Your next trip’s dirty little secret: the accommodation you almost booked”

Howdy!

March is here and so is that itch. You know the one — you've started a new note on your phone called something deeply unhinged like 'Trip Ideas May 2026 FINAL v3' and you've already spent 40 minutes on Google Images searching 'Your city, aesthetic.' The planning has begun. You are not in control anymore. The trip is.

And so — welcome to the March edition of Thrilling Travel, where this month we are going to talk about the thing nobody tells you is actually the most important decision of your trip.

No, not the flights. Not the visa. Not even the itinerary!

I'm talking about WHERE YOU SLEEP.

Sounds obvious, right?

And yet — I have made spectacularly bad accommodation choices in my time. I once booked a guesthouse in Rajasthan that described itself as 'centrally located with heritage charm.' What I got was a room with a ceiling fan that sounded like a helicopter attempting to land, a 'heritage' bathroom that had clearly not been renovated since 1987, and a location so 'central' it was a 35-minute auto ride from the actual city centre. The charm was... debatable.

I have also, on the flip side, had some of the most magical experiences of my travel life because I picked the right place to stay. An AirBnB in Granada where the balcony overlooked the snow-capped mountains. A family-run guesthouse in Mawlynnong, where the host made me eat an extra helping of Thukpa because 'you look cold, didi.' A tiny apartment in Seville where I had my own kitchen, my own terrace, and my own 7 am ritual of watching pigeons argue.

Accommodation is not just where you sleep. It's the mood of your entire trip. So let's decode it properly, shall we?

The Great Accommodation Face-Off

Let's lay out the contenders — hotels, Airbnbs, and homestays — and be completely honest about each of them. No travel-influencer fluff. Just the truth.

Hotels — The Reliable Ex

Hotels are that ex you keep going back to because they are dependable. They will not ghost you. The bed will be made. There will be soap. Someone will carry your bags without you having to feel awkward about it.

Hotels are brilliant when:

You're travelling for work and need to be functional, not charming
You want 24-hour front desk access (flight delays, I see you)
You're visiting a city just for 1–2 nights and location matters more than atmosphere
You want a pool, a gym, and breakfast delivered to your door like the sophisticated human you are

But hotels can also be soul-destroyingly identical. You know that feeling where you wake up disoriented and genuinely cannot remember which city you're in? Yeah. That.

Also, in expensive cities like Madrid, London or Rome - the ones in the center of town tend to be overpriced. Also,the budget ones in the center of town are not always that well maintained!

Airbnb — The Exciting Stranger

Airbnb is that new person you meet at a party who is fascinating and slightly unpredictable. Sometimes everything is better than advertised. Sometimes you arrive to find the 'cosy studio' is actually a broom cupboard with aspirations.

Airbnb works beautifully when:

You're staying somewhere for a week or more and want to feel like a local
You're travelling with family or a group and need a kitchen + living space
You want a unique space — a houseboat, a treehouse, a converted lighthouse (yes, these exist)
You like self-sufficiency and making your own coffee at 6am in peace

The risk? Listings lie. Or rather, photos deceive. That's why I've included a Listing Decoder at the end of this newsletter — more on that in a minute!

Homestays — The Hidden Gem

Homestays are criminally underrated. Staying with a local family — or in a family-run guesthouse — is, in my experience, the fastest way to feel like you actually understand a place rather than just visited it.

The Mawlynnong story I mentioned? That was a homestay. The host also told me exactly which nature route I should embark on to find the hidden blossom treasures , which road takes you to the hidden waterfalls and why I absolutely should not leave without climbing up his bamboo skywalk. This is information no hotel concierge in the world can give you.

Homestays shine when:

You're visiting a place with a strong local food or cultural scene you want to access
You're a solo traveller who doesn't want to feel lonely in the evenings
You're on a budget but want genuine character (many homestays are incredible value)
You want stories to tell — not just photos to post

🔍 How to Read Between the Listing Lines

Right. Now that we've met the three characters, let's talk about how to actually vet any listing — because this is where most people go wrong.

A few things I always look for when booking:

"Cosy" = small. Sometimes extremely small.

"Vibrant neighbourhood" = loud. Possibly very loud at 2am.

"Walking distance to everything" = investigate this claim aggressively.

"Rustic" = charming IF you're okay with quirks; a problem if you need things to work reliably.

"Stunning views" — always check: from which room? The bathroom doesn't count.

Beyond the language tricks, here's what I actually do before confirming any booking:

Read the bad reviews, not just the 5-stars. The 2-star reviews will tell you everything.
Check when the most recent reviews are from. A beloved guesthouse from 2022 may have changed hands.
Drop the address into Google Street View. Is it actually where it claims to be?
Look up the neighbourhood on Reddit (r/travel or the city-specific sub). Locals will be brutally honest.
For Airbnbs specifically — message the host before booking. The speed and warmth of reply tells you a lot.

If you asked me what I default to — honestly? It depends entirely on the trip, not on any loyalty to a type.

Short city break (2–3 nights): Hotel, every time. Preferably a small boutique one, not a chain. I want a good location, a real bed, and someone to call if something breaks.

Week-long trip abroad: Airbnb, usually. I love having a kitchen, I love a neighbourhood feel, and I love not having to make small talk at breakfast if I haven't had my coffee yet.

Anywhere in India: Homestay or heritage guesthouse wherever possible. Our country has some extraordinary family-run stays that will absolutely ruin you for big hotels. In the best way possible.

The truth is —

Your accommodation is not just a place to store your luggage and charge your phone. It's a character in the story of your trip. Choose it with the same care you'd give your itinerary. Maybe even more.

📩 Your Turn!

I want to hear from you — and I mean it, not just as a polite newsletter sign-off. This genuinely made my day last month when so many of you replied to the January edition.

Hit reply and tell me: