This study also found that price is the decisive factor when choosing hotels . Promotions and discounts represent the real value to guarantee the attention of hotel customers when selecting a property. This shows that independent hotels today can compete with their chain counterparts.

“While consumers want the best deals on travel bookings, their individual final choices reflect their values ,” said Abhijit Pal, Expedia Group’s head of research. “Consumers seeking budget accommodation will choose the best value within their limitations , while someone with more disposable income may prefer a luxury option and is willing to pay more per night, but not more than what they owe.”

How to get there and how to move

The flight to Bali is quite long due to the distances, but it is a very well connected island, used to receiving visits from European countries and also from the Australian continent. Denpasar airport absorbs a lot of air traffic, so you have to be prepared for the usual queues that are usually generated at the entrance, when applying for the visa.
If we travel from a European country, it is not necessary to carry the completed visa from our country, since with the passport, at the entrance, we will do the process on the same day.
Bali is a small island, so the roads that connect it are secondary. Many hotels have a transportation service that can be hired at the hotel in Bali. We also have the possibility of renting  a car if what we want is to move on our own.

What to do in Bali

Bali has numerous tourist attractions, from the temples that appear throughout the territory, through the rice fields, the kilometer-long beaches and even its natural parks.

ubud

You can choose to spend a few days in the center of the island. In towns like Ubud we find temples, the palace, shopping areas, a small food market that opens in the morning, the Monkey Forest and the museum of the Spanish painter Antonio Blanco, among others. This small town near the airport has many attractions and many things to visit.
The Monkey Forest is a natural space, a sacred monkey forest, where you can interact with them, amid ancient ruins, passageways and a wild nature that invites you to get lost for hours.
The Antonio Blanco museum draws attention for its eccentric airs, which have managed to blend in with the architecture of the area, and which offer incomparable views from the terrace that has been set up as a cafeteria at the exit.
Ubud is a town where you can get lost in its streets, visit the craft shops, walk through the rice paddies that surround the houses and that you will find on the nearest mountain. You can go see a Balinese dance in one of the many theaters that offer this nightly activity, hire yoga classes, and lose yourself with the locals in their fields, where they will let you play soccer with them, if that’s what you feel like doing.

Bali and its temples

The Ulum Danu Batur temple is located in the center of the island. Located in an idyllic environment and due to the beauty of the lakes and the landscape that surround it, it is a highly recommended visit if we want to delve deeper and learn a little about the Balinese religion. It is reminiscent of Buddhism, but with its own peculiarities that are only found on this island.
The Gunun Kawi temple, also in the center of the island, is surrounded by rice fields and palm trees, and is a funerary monument where members of the royal family are buried.
The Luhur temple, located on a cliff, where a family of monkeys quite used to robbing tourists stay in its surroundings. If you bring food, be careful, it is possible that they will harass you until they get everything you have on you.
The Tanah Lot temple is one of the most emblematic of the island. Located in the sea, its access is restricted to the hours in which the tide is lowest. The best time to visit it is at sunset, when we can receive a blessing from the monks.

Bali and its beaches

If something distinguishes Bali, it is its kilometer-long white sand beaches and the temperature of its waters. It is an attractive place for surfers, since many have decided to come to live on this island taking advantage of the waves in the area.
Seminyak is a very good area to enjoy the sun and the beach. With numerous hotel complexes that stretch along its endless beach, and a shopping area where you can enjoy good food and drinks as soon as the sun goes down.
The whole island has spectacular areas where you can engage in water sports, and where you can enjoy its idyllic beaches, if that’s what you like to do.

Bali and its rice fields

Bali is known for the rice terraces that cover its mountains, and give the island its own entity. We can see the locals working on the terraces, and get closer to the plantations that are the basis of their gastronomy.

Gastronomy, crafts and leisure

In Bali we will find all kinds of Asian-inspired dishes. Made with natural products, tropical juices and exceptional quality in any place where we decide to stop to eat.
Yoga is a philosophy of life on the island, and many people go to this place to receive yoga or meditation classes and stop the frenetic pace that we are used to in the city.
As for handicrafts, there are numerous products that we can find: from hand-painted fabrics, t-shirts, cotton clothes, stone figures to tropical wood furniture, all of them with colonial inspiration.
If you want a special and unique trip, visit the island of the gods, the memory will last forever in your memory. Plan your Bali vication with Viator and make your trip easy and convenient .

