well as a hidden bar room with a nice breakfast in the upstairs dining room. We stayed here during our Summer Portugal Road Trip in 2024.
• Villa Toscana (Whitianga, New Zealand) – this was the venue where Julie and I had our destination wedding as well as a memorable night’s stay on our New Zealand honeymoon in November 2004. During our stay, it was run like a B&B with authentic Tuscan home-cooked meals and a view of the sunrise over Mercury Bay.
• Quinta da Portela or Casa Visconde Ameiros (Lamego, Portugal) – this was a stay in a spacious yet charming villa at a local vineyard near the famous wine growing region of Douro Valley that is a mix between self-catering guesthouse and B&B. The hostess gave us tour of the museum-like part of the property as well as local advice in addition to some complementary wines and complementary port during our stay as part of our Summer Portugal Road Trip in 2024.
• Mudbrick Manor (Cardwell, Queensland, Australia) – this was a spacious home-stay kind of environment where the host had guest rooms that were private. I remembered this place because it was safe enough that the lovely hosts didn’t believe in locked doors. We booked for a delicious home-cooked dinner and chatted it up with the hosts. We stayed here during our Sydney to Cairns Road Trip in May 2008.
• Butterfield Bed and Breakfast (Julian, California, USA) – this was an intimate and comfortable B&B with lots of attention to detail. Hosts are very friendly and have a real interest in engaging with their guests. This is an example of a B&B that’s well-suited for romantic getaways though I had an ulterior motive to use it as a base for waterfalls in the San Diego County area. We stayed here on multiple “Valentine’s Day Weekends” like in January 2016 and February 2008.
• Agriturismo Il Rigo (Val d’Orcia, Italy) – this was sort of a mix between a farmstay, a B&B, and a guesthouse in the heart of the Toscana Region. In our stay, we also got a farm-to-table dinner and breakfast in addition to staying in a detached shared villa. We stayed here during our first trip to Italy in May 2013.
• Le Mas des Etoiles (Gordes, France) – this was an intimate B&B in the heart of the Provence Region. The host really tried to create a more communal experience actively engaging with his guests. We stayed here during our first trip to France in May 2012.
• Riad Ahlam (Fes, Morocco) – this was a traditional Moroccan riad that was both spacious and well-decorated with a view of the atrium in the heart of the property. Excellent meals and very friendly staff made this one of our most standout stays. We stayed here during our trip to Morocco in May 2015.
• Haus 7 Stadmitte (Melk, Austria) – this was an example of a true homestay, where we shared an apartment with a local host living near the Stift Melk. The room was basic, but they also let us use their refrigerator for our leftovers, drinks, and groceries. The host only spoke German, but they were very nice to us, and we enjoyed playing with their dog. We stayed here during our Germanic Europe Road Trip in Summer 2018.
• Hanok 1957 (Daegu, South Korea) – this is an example of a combination of a very basic homestay and hostel with a very accommodating host. It’s big on charm with a communal traditional Korean garden area and kitchen/laundry/break room area, but the tatami-style rooms with ensuite were very tight. We stayed here during our road trip in South Korea in June 2023.
• Isanga Bay Lodge (Mpulungu, Zambia) – this was perhaps our most memorable stay in Zambia as it’s an intimate lodge on the shores of Lake Tanganyika. The hosts were very kind to us, and the meals here were some of the best we’ve had during our time in Africa in Summer of 2008.

4. Apartments, House/Condo Rentals, Aparthotels, Self-Catering Motels, Self-Catering Guesthouses

Self-catering accommodations and apartments provide an appealing blend of convenience and independence. They are especially popular for extended stays and among families or groups. Most rentals have a full kitchen that come with basic appliances and essentials, but others might offer modern conveniences like high-speed internet and on-site laundry facilities. So renting an apartment or a self-catering property means you have the ability to plan your own meals (even experiment with regional ingredients in their cooking), stick to your own schedule, and often enjoy more living space than in a typical hotel room.

Indeed, this format favors those who feel at home when they can replicate some of their daily routines while traveling. It also favors those who want to live like a local and experience host communities through local markets and neighborhood life making for a more tailored and immersive kind of trip. In fact, many self-catering properties are nestled in residential neighborhoods rather than busy tourist hubs, offering a more authentic taste of everyday local life.

