Questions tagged [accommodation]
For questions covering various or special accommodation types. Prefer a more specific tag or tags where relevant (for details see `tag info`).
404
questions
84
votes
13
answers
18k
views
How to spot fake reviews on TripAdvisor?
I know that review sites like TripAdvisor have fake reviews (some hotels more than others) - how can I make sure I am looking at the 'real' reviews as using TripAdvisor can be very tricky to filter ...
75
votes
8
answers
11k
views
What kind of things can you take from a hotel?
Hotels normally provide a big amount of sets (well, depending on the quality, but however, many!) that can help you feel more comfortable there.
So for example you can get towels, slippers, candies, ...
71
votes
9
answers
13k
views
How to survive a timeshare promotional trip?
Earlier this week my fiancé called Hilton to change an existing reservation and in the process was roped into booking a 3-night stay in Orlando for $99, as long as he agrees to sit through a 2-hour ...
71
votes
11
answers
27k
views
How to spend a night in an unknown city without a hotel? Is there a guide or resource online?
I had a late flight recently and due to a delay on the flight I was not able to get my transport to the city where I had my accommodation.
Staying in the airport was not an option either since it's a ...
61
votes
4
answers
10k
views
What action is recommended if your accommodation refuses to let you leave without paying additional fees?
There has been reports in the news that following the financial trouble Thomas Cook is in, some hotels have been refusing to let guests leave unless they pay additional fees. This isn't just a verbal ...
42
votes
1
answer
8k
views
Airbnb housing gone electrifyingly bad
I am staying at a place booked via Airbnb. Something happened and there is no electricity from Friday! The house-owner has provided a super noisy generator, which is inconsistent, meaning that it "...
41
votes
2
answers
11k
views
What Exactly is Self-Catering?
On several islands in the Seychelles I've been seeing a lot of Self-Catering signs: Self-Catering Guest House, Self-Catering Apartment, Self-Catering Hotel, Self-Catering Room, etc.
What exactly does ...
37
votes
6
answers
11k
views
What can I do at Hong Kong Airport for 13 hours?
Problem:
I have a layover of 13 hours on the 15th of December 2019. I arrive 7 am in the morning, depart 8 pm Hong Kong time. I had earlier planned to go out but now I don't think I should risk it.
...
36
votes
1
answer
5k
views
Is there a booking app or site that lets you specify your gender for shared dormitories?
I've noticed that on booking sites and apps such as Agoda and Booking.com that let you book a bed in a shared room in a hostel, guesthouse, etc, have a kind of way to game the system that more ...
34
votes
8
answers
15k
views
Is it good courtesy to leave the bed made when checking out of accomodation? [closed]
I was always taught to leave the room in a clean condition when checking out of an accomodation. When staying somewhere with my parents, we gave the room a look-over and tidy it up into the condition ...
32
votes
3
answers
22k
views
What are the signs of a bed bug infestation?
Bed bugs have become a real problem recently, with more and more places reporting outbreaks. What can you do to avoid being exposed to these nasty parasites?
If you do get exposed, what can you do ...
31
votes
10
answers
1k
views
Is there a list of free accommodation resources?
I want to travel abroad cheaply and I would prefer to find some place to stay through a person or website, rather than book a hotel or hostel. There is couchsurfing.com, which I know about.
Can you ...
29
votes
7
answers
13k
views
Sleeping options when under 18 and travelling solo
I'm a 16 year old citizen of Ukraine, living in Poland, and I want to travel to Lofoten, northern Norway, by hitchhiking from Warsaw. One of the adventure's goals is to spend as little money as ...
28
votes
2
answers
19k
views
Should I tip my Airbnb host?
I am about to embark on my first Airbnb experience for a little over a week. I was wondering if it is customary or expected to tip the host upon departure or perhaps along the way, as it seems like ...
25
votes
2
answers
5k
views
Public huts to stay overnight around UK
While traveling around NZ, I've stayed in many public huts around different ranges like the Tararuas and Ruahines. Are there any public huts around the UK (England, Wales, Scotland, etc.) where anyone ...
25
votes
5
answers
53k
views
Getting into a fully booked hotel?
Perchance where I'm travelling to has really crappy availability in terms of vacancies for when I'm going. All of the hotels near the area are fully booked for the weekend. I called the front desk for ...
24
votes
5
answers
19k
views
Do hotels in Europe permit two adults and two kids to all stay in just one room?