Are you planning to visit New York during your next trip to the USA and looking for the best places to visit?

You are in the right place!

New York, nicknamed “The Big Apple” or “the city that never sleeps,” has a lot to offer. From its impressive skyscrapers , like the Empire State Building or Rockefeller Center , to its lively neighborhoods and world-famous museums , you’re sure to find attractions and activities in New York to suit your tastes!

1. Empire State Building

As an iconic symbol of New York, the Empire State Building is a must-see.

With its 443 meters high , this Art Deco skyscraper offers an incomparable view of the city.

You can visit the observatories on the 86th and 102nd floors , which offer 360-degree views of the New York skyline.

The best time to visit the Empire State is at sunset , when you can see the city transition from day to night, but be prepared for long waits!

2. The Statue of Liberty

If this is your first time traveling to New York, you will definitely want to visit the Statue of Liberty.

Located on Liberty Island, this colossal neoclassical sculpture is a universal symbol of freedom and democracy.

The statue can be seen from many points around the city, but to fully appreciate it, you must take a ferry to Liberty Island.

3. National 9/11 Memorial and Museum

The National 9/11 Memorial & Museum is a moving tribute to the nearly 3,000 victims of the 2001 terrorist attacks.

The open-air memorial features two reflecting pools, known as the largest artificial waterfalls in North America, located in the footprint of the Twin Towers.

4. Rockefeller Center – Top of the Rock

For another incredible view of New York, head to Top of the Rock, Rockefeller Center’s observation deck.

From there you will have a stunning view of Central Park and the Empire State Building.

While you’re in Rockefeller Center, be sure to visit the famous Radio City Music Hall.

5. Central Park

Central Park is the perfect place to take a break from the hustle and bustle of New York.

Here you can enjoy a quiet walk, rent a bike (click here for more information) or even paddle on the lake.

Be sure to visit the Strawberry Fields Memorial, dedicated to John Lennon , and the beautiful Bethesda Fountain.

6. Times Square

Let’s now talk about Times Square , another iconic New York landmark, best known for its bright, flashing advertisements.

When you enter Times Square, prepare to be surrounded by a barrage of lights, sounds and excitement. The towering billboards, bustling streets and animated characters make it a unique experience.

7. One World Observatory

Located atop One World Trade Center , the tallest building in America, the One World Observatory offers an unparalleled view of New York.

This 360-degree observation platform allows you to see the main monuments of the city.

It’s one of the best things you can do in New York! If you really want to travel around New York in comfort then you should book Greyhound buses at affordable prices.

8. Helicopter tour over New York

To live an unforgettable experience, you have to take a helicopter tour over New York.

It’s the best way to appreciate the city’s incredible architecture and unique layout!

It is one of those experiences that you only have once in a lifetime , and also the perfect gift/surprise for your family or your partner.

9. Brooklyn Bridge

Let’s continue this list of the best places to visit in New York with the Brooklyn Bridge , undoubtedly one of the most emblematic monuments in the city.

Whether you decide to cross it on foot or by bicycle, you can enjoy impressive views of the Manhattan skyline.

Crossing it will probably take you a little time, as you will surely take a lot of photos: The Brooklyn Bridge is one of the most photogenic places in the city!

10. American Museum of Natural History

Prepare to embark on a fascinating journey through history, science, and the natural world at the American Museum of Natural History.

Located on Manhattan’s Upper West Side , this renowned institution offers endless exhibits and discoveries for visitors of all ages.

From dinosaur fossils and ancient civilizations to biodiversity and space exploration , there is something to captivate all curious minds, adults and children alike!

Be sure to visit iconic exhibits such as the Saurischian Dinosaur Hall , the North American Mammal Hall , and the Milstein Hall of Ocean Life , featuring the famous life-size model of a blue whale.

