You’ve decided to travel abroad, whether it’s for work, adventure, or simply to see more of this amazing blue marble we call home. Congratulations! Now comes a crucial question: “Where am I going to stay?” Let me tell you from experience—if your past travels have mostly involved all-inclusive resorts, you’re stepping into a completely different world. Accommodations abroad can be exciting, bewildering, and sometimes a bit of both, but there are options for every type of traveler. Types of accommodations that you might be interested in vary, and also change depending on the way you like or are used to living.  However, knowing who you are and what you like is an important first step.  For example, consider if “roughing it” by eating out of a backpack with a camp stove is more your jam than eating out in restaurants all the time.  Perhaps you like cooking your own food, or that the local dishes simply aren’t what you’re into.  Are you a backpacker with just a laptop, or are you creating a small office everywhere you go? These are all great things to consider before you leave, and remember, it’s not a perfect science, and you’ll eventually find your sweet spot.  For myself, I am trying to spend a minimum of one month in a number of places in order to really find out where I want to plant some roots.  I am currently writing an ongoing saga on getting my Digital Nomad visa, which I will link to this article when it eventually gets completed. Sadly, it’s taking a bit more time than it should.

Whether you’re a 5-star luxury lover, have the romantic heart of a budget backpacker, or someone who simply enjoys something comfortably in between, let’s explore these options together.

So, what’s the best accommodation for me?

Airbnb – My Personal Go-To

For myself, I really like this type of place for both short and medium stays wherever I go.  Over time, I have learned what to look for in a great rental. For me, I really like to cook.  I like my food, and being a vegetarian, I certainly have my own style.  Where I am roaming (South America), there’s meat in every restaurant, and it looks and smells delicious.  Meals are reasonably inexpensive, and depending on the ambience, you can eat anywhere from between $2.50 in a little kitchen, to a lot more in a specialty restaurant.  I look for places with a decent kitchen space, ample tools, including a blender for my smoothies,a kettle for making coffee and tea (Check out this inexpensive must-have travel coffee press), and decent pots and pans.  This is what’s important to me, followed by a number of other things such as hot water (not every place has it), whether there’s a TV (if that’s important to you), and – keep an eye on the listing amenities; pay attention to all the details.  I also make a point to always reach out to the host before I book. 

I also found that Airbnbs are fantastic bases for exploration. For example, I stayed for an extended period of time in Baños, Ecuador. From there, I took side trips into the Amazon jungle near Puyo and rented a bicycle to go explore some waterfalls. There I rented a rustic cabin for less than $15 a night. The shared, outdoor kitchen was a bit sketchy, but I made it work.  I also met another traveler there in a cabin nearby, who was just nearing the end of a 3 year tour from Mexico to South America.  We made dinner together a couple of nights and chatted to the wee hours.  It was great.  Pro tip: always check proximity to grocery stores, internet speeds, refrigerator size, and confirm these details with your host before booking.

A few things to look for not only in an Air BnB, but pretty much wherever you travel:

1.  Is the neighborhood safe?  I like walking, and my workday doesn’t usually end until it gets dark, so safety is a big concern.  From Quito to Cuenca, I have felt very safe in my barrio and have not had any issues so far.  Of course, I’m a fella, so I perhaps have a different perspective.  The first place I booked in Quito, I asked the host how safe the neighborhood was.  He suggested I take a cab after dark, so I wasn’t into that.  Fortunately, the host was a gent and refunded the month’s rent.
2. Is there a grocery store nearby?  This is important if you like to cook for yourself.  For long stays, there will be staples, and I always try not to buy more than I’ll eat in a week.   Taking a cab to get some simple groceries can be a pain, so that is one of the questions I always ask my host.
3. Speedy internet is a must.  I work programs across 3 portable screens, so I hog a bit of bandwidth.  Most hosts list wifi as fast if it is, and if it’s not listed that way, may mean it’s shared across a number of users. Never hesitate to ask the host what kind of speed they’re  getting, and let them know it’s important if you are working. 
4. Full-sized, or larger than bar fridge.  With point #2 in mind, I like to have a fridge that I can put a week or more of groceries into.  Bar fridges are okay enough, but I buy ingredients, and they take up space.  I also quickly search out where the best and nearest local mercado is.  This way, I can buy fresh fruit and vegetables every week, and also buy a lot off of the street vendors.
5. Things to do and places to see.  I also like to be around culture.  I like to be in easy walking distance to the town square where all of the action happens, the cool restaurants, of even a quiet place to grab a coffee, beer or glass of wine and to people watch.  I also like having a gym nearby, as I tend to go more often if it’s easy (the one I go to in Cuenca is a 10 minute walk and only costs $25 per month, or $3 per day for short stays).  I’m writing this article from a place built in 1850, owned by the current family since 1880, and still has their bakery from 1908 in operation. I’d recommend this place in a heartbeat, so here’s the link to this wonderful home.  The hosts really make it great.  The young manager of the bakery, Marco, speaks great English, and the “mom” of the place Kathy is super helpful.

*Pro tip: if you like cooking, start buying spices to take from place to place.   The supermercados usually have little bottles to put them in.  Most stays only have salt and pepper.

Pricing for an AirBnB can vary.

For the places I gravitate to, I’m usually around USD $350 per month, and usually book by month as it is a lot cheaper to do it this way.  My next stay is a month in Santa Elena on the coast, and is the most expensive month I’ve had yet, at USD $500, but it is right on the beach, and since it’s a fishing village, I may even get out on the ocean and land a big one!  The most helpful advice you can take out of this is that location is important, pricing is cheaper by the month, and that make sure the space fits your needs and lifestyle.

Hostels aren’t hostile – Budget-Friendly and Social

Depending on your sense of adventure, hostels can be an excellent choice for budget-conscience travelers, and are super plentiful, especially where tourists tend to gather.  When someone conjures up images of a hostel, they often think of a bunkbed-filled room of drunk young adults partying until all hours of the night.  This can certainly be the case if you like, but hostels can also be wonderful places to hang your hat for longer stays as well, and vary from the bunkhouse, to some really great accommodations with all the creature comforts you want. They’re inexpensive, with rates as low as USD $7 per night. The downside is that there is rarely a private kitchen, may not have your own bathroom or shower, and the rooms are a bit smaller in most cases.  An exception for me was in 2019, I stayed in a hostel in Montanita on the coast, and the hostel had individual cabins with their own bathrooms and showers.   For me, this was a great alternative for a couple of weeks and cooking wasn’t a priority, as they had a restaurant in the place.  Additionally with hostels, you may want to check for in-room wifi, as many hostels have common areas or co-working setups where the internet is shared.  Hostel Co-working spaces can be an excellent way to meet people in your travels, and make some really great bonds with people from all over the world.  Again, like any accommodation, do a bit of research on the neighborhood you’re in and make sure it fits your style and your daily routines.  Another thing you can ask when looking for a hostel is the age group that it caters to.  I’m a bit older, so having a bunch of late teens running around having fun isn’t necessarily appealing to me since I’m working every day and sleep is important. 

Hotels – Convenience and Comfort

If AirBnB’s and hostels aren’t on your radar, and you have a decent budget, hotels can be a great choice. Let’s face it, clean towels every couple of days, fresh sheets, and room service can make for an excellent stay while roaming another country.  Hotels are often in more metropolitan areas, or at least where there’s a reasonable tourist trade.   They’re safe, usually in a decent part of town, and typically have a great little restaurant attached.  There’s also the likelihood that there’s a pile of other services in the area, and that gym I was talking about?  The hotel probably has one.  A hotel is a great idea if you need to stay a couple of days, but if you’re looking for any measure of autonomy, you won’t find it.  Now, sometimes you can find a kitchenette, but those aren’t always available.   Hotels also give you the flexibility to NOT settle down in one place, and to explore different neighborhoods and even towns and cities.  This type of travel is also conducive when you have a smaller amount of  luggage, as moving often really becomes a pain. I have two backpacks and a carry-on, and moving only once a month is almost too much.

Finding Your Perfect Accommodation Balance

So there you have it, the 3 most common types of accommodation while traveling, either for short stays, or longer protracted ones.  It’s important to consider how you’re currently living, and being realistic about how you will be living.  With these options, you can even have a hybrid of the three, and I’ve ran into a number of people on the road that really appreciated being in hotel, with all the hot water, clean towels, and soft sheets they could imagine.  Sure, the excitement of a hostel is great, but sometimes you need a break to simply relax.  For those of us that prefer a bit more stability and enjoy having longer term familiarity, an AirBnB is the way to go, and who knows, maybe you’ll find that sweet spot you never want to leave and will consider renting or buying.  The possibilities are endless……

So, what do you think?  Anything I’ve missed?  I hope you got something out of this article, and if so, how about dropping me a like, a comment, or most of all…subscribe so you can get these in your inbox every month. 

What’s YOUR favorite way to travel??