Heading on a trip soon? What you do, how you pack and where you stay will no doubt be influenced by the people you travel with. Get it right and you’ll look back fondly on a getaway full of smiles and laughter. Get it wrong and you’ll be needing a holiday from your holiday.

You’ve no doubt heard this before – but proper planning and research can do wonders in reducing stress and nasty surprises. When it comes to booking the right accommodation, the internet is your oyster. See what other people have to say by reading reviews. Get a feel for an area by using Google Street View. Are there any nearby parks, landmarks or supermarkets? Just check on a map to see.

With all that is on offer – from apartments, cottages, villas, canal boats and tipis – how can you narrow down your options? It’s simple, just look at the style and nature of your trip.

Solo travellers

Where you stay will depend on your purpose.

If you’re a solo business traveller, location will be paramount. Staying close to where you’ll be having meetings will save you the stress of the morning commute. Consider a rental studio apartment: it’ll be more spacious than a hotel room, and it’ll give you the space you need to prepare your notes. Choose one with a balcony or a city skyline view. You might be working, but you can still enjoy the atmosphere of a new town.

For those traipsing the world solo, try a ‘homestel’ – homes and apartments that accommodate travellers in a similar way to a hostel. They can be the ideal place to merge comfort and company.

Romantic getaways

Are you both after a slow, relaxing trip full of massages and mimosas? Or are you both adrenaline junkies looking for some excitement? No two couples are the same, and neither are romantic getaways. Yet odds are, no matter what kind of trip it is, at least one thing will go wrong. Book the right accommodation and cover your bases there.

Remember, a romantic trip doesn’t depend on rose petals on a hotel bed and a towel shaped as a swan. Staying in self-catered accommodation can give you that familiar setting of home as you make your own meals after a long day. Staying in a secluded retreat away from the city can be exactly what you need to recharge. Plan together, budget together and make compromises – you’ll come back more loved up than ever before.

Exploring with friends

You might be best buds at home, but once on the road, you might uncover some personality traits that can make group travel a bit stressful. Different sleeping patterns, eating budgets and standards of cleanliness can cause fractions amongst the closest of friends.

From the get go, ask each other about travel habits, agree on a budget and make a loose itinerary. If everyone knows what they’re in for, hopefully no one will end up disappointed. And remember to book enough rooms for your party. Not everyone can handle a snorer, and no one wants to draw the short straw and end up crashing on the pull-out sofa.

Family-friendly

The dynamics of a family trip are completely different to that of the above. Especially for younger families, there are usually two sides – those in charge and those in need. Whether you’re venturing into the city or away from it, make sure everyone’s luggage is manageable. Pack light and bring only what you need.

If you’re heading to a city, check transport links, trains, trams and buses. Not only will these save you money on renting a car, but hopping on these can be just as exciting to kids as heading to a theme park. Staying in a central apartment will also mean everyone can stay together, as opposed to splitting up into separate hotel rooms. And a central location will mean you can easily come back to your accommodation for afternoon naps – especially handy for tired young children (and adults!).

Have a look at our flowchart below to see what kind of accommodation you should book for your next trip away.