The hotel environment is unbeatable. The absence of mountains makes the sunsets very special since the horizon seems to never end, a unique desert expanse in Spain. This area has been filmed in a multitude of reports, video clips, advertisements, some films and programs such as ‘Frank of the jungle’ or ‘Farmer seeks a wife’. You can enjoy nature thanks to different routes such as the ‘Kingdom of raptors and juniper trees’ and cultural routes such as the ‘Fertility Route’, the ‘Jacobean Route’ and the ‘Route of the Caves of San Caprasio’. Thanks to the Tardienta Monegros Leisure and Adventure Center you can ride a camel and have tea in a tent, practice your aim in a paintball or airsoft battle (simulation with replicas of real weapons) or play a game of ‘ bicibalón’ (football on bicycles).

Ecclesiastical luxuries
Another option is the Hotel Monasterio, in the Plazoleta Nazarenas, in the heart of Cuzco, Peru. It has five stars and occupies what was a 16th century monastery and previously the palace of the Inca Amaru Qhala. The best thing is its cloister, whose protagonist is a 300-year-old cedar, and around which are the rooms, presidential and royal suites, all of them with a unique design. You have two restaurants with international and Andean cuisine. And if you want to pamper yourself, go to the treatment room or request the butler service that will prepare the bath for you in your own room. You can also sign up for crafts and cooking classes by the chef, and if you want strong emotions, the hotel organizes whitewater descents and trekking routes through the Sacred Valley.

In Morocco, specifically in El Jadida, is the Hotel L’Iglesia, which, as its name suggests, was an old Spanish church from the 19th century. You can stay in any of its fourteen retro-style rooms and enjoy sea views on its roof terrace (the beach is only a ten-minute walk away). The entrance of the hotel is the apse of the church and among the offers you have a massage room, a common room, a bar where you can have a drink and a restaurant that serves local food, although the best menu in Cite Portuguaise is fish and the seafood.

Whether you are guilty or not, you will sleep in jail
But if there are some hotels that have become fashionable, perhaps because of the morbidity they give off, they are the ones that were once a prison. This is the case of the Hotel Katajanokka, in Helsinki (Finland), which hides a world of contrasts behind its red brick walls. It is a historic prison reopened in 2007 that consisted of 164 cells that today are 106 rooms classified in four classes with ‘in crescendo’ luxury, including gym and sauna. Linnankellari restaurant offers Finnish food in a prison atmosphere thanks to its long tables. In summer you can enjoy on its Jailyard terrace and remember how where hardships were spent before, today you stay in a four-star room.

Its neighbor Sweden also owns a prison hotel in Stockholm: the Långholmen Hotel. As soon as you enter, its corridors warn: this was a prison. Specifically, a royal prison with 250 years of history. Today it is an enclosure that houses a hotel, a youth hostel, a conference center, a restaurant and a museum. If you book in advance you can sign up for the role-playing game that makes you feel like a prisoner for a day (striped uniform and shackles included). Once out of its ‘bars’ you can enjoy the fresh air on the island of Långholmen, a very popular destination for walks, picnics and swimming on its small beaches.

What to visit in Belgium is one of the recurring questions of all those who decide to travel to the country of beer.

Among the thousands of ideas to travel around Europe that you can think of, an excellent one is to visit Belgium and learn about its history and crafts, delight yourself with its excellent beer, fall in love with its architecture and melt with pleasure when savoring its chocolate.

You can travel to Belgium from almost all the big Spanish cities and find cheap flights to Brussels throughout the year. From the capital you can move to the rest of the country by car or train. We are talking about a country that is approximately the same size as Galicia and that has excellent transport services.

– Ghent

But Belgium does not end in these two cities. With the same railway line that leads to Bruges, half an hour earlier you will reach Ghent , a majestic and medieval population, divided by the River Lys.

The urban center of Ghent is one of the best gifts that Belgium can give to tourists. Amidst the smell of waffles being prepared in front of the cathedral, where Charles V was crowned, you can visit the medieval Gravensteen Castle and enjoy the beauty of the narrow Baroque-style buildings.

leuven

It is a small town just twenty minutes from the capital that receives thousands of students every year. It is a university city with a lot of life throughout the year. Its main square, the town hall and the famous Fuente de la Sabiduría stand out.

antwerp

Antwerp is the second largest city in Belgium and is only forty minutes by train from Brussels. It has one of the most beautiful railway stations in Europe , with a magisterial façade and an interior full of details where marble abounds.

