5 Secrets to Finding Great Lodging

Come gather, you DIY travel planners. You're thinking of your next trip and all the details that go with it. What do you spend the most time planning? For me, it's lodging. Whether local or overseas, where I stay impacts the entire feel and logistics of my trips. Finding the perfect (or good enough) hotel room or apartment rental can be a daunting task shaped by budget, traveling party needs, personal interests, preferences, standards, and expectations. Keeping these factors and what they mean to you in mind, here are my top five secrets to finding great trip lodging.

1. Know your priorities, preferences, and travel party needs.

   
   

   As a traveler, I aim for budget-friendly spaces with a touch of luxe. A great view (ex. waterfront or cityscape) is preferred, if I can swing it. I look for safe and clean accommodations. No infestations. Lodging options must be easy to access with responsive, English-speaking staff or hosts who can be quickly reached. Because of my health needs, I prefer not to have too many stairs to climb (but I will take multiple flights of steps, if necessary). These are my starting points.

   
   

   Think about what matters to you and those who may be traveling with you. Do you need elevators? Air conditioning? Don't assume every place you're considering has both of these things. Can you handle steps (with or without luggage) and steep inclines (and that includes the road up to the lodging, especially in mountainous areas)? Are microwaves, included meals, or playpens necessities?

   
   

   Make a list of absolutes and even then decide if any of your needs are flexible. Some countries and cities do not follow your cultural norms, expectations, and assumptions. Indeed, part of the travel experience is the opportunity to live outside your usual routine, allowing growth, learning, and sometimes laugh-out loud memories.

2. Be open to various types of lodging to accommodate your budget.

   
   

   When my children were younger, booking apartment or condo rentals was far more budget-friendly for our family of five vs. booking standard hotel rooms, which typically max out at four people. Apartments may have multiple bedrooms under one roof and offer the option to cook meals to save money instead of eating out for every meal. Even just having the option to fix breakfast (whether toast and fruit or a full spread with all the fixings) can save some coins if you are traveling with a large group.

   
   

   When it's just me and my husband (and as our children have aged out of our trips), I'm more apt to look for hotels — but I still keep options open. For example, many years ago, my husband and I found the cutest rental for a trip to Los Angeles. A studio space over the garage of a home in the Hollywood Hills, it was private, well-located, and allowed for scenic walks. On another occasion with just the two of us, we stayed at a bed and breakfast in the Garden District of New Orleans. The point is, as you weigh your priorities, preferences, and needs, keep your options open.

   
   

   Lastly, note what type of lodging may be common in a given area. Perhaps cabins are the way to go in the locale you plan to visit. Maybe big resorts aren't the norm in a small beach town and a smaller family-owned motel will give you the most relaxed experience. Do your research and do not assume standard hotels are your only options. In Marrakech, Morocco, for example, riads in the old medina are commonplace. While the outsides of these structures may look plain and ancient, the interiors are often plush, romantic, and built around lavish courtyards with extravagant rooftops that may rival your daydreams.

3. Stay slightly off-center.

   
   

   While you may want to play in a city center and see all the tourist sites, you do not have to pay to stay those areas. ✨Here's a pivotal L. Janel Insider Tip✨: Explore your options just outside the city center but directly on a transit line.

   
   

   The first time my husband and I traveled to Paris (2018), we wanted to bring our three children with us. When I began looking for lodging, I nearly gave up on that goal. The costs for hotel rooms that would fit two adults, two teens, and a child near the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, and other major tourist attractions were out of our budget's stratosphere. So, I looked up the various districts (arrondissements) in Paris and found a 3-bedroom townhouse (yes, townhouse!) in an area called Bagnolet, a suburb of Paris. It was a fraction of the costs of the tiny hotel rooms I'd been scouring in the city center. Located in a residential neighborhood, we were connected to all of Paris via a metro stop and a bus route, both within a 15-minute walk of this Airbnb rental.