My kids, 12 years old and 5 years old, will not sleep in a separate room if it is not our own home or their grandparents'. They insist on staying in the same room as my wife and me.
I would like to ...
24
votes
3
answers
5k
views
Does the Black Forest (Germany) have French style refuges (free, no-reservation)?
In the French Alps, there are many refuges which are free to use: you can turn up in most places with no reservation and stay the night.
I can't seem to find any mention of these free refuges in ...
23
votes
2
answers
6k
views
How should a traveller report that his/her (reserved) accommodation is refused by the proprietor on booking.com?
Soon after my booking, a person posing as the accommodation provider contacted me and prompted to cancel my reservation on the basis that the reserved room (allegedly) became unavailable. Obviously I ...
23
votes
7
answers
4k
views
In which places in China can travellers not stay at just any random local hotel?
I have now heard a couple of times from different sources that in some parts of China you can't just stay wherever you feel like as a tourist.
I hitchhiked from the Lao border to the Mongolian border ...
22
votes
2
answers
4k
views
Why do some hotels etc and other accommodation have rules against washing clothes in your room or in the sink?
In some hotels and other kinds of accommodation including hostels and I believe even campgrounds there is a rule against hand washing your laundry in the sink or handbasin, or in your room. I'm sure I'...
22
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Is there a feasible way to combine hitchhiking and CouchSurfing?
On my previous trip I tried hitchhiking for the first time and became addicted so this year I'm spending six to twelve months traveling in East Asia and Eastern Europe. I also tried CouchSurfing for ...
21
votes
6
answers
1k
views
How do I minimize total cost of separate flights to the same destination plus optionally accommodation?
My girlfriend and I are currently living in different countries, and meet occasionally for a few days every month or so. We don't really care all that much where we are going, as long as we don't need ...
21
votes
1
answer
15k
views
Do all guests need an Airbnb account?
I'm renting an Airbnb appartment with my friends this summer. Do we all need an account or is one account for the person who will be paying sufficient? One of the steps in the booking process is ...
19
votes
5
answers
1k
views
Can I spend some time in a real prison as a tourist attraction?
I know there are hotels built in buildings that used to be a prison. Is it possible to do some jail time as a tourist, somewhere? That is without doing the crime and only for a short period, just for ...
18
votes
2
answers
7k
views
Should I wash dishes before leaving a serviced apartment?
I have been staying in a serviced apartment for 3 weeks and will leave soon. The service was once a week. They didn't wash dishes so far, I did myself.
I wonder if they expect me to wash dishes ...
18
votes
2
answers
3k
views
How cheap are the cheapest accommodations in Saudi Arabia?
So I know Saudi Arabia is known for being rich and for not issuing tourist visas.
But if somebody were to go there on some other type of visa, such as a business visa, and then attempt some ...
17
votes
1
answer
886
views
How to book accommodation in Japan when all websites are fully booked?
Japanese people tend to all take their holidays at the same time, so some periods (Golden Week, Obon, Silver Week) are extremely busy, with zero availability for most touristic cities on all booking ...
17
votes
5
answers
2k
views
How can I find the cheapest private hotel room (as opposed to a bed in a dorm) using online tools?
I tried the standard tools like Kayak or Momondo, but there the cheapest option is always a bed in a dormitory. In particular I was searching for Amsterdam and the first few pages of results (sorted ...
16
votes
7
answers
6k
views
What is the name of this kind of accommodation?
(Not sure if this should be on the English SE)
The specific accommodation model I'm thinking of looks very much like student housing:
The tenant rents a room
Room comes with basic furniture (e.g. bed,...
16
votes
1
answer
5k
views
Check in to 2 hotels at same location
I am planning to check into 2 hotels at the same time and I am wondering if it is allowed or hotel can raise concerns if they find out.
Situation is like this, I want to stay in a dormitory as I am a ...
16
votes
2
answers
3k
views
How does the new landlord duty affect visitors to the UK?
A "friend" wants to visit the UK for 6 months and stay along the south coast of Cornwall and Devon because of the photographic opportunities in this region. She contemplates renting a flat for the ...
16
votes
2
answers
21k
views
Where can I find short term apartment rental offers in Berlin?
I'm looking to rent an apartment in Berlin for three months starting in April.
What websites / real estate agents / vacation rental companies exist for renting an apartment long term in Berlin?
I've ...
16
votes
2
answers
50k
views
How big is a "semi-double" bed in Japan?