The port of this city is also one of the most important, but above all, we know it for its diamond production. It is a pedestrian-friendly city, which perfectly combines modernity with the oldest part. The Market Square is surrounded by hundreds of culinary options to stop on the way while you kill your hunger.

Ideas for traveling in Europe: what to visit in Belgium

– Brussels

It is the capital of Europe, a large city that combines the tradition of its historic center with tall and modern buildings. This multicultural city has dozens of opportunities to offer, such as enjoying its gardens, strolling through the Grand Place or discovering its Tintin paintings.

– Witches

Just an hour by train from the capital, is Bruges, one of the best preserved medieval cities in the world . You will feel like you are in a dream tale, surrounded by canals, beautiful facades and hundreds of corners to discover.

The port of this city is also one of the most important, but above all, we know it for its diamond production. It is a pedestrian-friendly city, which perfectly combines modernity with the oldest part. The Market Square is surrounded by hundreds of culinary options to stop on the way while you kill your hunger.

If you are planning a vacation then I would like to recommend Viator for perfect planning of your vacation.

Located in the river Havel, which passes to the southeast of Berlin, is this island, which some beautiful birds have taken possession of. This is the Peacock Island or Pfaueninsel in German.

The island is open to the public from April to October, from Tuesday to Sunday and from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Enjoy traveling to Germany

When you go to take cheap flights to Berlin to get to know this wonderful country, you cannot do it without visiting this paradise island, located near the capital and just a short bus ride and 20 minutes by ferry. In the past, when the Prussian nobles were great lords in this region of Europe, they established their leisure and recreation spaces there.

buildings

Several of the buildings built on the island have a deliberate and intended appearance of being in ruins. This is due to the aesthetic current of the time that equated this demolished condition with romantic and passionate feelings .

On this peaceful island is the White Castle, which was built between 1794 and 1797 by King Frederick William II , who owned the island. He devised it thinking of enjoying it with his lover, Countess Wilhelmine Encke von Lichtenau.

Inside, it preserves the romantic furniture of the time and a valuable collection of relics in an antiques room . It also houses a cabinet for readings, built in the shape of a bamboo hut.

This castle retains the air of a children’s story with its iron walkway that joins the two white towers. It looks semi-ruined, which was deliberated when building the building. You can get to know its interior spaces through a guided tour.

Elsewhere on the island, Frederick William II also ordered the construction of a false monastery in ruins, a Greek temple, a dairy and stables , spaces that you can explore. This monarch devised a dream space for his romance. His purpose was to create an atmosphere somewhere between medieval and gothic with an aura of serenity.

Animals

Rabbits and later water buffaloes were bred on this island at one time, some of which still remain.

There is a large aviary, built in 1824, where white pheasants from Siberia, fluffy chickens from China and huge German roosters are housed . Around fifty peacocks roam free in the meadows and gardens, giving the island its name. Hopefully they will spread their beautiful tails when you are around, for a fantastic photo.

On this island you go for a walk among the thousand-year-old oaks, to look at the fauna and especially the peacocks. You can visit the rose garden, the statuette of the actress Rachel or the fountain by Martin Friedrich Rabe.It is a place, as Federico Guillermo II planned, of serenity, of contemplation of nature, to sunbathe and enjoy the clear air.

If you are going to travel to Germany to discover its fantastic landscapes, its idyllic castles and its gastronomy, try to stay in one of the hotels in Berlin and do not hesitate to complete the trip with a visit to Peacock Island . If you are planning a trip to Germany I would suggest Greyhound where you can plan your trip.

At Vincci Hotels we have no doubts: the advantages of staying in a hotel are much broader than those of staying in another type of accommodation. Beyond the price of the accommodation, there are many other reasons to choose one or the other. We tell you about ours so you can stay in our hotels!

Why stay in a hotel?

As we mentioned, there is much more to it than the money you spend or the money you can save on your vacation or weekend getaway accommodation. One of the factors that matters to the vast majority of travelers is the location of the accommodation. Surely we are not mistaken when affirming that staying on the outskirts of the city or having to travel very long distances to enjoy its charms is not among the preferences of any traveler.

But this is not the only component that you take into account when looking for accommodation, right? Cleanliness, comfort, services… All this matters, and how could it be otherwise, in hotels you will be able to find the vast majority of these agents.

