Whether you’re staying in a place for three days, three weeks, or three months, your accommodation needs will vary. It’s crucial to determine your priorities before falling in love with a place based solely on attractive photos. This will help you avoid booking a place you’ll ultimately dislike and potentially be stuck in for an extended period. Here are some of the things that are important to us, which may also be helpful to you.

1. We tend to stay in apartments for stays longer than 3-4 days and in aparthotels, hotels, or B&Bs for shorter stays. This is because we don’t necessarily need a full kitchen for shorter trips; we often don’t have time to coordinate a meeting or check-in with a private apartment owner, and we prefer the convenience of a 24-hour check-in desk and the ease of finding an established hotel. 
   
2. Choose a location with which you are familiar, or one that is centrally located if you have never been to the place before. We’ve found that our appreciation and understanding of a place are greatly affected by its proximity to the things that are important to us – whether that’s close to the sea, the farmers market, a gym (in Mark’s case), and within walking distance of restaurants and bars. Sometimes the idea of staying in a remote cottage that looks gorgeous in the pictures and is a great price can be enticing. However, if this is your first time in a town, you might miss out on the serendipitous encounters and relationships that often arise from daily interactions with the local community – like the chance encounters at the neighborhood café or the discovery of hidden gems like that little bistro not found in any guidebook or website. Inevitably, your trips into town become more of a destination in themselves when it takes 15 minutes to get there, even on foot. Once you’re familiar with a place – perhaps on your third or fourth visit – and you know you prefer a certain suburb or countryside location, then you can consider more remote options. This decision-making process is very different if you’re just on a two-week vacation and simply want to relax in a villa in Tuscany. We’re travelers learning about the world, not weary workers on vacation. It’s difficult to truly experience and connect with people when you’re tucked away in your cozy remote place for three days. 
   
3. Prioritize your needs: Hone in on what you absolutely need and don’t compromise. Since Mark and I use multiple phones and laptops simultaneously for work, we require a minimum internet speed of 50 Mbps to maintain productivity. This isn’t just a vacation for us; it’s our livelihood.
   Consider essential amenities: We need air conditioning in the countries where we tend to travel. We also prioritize bright spaces and at least a kitchenette if we’re staying for longer than a week. A private bathroom is a non-negotiable.
   Determine your trade-offs: While amenities like elevators and washer/dryers are nice to have, we’d gladly trade them for a stunning view or a private terrace.
   Prioritize your personal preferences: Determine your own must-haves.