   
   

   On our way to the rental, we passed a storefront that had a bottle of Queen Helene Cocoa Butter in the window and I knew exactly where we were (IYKYK). This was not a tourist area and perhaps some would say the neighborhood felt a bit gritty. However, as a girl who grew up in Baltimore City, I said "oui, oui" and kept it moving. I felt safe there with my family (I studied the many reviews that vouched for safety) and we enjoyed the boulangerie (bakery) every day, dining on baguettes, pastries, and one of the best desserts (a strawberry mousse parfait) I've ever had in my life.

   
   

   Choosing to stay outside the city center but also within walking distance to major transit routes meant that my children, at ages 10, 15, and 17 got to experience both the tourist charm and an everyday neighborhood in the City of Lights.

4. Let reviews be your guide.

   
   

   I can honestly share that most of places we've booked have been home runs. My family has come to expect their lodging to be exactly what we need, in great condition, in optimal locations, and usually with some perks and/or a scenic view. I've spent years perfecting my process and I'm happy to share my review system for you to adapt to your own travel needs and preferences. What I'm about to share is not a foolproof process and I am not liable for your choices and experiences. What I can say is that when I've stuck to this system, our family has been consistently wowed. And when I've veered, even a little (and usually for a reason), well... 🥴

   
   

   First, I primarily use three websites, even if If end up booking directly on a hotel website (more on that in a moment). I have a minimum average review rating for each that has not failed me yet:

   1. Airbnb.com - 4.9 (if you must go lower, try not to go less than 4.88)

   2. Tripadvisor.com - 4.2 (definitely don't go below 4.0)

   3. Booking.com - 8.0 (that is firm)

   I will check hotel ratings on both TripAdvisor and Booking and ensure that the overall consensus of reviews is consistent. Also, some hosts cross-post their listings on both Booking and Airbnb. If you don't want a host to post a public review about you as a guest, book on Booking.com. If booking a hotel, check to see if they offer a free rewards or member program, promo codes, or packages for booking directly on their website. The hotel we booked in Phuket, Thailand, for example, offered a 10% discount when booking directly on their website when we traveled there in 2025.

   
   

   Second, I ensure that there are a lot of reviews. I mean a lot. I don't trust new listings, nor ones that have just a handful of feedback from guests. I need to see pages and pages of comments for me to begin to believe what's being said. And, as a Black woman from the USA, for Airbnb in particular, I'll also scope for reviewers who look like me. If I see that Keisha from Charlotte, NC or Quan from Detroit, MI has good things to say about a given place, I feel that the odds are better that there won't be any racial funny business when I get there. Now, I won't disqualify a place if I don't see reviews from Keisha and n'em; but it does make me feel better when I do. This is an unfortunate layer of reality that I must consider when traveling anywhere, whether (especially) in the states or abroad, and (especially) when I'm traveling with my children. My momma ain't raise no fool!

   
   

   Thirdly, do a deep dive of reviews. Read beyond the first page of comments. Filter for the most recent ones so you can catch new problems or disruptive construction projects. Search for key words that matter to you. My key words include "safety," "subway," "location" and "allergies" (we have a lot of food allergies in our family so it's a bonus when I see a hotel dining option that takes food allergies seriously). Seeing or not seeing key words are not necessarily deal breakers. They just help inform choices. Also, look for themes and commonalities across reviews. If a bunch of people complain about crumbs on the nightstand, then there's a good chance you may see crumbs on the nightstand if you go. If a bunch of reviews praise the communication of the host or manager, that's assuring. And if the facility responds positively and politely to negative reviews, that's a good sign they care about their reputation and your experience. There's almost always going to be negative reviews. You want to look for patterns and if the raised concerns are ones that matter to you.