Even hotel and motel chains have gotten in on this market by offering aparthotels (i.e. a self-catering hotel room) or self-catering motels (i.e. motel rooms with a kitchen), which can also offer perks like gyms, swimming pools, and a reception. However, these tend to lack some of the charms and local-life perks you get with residential apartments, homes, and condos.

As for the more small-scale self-catering options that also tick the boxes of other accommodation types, there are also guesthouses that can offer self-catering rooms or units. These types of stays offer more privacy and independence though they can have some communal aspects that you might find in an intimate accommodation or even a hostel.

Some of our best stays involved accommodations of this class thanks to much the bigger living spaces, the ability to do laundry, saving some money and controlling our health by cooking our own meals, and often-times having convenient free parking (something that’s easily taken for granted since we often have to drive to waterfalls).

While self-catering places to rent have been great on our trips, we do have to mention that there has been some controversy regarding housing affordability, housing availability, regulation, and impacts to existing hotel groups. For that reason, some local governments have started legislating against short-term residential rentals (like what you’d typically find in AirBnB and VrBO). So that’s definitely something to keep in mind when seeking out short term rental stays.

Benefits of Self-Catering Accommodations

• The chance to save money on dining out by preparing your own meals in a fully equipped kitchen.
• A more spacious setting that is well suited to families, groups, or long-term travelers.
• Enhanced independence and privacy and a less formal atmosphere compared to hotels.
• Flexibility to make adjustments to your daily schedule without worrying about devoting too much time at sit-down restaurants.
• Many have laundry machines to wash and dry clothing (especially useful during a long, multi-week trip)

Challenges with Self-Catering Accommodations

• Lack of daily service like housekeeping, which means more responsibility for cleaning up (which takes time) as well as liability for damages.
• Sometimes, a less centralized location requires more planning for local transportation and/or parking as well as dining options.
• The cost of rental accommodations may be higher due to additional cleaning/management fees, which could make up a substantial percentage of the rate for short-term stays.
• May not be economical for small travel parties (i.e. 4 people or less), especially if you’re not splitting the cost
• Coordination with host to get access to the unit can be troublesome (i.e. impact what your plans are for the day) due to lack of reception (especially after-hours)
• Short term rentals may become illegal or regulated to the point of negating its advantages

Examples of Self-Catering Accommodations during our stays:

• Northern California Home Rental (Arcata, California, USA) – this was a huge score for us as we pretty much got to rent an entire two-story house while staying near Eureka. In our case, we pretty much had all the amenities we could ask for in a full-sized home for just 3 people! Our stay happened during our trip to the Far North California Coast in November 2020.
• Mountain Village Resort Outpost Cabin (Stanley, Idaho, USA) – this was a fully-contained outpost cabin (more like a full-sized two-story house with a loft) next to Valley Creek in the Sawtooth Mountains of South Central Idaho. We did it as a multi-family stay (where my parents, niece, and nephew were involved). It was the kids’ most memorable stay of our Pacific Northwest Road Trip in June 2021.
• Capital Apartments (Cardiff Bay, Wales, UK) – this was our biggest accommodation score during our UK Road Trip in the Summer of 2014 as it featured a sizable two-story loft with multiple bedrooms, a living room, kitchen, and parking in a modern building. It was perhaps too much living space for 2 adults and a toddler!
• Boutique Hotel Campo dei Fiori (Rome, Italy) – this was actually supposed to be a charming European hotel except they also had self-catering apartment rooms (perhaps making this more like an aparthotel), and our booking was for one of them. It was hidden away in a side alley just a few steps from the bustling Campo dei Fiori Square. This stay happened during our Thanksgiving Week trip to Italy in November 2023.
• Yosemite West Condos (Yosemite National Park, California, USA) – this has been our go to accommodation whenever we fancy a visit in and around Yosemite Valley. We’ve done stays in a studio as well as multi-group stays in a loft. Our stays happened during our Yosemite visits in June 2017, February 2013, June 2011, and May-June 2002 among others.
• Seafarers Getaway (Apollo Bay, Victoria, Australia) – this was an example of a self-contained lodge with coastal views on a hillside (there were alpacas on the property) with easy access to the Great Ocean Road. You can’t beat the sunrise views, and there’s even a telescope for stargazing. We stayed here during our Southeastern Australia Road Trip in November 2017.
• Desert Paradise Resort (Las Vegas, Nevada, USA) – This is an example of a gated community of townhouses or condos except it has been specifically purposed for self-catering motel-like stays. There was even a community pool with waterfall, which was a hit with the kids! We stayed here during our big Pacific Northwest Road Trip in June 2021 as well as our Rockies COVID-19 Road Trip in Summer 2020.
• Cable Mountain Lodge (Zion National Park, Utah, USA) – this was a self-catering lodge that was run more like a chain motel or condo ideally situated between the Watchman Campground as well as the tourist-friendly town of Springdale. Given the increasing popularity of National Parks over the years, this place transformed from an old trailer park into one of the most sought after accommodations near Zion National Park! We stayed here as part of our American Southwest Spring Break Trip in 2018.
• Boutique Guesthouse Arte Vida (Salzburg, Austria) – this was an example of a guesthouse that felt like a B&B without the breakfast, but it had self-contained apartment-like units with full kitchen that were perfect for us given how young our daughter was at the time. That said, the owner was very accommodating to us and there were common areas like a game room, break room, and living room. We stayed here during our Big Germanic Europe Road Trip in Summer 2018.
• Renata Apartments (Dubrovnik, Croatia) – this was an example of an apartment situated right within the city’s walls. Like with the Salvezani Apartments in Split, this was one of the few apartments we stayed at where even paid parking was scarce and inconvenient. However, you can’t beat the location. We stayed here on the Croatian leg of our big Aegean, Adriatic, and Alps trip in Summer 2010.

