When traveling to an unfamiliar location it can be a difficult decision about where to stay. What are the things you should consider when deciding the type of accommodation to book.

As you know, chain hotels tend to be the larger, “cookie cutter” type of accommodations. Although, even if you choose a chain hotel, they are not necessarily company-run. There are many “chains” that are actually individual franchises. Franchise-type hotels will be required to meet some minimum standards established by the company representing the chain. The key concept here being “minimum standards”. That means that not all locations in this chain are necessarily as good (clean, maintained, etc.) as others.

Often travelers will pick a chain hotel in an unfamiliar city so they feel like they’ll know what to expect - no surprises. That’s exactly what we did on our first trip to Belize. We reserved accommodations at a well-known chain hotel for our first two nights in Belize City. It was a mistake. We left after only one night for several reasons (not very clean, air conditioning didn’t work, etc.) and found, with the help of a guide book, the most wonderful B&B - the Fort Street Guesthouse. It was like we stepped into an old movie - four poster beds, mosquito netting, amazing ambience, terrific owners (they mailed us a Christmas card for years after our visit) and interesting guests. It made staying in Belize City special.

So, let’s lay out the pros and cons so you can make an informed decision.

Chain Hotel Accommodations
Pros
You know what to expect (this is true most of the time but not always)
Online reservations (most likely)
Will accept most credit cards
Generous cancellation policies (often)

Cons
Tends to be a more commonplace experience
Frequently a sterile type ambience
More expensive (not always true, but remember the adage “You get what you pay for.”)

Independently Owned Accommodations
Pros
Uncommon styles of accommodations (even underwater or in a cave)
A more authentic flavor
Can be low-cost (but not always)
A more enjoyable, personal experience mixed with reliable local advice
Can be part of the adventure

Cons
Not always sure what you’re getting
Language barriers
Booking difficulties (often don’t have an online reservations system)
Upfront deposits (smaller places need to charge some, or all, of the costs upfront)
Unable to accept credit cards (smaller properties often can’t accept credit cards)
Cancellation Fees & Policies (frequently there are no refunds, unless they can re-book the accommodations, if you cancel less than a certain amount of time in advance.)

In a lot of countries there are agencies that rate independently owned accommodations, particularly Bed and Breakfast establishments. It’s a good idea to see if the property you’re looking at belongs to an association or has been rated by a tourism agency.

With advanced planning you can make your vacation a memorable experience. Even if some things go wrong, hey, it’s all part of the experience!