   
   

   And the last point on this point? Remember, you generally get what you pay for. If your chosen hotel is drastically cheaper than the ones nearby: red flag🚩🚩🚩. If all the hotels are cheap in a given area, then make sure you have researched the neighborhood to ensure safety, ease of access, acceptable amenities and activities, and food options. There's nothing wrong with saving money. Just make sure you understand and are okay with what you are booking, and are not expecting a Ritz-Carlton experience on a Red Roof Inn budget. Your lodging is where you lay your head after your day of exploration. As long as that space is clean, comfortable, and safe, everything else is a bonus!

   
   

5. Use Google Maps to the max.

   
   

   While I have found guest reviews on Google Maps to be inconsistent at times, I do use Google Maps to help finalize my lodging choice. Using the address or neighborhood of a potential hotel or rental listing, I'll see what restaurants and activities are in the area. Will it be easy to find a quick, affordable lunch (Google maps will display nearby food spots including menus and price ranges, if available)? Are there convenience stores or supermarkets within walking distance? Just how close is the subway stop that the host claims is steps away? Are there direct routes to the excursions we have planned (for us, that means no more than one subway transfer)? What about to the airport or train station? Does the exterior of the hotel actually look like the glossy pics on the website? Does the street it's on look like somewhere I'll feel safe walking or are vacant buildings and desolate roadways bordering the property? Answers to these questions are not necessarily dealbreakers — though sometimes they are. At a minimum, Google Maps can help inform you about the area where you are staying, ensuring that it aligns with the vision, logistics, and schedule you have for your trip.

Coming Full Circle: A Booking Case Study

On a recent trip to London (2026), I found a three-bedroom flat (apartment) rental that worked perfectly for my family. Coming from a tiny hotel room in Paris (booked on purpose because of the excellent location within the Latin Quarter), I knew we'd appreciate the airy, spaciousness the London flat offered for the final leg of our country-hopping vacation. It had a washer that would let us refresh our wardrobe and a kitchen to maximum our food budget as we'd eaten out nearly every meal before this leg of our trip. The flat was well-outside the city center, about a 30-minute tube (subway) ride from major tourist attractions — and priced like it. I could not find a better bargain in a city that is not at all cheap to book. We were about a fifteen-minute walk from two different subway stations.

In truth, I did not like most of the walk from the transit areas. One of the subway stations entered out on a block that reminded me loosely of the area around the old Lexington Market in Baltimore City — the good, the bad, and the ugly. BUT, we were together as a group of three. I did not feel unsafe. And the walk culminated in the prettiest of neighborhood parks complete with a Japanese garden. It was a real community with families and strollers and people getting off of work.

The flat itself had excellent reviews on both Airbnb and Booking.com (I booked through Booking to take off the performance pressure of reviews), and when we entered, it was easy to see why it was beloved by so many guests. The space was immaculate with many intentional touches, such as fresh flowers, chargers and adaptors, and well-stocked bathroom and kitchen supplies. We were near supermarkets and neighborhood restaurants that delivered through Deliveroo (London's version of DoorDash). We were a 20-minute walk away from Europe's largest shopping mall (Westfield London), meaning we had a food court to go to while awaiting check-in and a movie theater to go with our luggage the day of check-out.

I will be the first to acknowledge that this process of finding lodging, especially abroad, is not for everyone. You have to love spending time and energy poring over tedious details. I enjoy it. I imagine the average person does not. If someone else can do this for you — your cousin who's always traveling somewhere or a trusted and trained travel advisor — by all means, save some stress and time, have support and go that route.

But, if you are like me, and you enjoy the challenge of forging your own path in new places and you don't mind taking reasonable risks, I hope these tips and suggestions are useful and help result in rich and satisfying experiences for you and your loved ones. Please do your research. Please get help if and as needed. Move with wisdom and stay alert and within your budget.

And don't think your budget limits you.

When we entered the London flat, the cheapest I found in my search (per my rating review system and also close to public transport), my youngest who was traveling with us said, "Mom, you did it again," before disappearing into her own bedroom to enjoy quiet time and space.

And I exhaled.

Coming soon:

Posts on common travel pitfalls, navigating public transportation in foreign countries, and devotionals to inspire your travel journeys....