5. Camping

Camping is an accommodation style that taps into the spirit of adventure and a desire to reconnect with Nature. Whether in a tent pitched in a national park or at a designated campground with minimal amenities, or even a more “luxurious” backcountry experience via “glamping” or in a remote lodge, camping is about experiencing the outdoors firsthand. It’s an attractive choice for those who thrive in natural settings and appreciate a sense of freedom you don’t get from more typical hard-walled accommodations.

Camping can be very affordable and is a favorite among families, groups of friends, and solo travelers who appreciate a break from the usual urban environment. The variety within camping options is wide. Some sites provide basic facilities like restrooms and fire pits, while others are more developed with shower facilities, camp stores, and even Wi-Fi. On the other hand, remote backcountry campsites may be nothing more than just a designated area with no electricity, no shower, and no toilet.

Primitive camping or backpacking can get all the benefits of conventional camping along with a higher degree of solitude and an even deeper connection with Nature. The catch, however, is that you’ll have to be more self-sufficient bringing your sleeping gear, tent, water, cookware, food, lighting, and hiking gear with you. That said, backpacking in a group can help alleviate some of the load that each individual has to carry into the backcountry.

Conversely, many camping sites now offer a blend of rustic charm with modern conveniences. Some locations provide designated areas for RVs or Motor Homes and even solar-powered charging stations, ensuring that even while unplugged, you can stay connected to “civilization” if you choose. Moreover, campgrounds often host communal events such as evening barbecues or outdoor movie nights, which can enrich the experience and foster new friendships among travelers.

Finally, on an even higher end of the scale, there could be “glamping”, which are basically camping experiences with amenities like an ensuite and cooked meals while staying in a large tent or alternative structure like a yurt or teepee or even staying under a primitive tin-roofed shelter while sleeping in hammocks. There are even lodges that blur the lines between glamping and a sustainable hotel experience, where you stay in a primitive lodge that’s solar powered with limited or no running water (so they resort to using a compost or pit toilet).

Advantages of Camping

• An intimate connection with nature that brings peace and a sense of adventure.
• Often less expensive than other types of accommodation, allowing for budget-friendly travel.
• The freedom to choose your site and the flexibility to engage in outdoor activities like hiking, fishing, or stargazing.
• A break from the structured pace of hotels and apartments, leading to a more relaxed and flexible schedule.
• Can be a lot of fun, especially if you have a larger group camping together.

