Top 10 Tips

From seven-star hotels to farm stays, huts in Honduras to villas in Venice, where you stay on vacation depends largely on your budget.

1. At the top end are luxury hotels and resorts, the crème de la crème being the Burj Al Arab in Dubai, which markets itself as the world's first seven-star hotel and comes complete with chauffeured Rolls Royces and private helipad.

2. Also at the upper end are boutique hotels which sprung into existence in the 1980s and have become a popular choice with discerning travellers wanting quirky but still luxurious accommodation.

3. If you're on a stricter budget and just want somewhere to lay your head, big hotel chains are reliable options where everything is standardized. What they may lack in character they make up for with cleanliness and cable TV.

4. Bed and Breakfasts are another option if you're on a budget and looking for rustic charm with a homely atmosphere. Be aware though, standards between establishments can vary dramatically.

5.  If you’re looking for Bed and Breakfast type accommodation, but with a more personalized touch, why not try a homestay or farmstay?  You can enjoy the comforts of a real family home and get a real taste of life with the locals, and maybe even get your hands dirty on a farmstay.

6. If the idea of getting back to nature tickles your fancy then why not try an eco-lodge. Accommodation is generally basic and in remote locations. For instance, why not spend a week in the Peruvian jungle at an Amazon Lodge.

7. Hostels are a good way to save money and make friends, but beware of bed bugs and inconsiderate roommates.

8. Camping is one of the cheapest options going with potentially fabulous views on your doorstep and the chance to commune with nature in remote locations.

9. Meanwhile, couch surfing offers a free bed for the night in the home of a random stranger, and for an increasing number of intrepid backpackers is a cheap and unique way to see the world.

10. If you want the comfort of home on vacation, try a house swap, a la Cameron Diaz and Jude Law in 2006 movie The Holiday. So jump on the bandwagon and check out the world of house swapping (Jude and Cameron not included).

Timing is everything

Book early, but remember when you travel will determine the price. If you travel in peak summer months, demand for accommodation is high and prices will reflect this. If you're flexible on times of the year, travel at off-peak times - you'll get thinner crowds and cheaper rates.  Also think about destinations in different hemispheres as the seasons are reversed.

Think about staying in a group

If you’re traveling in a bunch of friends or with extended family, consider sharing the odd hotel or motel room, or renting a holiday home instead of staying in individual units.  What you might miss in personal space you’ll make up for in cost savings. 

Also, if you’re on a road trip, you can  vary the type of accommodation you stay in to balance your budget – so you might follow a couple of nights in a basic cabin with a night in a luxury motel for a treat.  You’ll appreciate the electric blanket and power shower even more!

And if you leave it to the last minute…

While it’s always good to have the security of booking ahead, sometimes it doesn’t work out that way.  If you’re booking at the last minute, it’s always worth naming a price and seeing if a hotel or motel will be flexible.  After all, if you turn up looking for a room the same night and they have vacancies, it might just be worth their while.