These are some of the advantages of staying in a hotel and that will make you opt for this type of accommodation and not another. Attentive!

360º travel experience

When you travel to a destination, where you stay is also part of the experience. It does not only consist of looking for accommodation that offers a good bed to rest or an exquisite breakfast to start the day. Depending on the destination you choose, we recommend that the place you stay complete your travel experience.

For example, if you travel to Seville, what better than staying in a hotel with an authentic Andalusian patio like our Vincci La Rábida ? And if you travel to Tenerife, what better than to book a hotel located in an old banana plantation? The Vincci Selección la Plantación del Sur allows you to connect with your surroundings without leaving the complex itself.

At Vincci Hotels we are clear about that. We want that beyond feeling like a tourist you feel like a traveler in his house, in an establishment full of unforgettable experiences. We want to offer you the opportunity to live unique experiences to not only visit, but also feel the destination.

guaranteed cleanliness

It is undoubtedly one of the great advantages of staying in a hotel. A vacation doesn’t end up being one if you have to worry about keeping the room clean and tidy. In hotels you can completely forget about it, since they have qualified cleaning teams that will leave your room as the first day: bed made, new towels, bathroom clean and not a trace of disorder.

Admit it, the pleasure of entering a hotel room every day and having it done is unmatched, and you can’t find that in any other accommodation.

But not only in the room you can enjoy this cleaning. The rest of the hotel facilities, and of course not in our Vincci hotels as well, you will not find any problem of cleanliness and order and everything will be spotless as if the hotel were new.

breakfast services

Although lunch and dinner are less common hotel services among hotel guests, breakfast is inexcusable. Generally with the reservation of the room, you can already adhere to the bed and breakfast regime for a small plus, or sometimes included in the price of the room. If there is one thing we are clear about, it is that it is worth it.

More and more, hotels offer free buffet breakfasts, which brings with it the appearance of fried or scrambled eggs, pancakes, pastries, fresh fruit, toast, cereals… Everything you can imagine! Sweet or salty? It doesn’t matter which team you are from. In some of our hotels, such as the Vincci Soma , you can find specialized corners, in this case for Italian breakfasts.

At Vincci Hotels we also design breakfasts for all kinds of tastes and people. It does not matter if you are celiac or allergic to lactose. In our hotels you can enjoy the magical moment of breakfast just like the rest of the diners.

If you also want to extend and improve your stay, you can enjoy half board, to choose between lunch or dinner in addition to breakfast, or full board, with all times covered.

24 hour reception

You may not need anything at dawn or you may be out of the hotel all day, but there will always be at least one person at the hotel reception to solve any inconvenience that a hotel guest may have. In other accommodations there may also be a person to attend to your clients, but it is not usual.

In addition, one of the characteristics of our Vincci hotels is that many of the receptions are integrated into the spaces of the hotel itself. For example, at the Vincci The Mint , while you order a coffee at the bar, you can make an inquiry at the reception, since both share the same bar/counter.

At Vincci Hotels we can also boast the quality of our services and the professionalism of our workers, which is why we assure you that you will feel at home when you stay at one of our hotels.

Also, you should not worry about the language, since the receptionists and most of the hotel workers will be able to assist you in different languages. If you stay, for example, in one of our hotels in Tunisia or in our hotels in Portugal and you don’t know any of the languages, you will be able to understand yourself in Spanish without any problem.

On the other hand, the presence of someone who works in the hotel 24 hours a day at the reception generates a state of trust and security in the guests that they greatly appreciate. It’s all advantages!

absolute tranquility

The soundproofing provided by hotels gives you extra points when looking for a night’s rest. When you sleep, surely you like to do it in silence, with absolute tranquility and without anyone bothering you. In our hotels we assure you that even if you are in the heart of the city, you will not hear any noise when you want to rest.

This tranquility and silence are advantages of staying in a hotel that become more important in the case of traveling, for example, for business or when you are so tired from your day that you just want to lie on the bed and enjoy the comfort of the mattress and the tranquility of your private room.

Another advantage of opting for a hotel instead of an apartment is the possibility of choosing the type of pillow on which to rest. Soft, hard, anatomical? At Vincci Hotels, one of the exclusive details that our guests appreciate the most is having the possibility of selecting the pillow that best suits their comfort and rest.

extra services

Hotels are no longer just the accommodation where you go to sleep after a long day of sightseeing or business. More and more, extra services are offered to customers, making it one of the greatest advantages of staying in a hotel. End your day with a spa session, a massage or some quality time in the hotel pool.