Considerations and Downsides of Camping

• Limited comfort and potential exposure to weather conditions; preparation and flexibility are key.
• Often requires self-sufficiency for cooking, cleaning, self-care, and leave-no-trace, which may be challenging for some.
• Noise and light from nearby campers, especially on busy sites, can disrupt the tranquility sought by some.
• A sense of vulnerability for those not accustomed to outdoor living may also be a factor.
• Setting up the campsite and cleaning up can be time consuming
• Privacy and theft can be issues (whether by humans or wildlife), especially when the site may not be occupied when doing an activity during the day or while you’re asleep at night
• Can be very difficult to secure a campsite reservation due to their popularity as many are fully booked within minutes of becoming available
• May have to plan around securing first-come first-served campsites in lieu of more worthwhile activities like sightseeing (similar mentality to circling around to secure a scarce parking spot)

Examples of our experiences with Camping:

• Car Camping in Yosemite (Yosemite National Park, California, USA) – we’ve done this too many times to count (typically on extended weekends), especially in our younger days. We’ve done this in a variety of sites such as Upper Pines Campground (June 2003, March 2004) in the Valley to the Wawona Campground (May 2003, May 2004, April 2005) to the Hodgdon Meadow Campground (April 2004).
• Car Camping in Yellowstone (Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA) – we did a hybrid camping and lodge trip after flying our camping gear to Salt Lake City then starting the road trip from there. We camped in the Madison Campground (surrounded by bison one morning) and the Mammoth Campground (hearing wolves howl at night) during our first visit to Yellowstone in June 2004.
• Teelorsu Campground (Umphang Wildlife Sanctuary, Thailand) – this was essentially a car camping experience as part of a custom tour near Thailand’s largest waterfall in a remote part of the west side of the country. Tents, sleeping bags, and a foam pad were provided, and the campsite had a toilet facility. We just had to bring our own toiletries and clothes. We stayed here during our Thailand and Cambodia trip in December-January of 2008-2009.
• Backpacker’s Campground at Matlock Lake (Lone Pine, California, USA) – this was a backpacking trip encompassing Onion Valley where we went into the John Muir Wilderness. This was done as a group, where the load was distributed among the participants. We did this trip in late Summer 2013. It’s worth mentioning that we also did similar backpacking trips to other parts of the Eastern Sierras, including one where pack mules helped to lighten our load in July 2009 and a more conventional backpacking trip in August 2011.
• Overnight Thru-hike in the Narrows (Zion National Park, Utah, USA) – this was an example of a coordinated 16-mile one-way thru-hike where we spent a tentless night within the famous Zion Narrows. After securing a permit to do this hike, we arranged a shuttle to Chamberlain’s Ranch with one of the outfitters in Springdale, which also supplied canyoneering shoes for rent. We did this trip in June 2003.
• Ultimate Hikes Milford Track Guided Tramp (Te Anau Downs/Milford Sound, New Zealand) – this is an example of a guided long-distance hike spanning 4 days and 3 nights. It could also be done independently though the guided tramp includes hot showers and hot meals (independent trampers treat this more like a backpacking/hostel experience). However, instead of bringing your own shelter, there are designated “huts”, which are basically dorm-style lodgings (or hostels) that you self-cater and sleep in overnight. We did this as part of our honeymoon in New Zealand in November 2004.
• Glen Aulin Backpacker’s Campground (Yosemite National Park, California, USA) – this was a 2-night backpacking trip in Yosemite’s High Country where we carried our own gear but had to use provided bear lockers (in addition to carrying our own bear cannisters), which came in handy due to a persistent bear lurking every night for human food. We experienced this in May 2004.
• Campamento Bernal (Canaima, Venezuela) – this is an example of a guided tour to the remote Angel Falls. It involved a motorized river boat ride and some rough hiking, but we overnighted at remote tin-roofed encampments equipped with hammocks and picnic tables. We did this during our trip to Venezuela in November 2007.
• Local Village Accommodation (Cocachimba, Peru) – although we had solid walls and a roof in this local village stay in Northern Peru, it was for all intents and purposes a camping experience. Everything from the hard bed, using candles for night lighting, a cold dripping shower, and speaking only Spanish was part and parcel of this out-of-your-comfort-zone experience. We did this as part of our Peru trip in April 2008.
• Glamping in African Safaris (Tarangire and Serengeti, Tanzania) – this was an example of glamping where a packaged tour included overnight stays in tented accommodations – one in a tented “lodge” in Tarangire and another at the Ikoma Bush Camp in the Serengeti. Even though we were in tents, we still got buffet meals, hot shower, and even ranger talks in addition to the jeep safari tours themselves. Our tented stays happened during the Tanzania leg of our Africa trip in June 2008.
• Mutinondo Wilderness Lodge & Campsite (Mpika, Zambia) – this is an example of an eco-lodge accommodation where the structure was both windowless and doorless. So this is more like a cross between a camping experience and glamping (since we got a solar-heated hot shower, battery-powered lighting, a bed with mosquito nets, and cooked meal). This stay happened during our Northern Zambia Waterfall Safari in May-June 2008.
• Car Camping in Bass Lake (near Oakhurst, California, USA) – this was a multi-family affair as my parents with niece and nephew joined our family for a couple of nights in late August 2019. We had to drive to a shower facility, but grilling and boiling food as well as making smores made this one of the most memorable camping experiences for the kids.