I'm looking at accommodation for an upcoming trip to Japan.
A room I'm looking at quotes a "semi-double bed", a size I've never heard of. I found this question asking about "twin beds", but the ...
16
votes
1
answer
5k
views
Are short-term rentals (Airbnb, etc.) legal in Singapore?
Are short-term rentals like those offered by Airbnb, Roomorama, etc legal in Singapore? There are obviously lots of listings, and Roomorama is actually headquartered in Singapore, but there's also a ...
15
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Travel in Morocco during Ramadan?
I'm planning to visit Morocco this summer with my girlfriend, from 20/07 to 3/08.
We'll arrive during Ramadan, and I've heard and read many things about the change of lifestyle there, but at the end, ...
15
votes
6
answers
16k
views
Where to stay for London nightlife?
For those looking to travel to London and enjoy the nightlife, where would be the best area to stay? Requirements are nearby bars, alcohol and 20-something crowd all preferably within walking distance....
15
votes
2
answers
5k
views
How to meet my Persian girlfriend in Iran and have privacy while not being married?
I plan to visit my girlfriend in Iran. She's Persian (from Tabriz), I'm French and we’re not married.
We're planning to see each other for a week. We don't know yet where but Tehran would be nice ...
15
votes
2
answers
22k
views
Airbnb alternative that doesn't require ID verification
Since Airbnb needs its users to verify their ID by uploading a photo of their driver's license or passport, I'm in search for another service quite like Airbnb, but without this way of approving one's ...
15
votes
1
answer
550
views
Why do some Indian hotels request more than the room rate as advance payment?
I've been travelling in India for about 2 months now and about half the places I've stayed have asked for an advance payment way over the room rate at the time of check in. Often asking for 1000 ...
14
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Are inexpensive ryokans inauthentic?
A lot of people I talk to, including Japanese and non-Japanese, claim that ryokans are expensive.
Once, when I discussed this further and said that some places that I've been to describe themselves ...
14
votes
3
answers
944
views
Long term vacation on Falkland islands?
Has anyone ever been there? I was wondering if anyone knows any "local" classifieds site there for a somewhat mid-long term accommodation (3 months?) without staying in a hotel. Also, does anyone know ...
14
votes
3
answers
542
views
What's the address of this guesthouse in Bulgaria?
A few weeks ago travelling with friends in Bulgaria we stayed at a guesthouse of an older lady named Rosa who basically accosted us and climbed into our car when we arrived in the old town of Veliko ...
14
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Where should I stay in London with an early Heathrow departure?
I'll be in London for one night coming in from Cambridge the prior afternoon with a 10:15 AM flight out of Heathrow. I'm looking for a nice area with some good pubs to spend the evening. I'd like to ...
14
votes
3
answers
15k
views
How to find budget accommodation in Iran?
I usually stay in hostels or guest houses when travelling, it is much easier to meet people than in hotels and usually cheaper too.
Coming up is a trip through Iran and the usual suspects like ...
13
votes
3
answers
305
views
What is a good town/place to stay at, in order to visit the Dead Sea?
I am wanting to see the Dead Sea. Is there anywhere safe/nice to stay on the Israeli/Palestinian side of the sea?
Travel guides I have read recommend travelling from Jerusalem but its circa 40km ...
13
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Is it usual for Japanese sentos to offer cheap overnight stays like their Korean counterparts (jjimjilbangs) do?
Japan and Korea both have similar concepts of communal bath houses. In Japan they are called sentos and in Korea they are called jjimjilbangs.
In Korea it is usual that jjimjilbangs offer very cheap ...
13
votes
2
answers
824
views
How to determine if a hostel room is a walk-through room?
This summer I stayed in a hostel in Moscow. The ratings from Hostelworld weren't that bad. I have to admit that I have seen places far worse, but one thing really annoyed me: We booked a room in a 6 ...
13
votes
2
answers
322
views
Is squatting a viable alternative for accommodation?
I have encountered references (e.g. hitchwiki) that list squatting (staying in a an abandoned building as I understand it) as a cheap accommodation. I have however some concerns:
it is illegal in ...
13
votes
4
answers
3k
views
What is a good town to use as a base to explore the Speyside region of Scotland
I will be in the Speyside region for a couple of days mainly exploring whisky distilleries, I will have a car and a sober driver, I'm just looking for a nice town to stay in for a couple of days.
...