But it is not the only thing. With the new Vincci Essence concept, your stay at our hotels will become an extension of your travel experience. It is a new way of staying created to offer an even more exclusive service to our guests. Several Vincci hotels already have the “Essence” area, which meets all the necessary requirements to give our clients a unique experience with fully personalized services tailored to each guest and access to exclusive benefits.

If we have talked about daily cleaning of the bathroom before, it is also in this room where you will find one of the extra services that some of our guests appreciate the most: hygiene products and other amenities.

How about a snack at two in the morning? All you have to do is call room service, choose your preference and wait a few minutes for it to be brought up to your room. It is quite a luxury!

Precise and central location

The location is one of the first factors and advantages of staying in a hotel that we mentioned at the beginning of this article. Hotels are often found in precise locations that are convenient for guests.

For example, our hotels in Madrid , such as the Vincci Vía 66 hotel or the Vincci Capitol hotel , cannot be found more centrally located in the Spanish capital. It is a plus when it comes to moving around the city if you are going sightseeing or arriving on business and you cannot afford to waste a lot of time on transfers. It will be an important factor when choosing one accommodation or another.

The same thing happens in our hotels in Barcelona, ​​as well as in our hotel in Bilbao  or hotels in Malaga that we have within the Vincci network. All of them have a perfect location, making it the perfect place to spend the night and enjoy all the charms of the city.

Special offers

Although you may be concerned about the price of staying in a hotel compared to other types of accommodation, you should not, as there are special offers. Generally, it is the websites of the hotel chains that offer these exclusive prices, so it is common for you to find them when you make an online reservation.

Take advantage of these special Vincci offers because they can mean a great discount when it comes to staying in a good hotel with luxury services. Online reservations are becoming safer and faster, so you will have no problem managing it. However, if you don’t mind, at Vincci Hotels we can assist you by phone at any of our hotels to verify that the reservation has been made successfully. You shouldn’t worry about anything, your vacations begin!

All these advantages of staying in a hotel become relevant as clients add years. When you are young, it does not matter where you sleep, because you are looking for the greatest savings on the trip, and sharing a room with eight other people in a room with five bunk beds seems like the best idea in the world. However, from the age of 30 and 40, the perception of vacations changes a bit. That is when it is discovered that the advantages of staying in a hotel will increase the quality of your vacation. Plan your Holidays with Greyhound.

In addition to the economic issue, there are several points that we have to take a good look at in order to choose the perfect accommodation for each one.

Over the years we’ve been traveling together, we’ve stayed in quite a few hotels, some nice, some not so nice, and we’ve learned that hotels can greatly influence our experience, though not always in a good way.

The first thing you have to do is define what exactly you are looking for .

Some things to take into account are the budget , the number of days that you are going to stay or the area in which you want to stay. In addition, you must also take into account the public transport available or the possibility of having a car at your disposal.

To begin with, we must remember that cheap is usually expensive. We try not to book the cheapest accommodation we can find, although sometimes, due to traveling on a very tight budget, we had to do so.

If this is your case, and you need to book a hotel with the cheapest possible price, you have to take into account that you will have to give up some amenities .

Location is very important when choosing accommodation.

The first thing you have to look at is how long it takes to walk or take public transport from the accommodation to the main tourist spots. It is also good to check the timetables of the metro or buses and the price of the ticket .

Normally the cheapest hotels are located further away from the city center or tourist attractions. In towns or small cities this is not a problem, but in big cities you will surely have to take public transport and thus waste time and money .

If what you are going to pay for public transport to get from the accommodation to the city center multiplied by the number of days you are going to stay adds up to more than the difference between a somewhat remote accommodation and an accommodation in the center, it is not worth it !

If you find very cheap accommodation on the outskirts of a city and have enough time, it may be worth taking public transport as long as the tickets are cheap.

The score and comments of customers who have already stayed at the hotel

We almost always book through Booking , but in any hotel search engine you can see the score that customers assign to the hotel, the comments and opinions of those who have already stayed there.