6. Motor Homes & Trailer Parks

Motor homes and recreational vehicles (RVs) represent an increasingly popular way to travel. They provide the convenience of having a mobile base, which means that you can carry your own accommodation along as you explore different destinations. This option offers a blend of independence, flexibility, and comfort on the road. Like with motels, this is more of an American invention though we’ve also noticed them in road-trip-friendly destinations like New Zealand, Australia, Canada, and even parts of Europe!

Motor homes are especially appealing to those who cherish spontaneity and value flexibility to roam and enjoy the adventure of the open road. They allow travelers to change itineraries quickly, stay longer in a location if they fall in love with it, or move on if the weather turns sour. The ability to travel at your own pace and to have your own living space available at all times is the driving force behind this trend. That said, there is the added responsibility of planning, vehicle maintenance, and understanding the practical limitations of mobile living accommodations.

While in the US, we’re used to thinking about huge Winnebagos (sometimes towing jeeps for daytime adventures or trailers for additional amenities and supplies), there are also campervans. These are essentially motor homes in a smaller vehicle that’s better suited for handling narrow roads (especially in mountainous areas). These are especially popular in New Zealand, Australia, and many parts of Europe, where wide roads (like what you’d find in the US) are not as prevalent. Some have opted to use trailers with living space that could be towed so once the trailer is docked, the more mobile vehicle can go about the more challenging roads without being burdened.

Going even further in terms of mobility and seeking a more isolated experience, there is also the option of using a Four-Wheel-Drive (4wd) as the means to get to really remote places while choosing to sleep in the vehicle or setting up a remote camp (backpacking-style). To pull this off, you’ll really have to be self-sufficient because you’re pretty much on your own with Nature with few (if any) help or facilities for miles/kilometers around!

Finally, at the most luxurious extreme of this category are converted motor homes or trailer parks, which can behave more like motels or lodges. In this instance, a motor home or trailer park has been converted into a static base such as at a motor home campground or trailer park (where the vehicles have either become make-shift lodges or become part of a larger facility itself). Since we haven’t actually done a motor home experience yet (as of this writing), these converted trailer parks are about as close to a motor home experience that we’ve done.

What You Gain With A Motor Home

• Flexibility to design your own travel schedule without needing to adhere to hotel check-in times.
• An all-in-one living space that typically includes a kitchen, bathroom, and sleeping area, providing a home-away-from-home feel.
• Opportunities to experience off-the-beaten-path destinations that might not offer extensive lodging options.
• The convenience of carrying your baggage and personal belongings with you at all times.

