Planning a big trip is thrilling…but where you choose to stay can either make or break it.
You've booked your flights. You've agonized for hours over the destination. Why book a hotel room that feels like every other hotel room in the world?
Here's the truth:
Take your destination's ambition level into account when booking accommodations. Don't sleep on a dream vacation with a twin bed and little fridge.
...says the data. Family travel has become the NUMBER ONE luxury splurge priority with 47% of affluent travellers most likely to spend big when travelling with immediate family members. That's some serious investment. You'll want the perfect home away from home.
Let's break down how to pick accommodation that actually rises to the occasion.
Your accommodations aren't just where you sleep… They're where you create memories you take home from your vacation. A bad lodging decision can silently destroy an otherwise flawless trip.
Consider this. Even the most beautiful destination can lose its appeal when your room is tiny, loud or has walls you can hear through. On the other hand...a lovely home can help you embrace even rainy day adventures.
For that reason your choice of accommodation should receive the same attention as your flight and itinerary. Often more.
Something big has been shifting in the travel world…
Leaving mega-resorts behind, families seek discrete luxury homes. Family luxury villas are HOT right now – upscale family travel experiences are selling at growth rates of over 11% annually as wealthy families look for unique getaways.
Why the shift? Because a private home offers what a hotel simply can't:
If you're looking for curated properties that satisfy all of these requirements, view Amase luxury home rentals for examples of what a well thought out family luxury getaway should be. Properties such as these are designed with the traveler in mind that desires space, luxury and privacy all in one home.
Not all journeys require the same caliber of lodging. Here's how to align your stay with your trip's aspirations:
Especially if you're traveling with large groups across multiple generations. 74% of parents enjoy taking multigenerational vacations. That means spending family vacations with not just their kids but grandparents and beyond. Larger than that, over 55% of parents are now taking trips that include both grandchildren and children. A typical hotel room just wasn't made to accommodate that many people comfortably.
The bigger the group, the more the accommodation itself becomes part of the experience.
Here's what most people get wrong about booking hotels… People book based on photos. Photos deceive. Well, not deceive but they only tell part of the story.
Before booking, run through this checklist:
Location – Can you walk to the things you want to do? Spending time at a gorgeous villa that's an hour away from anywhere quickly loses its appeal.
Layout – Is the sleeping situation practical for your group? Sometimes two-bedroom rentals will consider a pull out couch to be a bedroom.
Amenities – What amenities are included? Oh great you have a pool. Until you realize you share it with the other 30 units.
Reviews – Read the recent ones. Not the glowing ones from three years ago.
Host or brand reputation – If you are dealing with a host or brand you trust, you've eliminated most of the risk.
Skipping any one of these steps is where most bad accommodation stories start.
P.S. always take a screenshot of the description before booking. descriptions change and having what you booked as described, helps tremendously if something is different when you arrive.
OK, so now that we've covered where you'll stay while traveling day-to-day, let's take a look at some of the more common lodging mistakes people make when booking their dream vacation.
Peak homes sell out months in advance. Book late...and you're stuck with whatever's left over.
The least expensive usually doesn't live up to your dreams of a big trip. And the most expensive option isn't always right. Fit is more important than cost. ALWAYS.
Cleaning fees. Security deposits. Minimum stays. Cancellation windows. Read every line before hitting "confirm."
What is livable for two adults can be miserable for a crew of seven. Always travel with the largest party member in mind, not the smallest.
Not every hour on a trip needs to be planned. Find accommodations that allow everyone space – apart when needed.
Big trips aren't cheap. Neither is the accommodation that matches them.
However, did you know that U.S. families making over $75,000 a year now spend an average of 8.2% of their disposable income on travel. That's substantial. Worth booking the perfect stay to protect it.
The right accommodation:
The wrong accommodation has the opposite effect. It stifles the group. It creates tension. And it transforms what should have been the highlight of your trip into a horror story told begrudgingly at future dinner parties.
That's a win-win-win.
A hotel is not an afterthought, it's the foundation of the trip. When it's in line with the caliber of the travel plans, all else aligns.
To quickly recap:
Think big when you take big trips. Your accommodation is where your big trip begins. Spend time crafting it and your whole trip will seem effortless.
Because at the end of the day… The right home makes the whole trip.