In Booking, next to any of the hotels offered, the overall score appears, which is usually between 6 and 9.5. This score is based on the notes that customers have given to various aspects of the accommodation such as location , cleanliness , staff , comfort , value for money , Wi-Fi , facilities and services .

Each of these aspects is important. As we have mentioned in the previous point, the location is essential.

Cleanliness is also very important, because we all like to stay in neat and clean places. There are countries where cleanliness does not have the same levels as in Europe, but we already know that in advance.

For the rest we try to be guided by the comments. We give less importance to the other aspects. But this also depends on each one.

We never book an accommodation that has no comments and we always try to book those with a score of more than 7 . This of course is personal preference.

This does not mean that hotels with a score of less than 6 are bad, but that surely some of the comforts have to be given up.

Breakfast

Having breakfast included in the price is very important!

In addition to being the most important meal of the day, having breakfast included in the hotel price is great when traveling on a low budget .

There are times when we have a big breakfast at the hotel and at lunchtime we just have a snack. In this way we save one meal a day.

Now it also depends on how the breakfast is. There are hotels that serve you breakfasts worthy of kings and others that serve you very little food and sometimes of poor quality.

Wi-Fi

If you are going on vacation somewhere and your intention is to disconnect from your mobile or upload a couple of stories to Instagram, the speed of the connection may not be important to you.

But if instead you are a digital nomad or need to work online while staying in a hotel, the best thing would be to look at the score that other travelers have given to Wi-fi and also look through the comments, because people often comment on the speed of the connection

Photographs

Finally, and this as a personal preference, after having found several accommodations in the area in which we are interested, with prices and characteristics that we are looking for, what we usually do is look at all the photos to see which one we think is the most beautiful .

Since there are usually several similar options, why not choose the most beautiful one and feel comfortable ?

These are our tips to keep in mind when booking a hotel and we hope they will help you. And remember, never book the first hotel you see.

Finding the perfect accommodation requires a bit of time and reading a lot of reviews . At the end of the day we need to be comfortable in a place to be able to rest well.

Plan your next trip

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To begin to define the perfect cruise, you must begin by analyzing how many vacation days I have . So we can choose the range of cruise days by adding the days of flight or transfer to the destination. ( It is advisable to add one more day to the outward journey if jetlag is expected at the port of departure due to the time difference with our country ).

When classifying cruise ships, and as for hotels, we must talk about nights spent on board. The current offer of available cruises ranges from 3 nights ( mini-cruises) up to more than 3 months (around the world). The standard cruise would be between 7 and 10 nights. This will also depend on the geographical area we want to visit. For example, for the Mediterranean and Alaska it would be easier to find 7-night cruises.

Geographic area and itinerary

The second point to take into account is what we want to see or visit. In recent years, the offer has allowed cruises on the 7 seas and there is almost no corner of the world that cannot be visited on a cruise . Some itineraries even facilitate excursions called “overland” that allow you to visit countries or places far from the coasts, disembarking in port to re-embark in another port after visiting inland areas.

When selecting a geographical area, it must be taken into account that cruises move seasonally . Thus we will find that in summer the shipping companies mobilize their cruises to the Mediterranean or Alaska, and in winter to the Caribbean. In this way we can find a greater offer and better prices if we choose in the areas where the cruise companies operate seasonally.

It is different to look for a cruise by itineraries . There are basically 3 types of routes or itineraries. Scheduled routes , that is, itineraries that usually depart from the same ports during a season. We also find special cruises for their itineraries, such as a route through the Pacific Ocean , a round the world (or a section of it). And on the other hand would be the replacements or positioning which would be those trips that ships make when they change from one area to another. For example, when the Caribbean season ends, shipping companies send most of their ships to the Mediterranean. These boat replacements allow you to find great trips at really interesting prices.

The most important data to study in addition to the scales that the ship makes is how long it remains in each of them, since this will allow us to plan our excursions and outings in advance, and see if the scales are worth it.

The shipping company or cruise company

Choosing the cruise company that best suits us is just as important as the route . There are all kinds and focused on all kinds of cruise passengers. There are some that focus on young people and fun, others focused on the elderly, others on long routes and experienced travelers, others tend towards expedition / adventure cruises, and in recent years focused on family cruises. Although it has now become quite democratized, it is a point to take into account since we can find ourselves on a cruise aimed at older people and with a leisure offer adapted to them and get bored if what we were looking for was a party at the disco.