Motor Home Limitations

• Initial costs and maintenance can be high, and fuel consumption is an additional expense.
• Parking and maneuvering in urban areas can be challenging, sometimes limiting where you can go.
• While providing privacy, motor homes often come with limited space, which might feel cramped for extended stays.
• Finding reliable campsite services and facilities remains an essential part of the experience, meaning extra planning may be needed.
• Large vehicle may not be suitable for narrow, twisty, or sloping roads (especially in mountainous areas)
• Need to be more considerate to other drivers due to size and limited speed on the roads (can add to road stress or road rage)

Examples of our experiences with Motor Homes/Trailer Parks:

• Millaa Millaa Tourist Park (Millaa Millaa, Queensland, Australia) – the first time we stayed here, it was actually more of an RV Park as well as trailer park. So most of their sites were just spaces with hook-ups. However, we managed to score a unit that was essentially a temporary structure (possibly it used to be a motor home) that had basic kitchen and shower as well as a very useful laundry machine. This experience happened during our Sydney to Cairns Road Trip in May 2008. Note that when we came back here in late June 2022, it was renamed to the Millaa Millaa Caravan Park, where we actually stayed in a more permanent structure as opposed to the fully self-contained temporary one the first time around.
• Lake Hamilton Motor Home and Caravan Park (Hamilton, Victoria, Australia) – similar to our first experience with this type of accommodation at Millaa Millaa, this basically happened to be a simple lodge or converted motor home in a place that primarily caters to RVers. This experience happened during our Southeastern Australia trip in November 2017.

7. Communal Accommodations – Hostels, Dormitories, Pensions, Sharehouses

Communal accommodations are where typically lots of people have to share space in dormitory-style rooms, communal dining halls, shared kitchens, and shared bathrooms. The most common type of communal accommodation is the hostel. Besides the low cost, the main appeal of hostels is to meet like-minded people from different backgrounds given the high likelihood of contact in settings that are conducive to frequent social interactions. Some hostels even organize group events or tours to further lean into the communal aspect. Thus, this accommodation class is ideal for young solo travelers.

Since hostels appeal to the budget-conscious traveler, the ability to self-cook can be a big plus over eating out all the time. Hostels also can have laundry facilities and even some have restaurants at additional cost. In short, it’s pretty much like a short-term stay in a school dormitory except now instead of living on campus to study, you’re essentially applying similar living conditions for the purposes of travel.

Personally, we haven’t had much experience with youth hostels (which is what most people think of when backpacking across Europe) since our way of chasing waterfalls requires us to be very efficient with our time. That said, we did stay at accommodations that were hostel-like or have things in common with youth hostels. For example, we have had experiences with guesthouses and mountain ‘huts’ that involved sharing dining rooms, bathrooms, and shower facilities even though the rooms themselves may have a higher degree of privacy. In short, they had the characteristics of a youth hostel, but the communal and/or self-catering aspect of our stay were missing for the most part.

What You Gain With A Communal Accommodation

• Lower cost (sometimes significantly so) compared to hotels and motels
• Social interactions with like-minded travelers
• Self-contained with shared kitchen and sometimes laundry facilities
• Usually knowledgeable staff or hosts that are willing to assist
• Usually good location

Limitations of Communal Accommodations

• Variable levels of cleanliness (often lower than standard hotels)
• Lack of privacy
• Shared bathrooms and showers
• People with different boundaries and different standards of decorum can add to tension to the stay (think lack of uninterrupted sleep, annoying habits of other people, incompatible personalities, or even unsafe behaviors, etc.)
• Safety and theft can be a concern
• Uncertainty of experience for better or for worse (it depends on who’s there during your stay and how you interact with them)
• Some hostels may impose an age limit (older guests may not be welcome)

Examples of our experiences with Communal Accommodations:

• Ultimate Hikes Milford Track Guided Tramp (Te Anau Downs/Milford Sound, New Zealand) – this is probably as close to a youth-hostel experience as we’ve ever done though it could be considered a multi-day backpacking trip. We spent 4 days and 3 nights in a guided trek that included dorm-style “huts” with hot showers, heating, and hot meals. We could have done this as an independent tramp, but they’re more of a true hostel experience as you do your own cooking and bedding in less-maintained dorm-style huts. We did this as part of our honeymoon in New Zealand in November 2004.
• Kawaguchiko Station Inn (Kawaguchiko, Japan) – even though this place was an inn, it was really run more like a hostel without the kitchen facilities because we had to share the bathroom and shower. Shoes had to be removed (wearing provided slippers instead), which is typical custom in most Asian housing. The rooms are basic tatami style meaning we sleep on the floor. It may also lack the communal aspect of a hostel because there really wasn’t much social interaction between guests during our stay on our first trip to Japan in Summer 2009.
• Ryokan Murayama (Takayama, Japan) – this was a traditional Japanese accommodation with a basic tatami-styled room and shared use of bathrooms, showers, and even an on-site onsen. My parents and I stayed here during our October 2016 trip to Japan. It’s also worth mentioning that we stayed at a similar shoes-off accommodation at the Wakaba Ryokan in Sakata, Japan during our Summer 2022 trip in Japan. Apparently, this hostel-like experience (without the social interactions and self-catering) seems to be pretty common in the country.
• Hof I Vatnsdalur Guesthouse (near Blonduos, Iceland) – even though this was really more like a cross between a guesthouse and farm stay, it was actually run more like a hostel. The rooms were ensuite and basic, but the dining hall and kitchen facilities were shared and basic breakfast was provided. Both times we stayed here (in July 2007 and August 2021), we got to interact with the hosts (one even used his tractor as a jack to help us change to a full-sized spare tire after it went flat) as well as other guests so there’s definitely a little bit more of that communal experience compared to other stays we’ve had in Iceland.
• Hotel Djupavik (Djupavik, Iceland) – although the name may make you think otherwise, this is really run more like a cross between a guesthouse and a hostel with an option for dinner as well as an included breakfast. The rooms were a former dormitory for women salting herring when Djupavik was in its industrial heyday. Playing up the social aspect of this remote and unique stay, we got to meet a German working at the “hotel” and having a very interesting conversation with a former Dutch politician! We stayed here during our first trip to Iceland in June 2007.
• Fawlty Towers (Livingstone, Zambia) – even though we didn’t stay here, I’m mentioning this because we were indirectly affected by a large group of people staying at this hostel. We shared a Zambezi River Sunset “Booze” Cruise Tour with the hostellers during our visit to Victoria Falls in May 2008. They were all young (perhaps university students or recent grads) and the cruise took on a very loud atmosphere the moment they got onto the bus transport to the cruise and on the cruise itself. So to me, that highlights the social aspect of staying in youth hostels.
• Hotel Edda (Akureyri, Iceland) – this is not a hostel per se because they’re not communal, but when we first visited Iceland in 2007, many of their schools were temporarily converted to hotels to fill the demand when school was out and these buildings weren’t in use (typically the Summer tourist season). Thus, they were basic budget hotels in more dorm-like arrangements, and the Hotel Edda chain was the moniker that essentially served this purpose. When we came back to Iceland 14 years later, these converted schools seemed to be less prevalent and more conventional hotels had been built-up to essentially eliminate the need for most of them.

Conclusion

With so many accommodation types available, deciding which option best fits your travel style can seem overwhelming. Heck, even coming up with examples in this article was very time consuming and challenging because there was so much overlap as many accommodations managed to behave like more than one accommodation type! In fact, I’d argue that putting the various stays on the market into accommodation categories should really be viewed as a rough guide to help your decision making in marrying your travel needs versus the choices available to you. Don’t get too enamored with limiting your options by considering just one accommodation type on your trip. After all, you could miss out on memorable stays where the accommodation managed to creatively cater to your needs despite being categorized outside of your normal accommodation type preference!

Whether you lean toward the convenience of hotels or desire the authenticity of homestays, every option has its unique mix of benefits and drawbacks. No one accommodation type works for everyone. Heck, even in our own use cases, as you can see from the examples we’ve provided, our preferences have changed over the years.

For example, in our youth, we’ve favored camping experiences as well as cheaper motels when we took road trips to National Parks in our first years of chasing waterfalls. Then, we favored more self-catering accommodations when Julie had some health issues combined with our daughter requiring a bit more maintenance as she was too young to make sound choices independently. These days, we try to aim for maximizing our limited time at the expense of cost by being centrally located while also trying to diversify our trips to not be too waterfall-centric.

Ultimately, the best accommodation is the one that aligns with your needs and enriches your travel experience. By seeing our cornucopia of experiences, we hope that you’ve gained clarity and perhaps opened your mind on which accommodations you’d want to consider to accomplish this. In the end, the accommodation you select could spark memories and stories that last a lifetime. So enjoy planning your next adventure, and may each stay bring with it a new chapter of discovery and lifelong memories.