 The Cruise Ship

The very center of the trip. Since we will spend most of the time in it. Cruise ships are classified by their size or tonnage, category, and in my experience, the year they were built.

Regarding the size we can find 3 types in fast mode:

  Small cruise ships : up to 10,000 Tons (Between 100 to 1000 passengers)
  Medium cruise ships : from 10,000 tons to 40,000 tons (between 1,000 and 2,700 passengers)
  Large cruise ships : from 40,000 tons to more than 100,000 tons (between 2,750 and more than 5,000 passengers)

Each type has its pros and cons . But in summary we can say that those with a greater tonnage and number of passengers tend to be more fun. And with better routes/destinations those of lesser tonnage since it allows them to reach more inaccessible ports due to their low draft.

The ship category is divided in the same way as the hotels. These range from 3 stars to 6 stars. The quality and prices are based on them, although it is possible to find 5 or 6 star cruises at good prices if we book in advance, or choose replacement trips.

Another factor to take into account is the year the boat was built. This detail can be decisive when it comes to enjoying the cruise. This fact must be taken into account since a ship built before 2000 will lack the technical elements that make navigation more comfortable, such as stabilizers that prevent the pendulum movement of the ship, mobile propellers that facilitate entry and exit from ports. So of all those extras that the cruise industry has included for the leisure of passengers. Although it must be seen that many of these boats built before 2000 have undergone major reforms and adaptations to make them more comfortable and incorporate new technology later.

Choosing the cabin and deck

My first recommendation would always be to choose on lower decks (from 1 to 6) and in the central area, since these locations greatly reduce the movement of the boat and the oscillation is almost not noticeable in case of waves. Other considerations to take into account is the position of the cabin itself. Thus, a cabin away from the busiest common areas (elevators, laundry…), crew accesses and preferably away from the aft area, which is where the ship’s engine room is usually located, would be desirable.

To choose the cabin we basically find 4 different types:
  Interiors : cabins located inside the ship (without windows or porthole). Where you can get great cabins at very good prices.

  Exterior – Staterooms located on the lower decks on either side of the ship that include a window or porthole. Keep in mind that some companies offer outside cabins with limited views (obstructed by lifeboats).

  Exteriors with balcony : Located from the main deck. They include a private accessible balcony. Although the current offer is growing, from my experience it is only advisable for some types of cruises, especially those with predominantly good weather (Caribbean, Mediterranean). I definitely do not recommend them if we sail through areas with questionable weather, since we will be paying a premium for an element that we will not use, in addition to the fact that in some ports we will have to fight against mosquitoes or bad odors.

  Suites: They are the most luxurious on the ship due to the size and services they offer. They are limited, and I personally recommend them for honeymoon or celebration trips, since the shipping companies offer special packages and great discounts with extras for these cruise passengers.

And depending on the number of people we find:

  Individual: There is not much offer in this type of cabins, but some ships have a limited number of them. Cruise companies usually charge from 50% to 100% of the total price of the double cabin if you travel alone.

  Doubles: The standard of the cabin offer.

  Triples: the third bed can be a bunk bed, a bed projecting from one of the sides of the cabin or another low sofa-bed type bed. Most companies apply discounts to the third person.

The price of the cruise

Last but not least, you have to consider the price of the cruise . You must know the final price per person of the trip. including shipping fees and extras.

In my experience, some tips when booking a cruise would be:

  There are great discounts for early booking and you will be able to choose the cabin you want more easily.
  See if there is any type of added extra or special promotion : tips included, 2×1, credit on board, children free….
  Evaluate the costs of transportation to the port of departure of the cruise.
  If you have freedom of choice of days, look at the last minute offers 30 days before the departure of the ship.
  See what is the currency on board: dollars, euros, pounds. Since it can affect the final cost of the trip.
  Normally I have found better prices by booking online . I have booked 90% of my cruises directly from the Internet, either with the shipping company or with large specialized agencies. But you have to make the reservation on agency websites that offer all the guarantees by doing research.

Book cruise with temptation-experience.com and have an amazing experience on Temptation Experience cruise.