Choosing where to book accommodation can be confusing – especially when every site claims to have the best deal. In this guide, I share the accommodation booking sites I personally use, the real pros and cons of each, and how to decide which one is best for different types of DIY trips.
Contents
- Intro: Why There’s no “Best” Booking Site
- How I Choose an Accommodation Booking Site (My Real-Life Process)
- The Accommodation Booking Sites I Use (Pros, Cons & When I Use Them)
- Specialist Accommodation Booking Sites Worth Knowing About
- Dog-Friendly Accommodation
- Budget & Simple Stays
- So… Which Accommodation Booking Site Is Best?
- My Go-To Accommodation Booking Checklist (Free Download)
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Intro: Why There’s no “Best” Booking Site
As you can imagine, as a travel blogger, I book accommodation very often. However, it’s important to know that I don’t use the same booking accommodation site for every trip. That’s because no accommodation site is the ‘best’ and they all have qualities that make them better or worse according to the type of trip you’re booking.
From family holidays and weekend city breaks to dog-friendly cottages in the Cotswolds and unique stays around the world. In this guide I tell you about a handful of my favourite sites (well-known and niche); what they’re best for, plus the real pros and cons. You can also download my complete free ‘go-to accommodation booking checklist’ with the exact process I use every time.
How I Choose an Accommodation Booking Site (My Real-Life Process)
After years of booking accommodation for family holidays, short breaks, ski trips and the occasional dog-friendly escape, I’ve dramatically sped up my accommodation search by starting with the site that best suits the trip.
I still compare prices, but I don’t waste time checking every platform for every booking. Instead, I have a few default starting points depending on what kind of trip I’m planning, how long we’re going for, and how much flexibility I need.
For example:
- If I’m planning a city break, I’ll almost always start with Booking.com because I can quickly find hotels in the best locations.
- For family or ski holidays, I go straight to Vrbo because I want the whole place to ourselves.
- If I’m booking the USA, Expedia usually gives me better choice and clearer pricing.
- For UK trips, especially cottages or longer stays, I’ll check Simply Owners before anything else.
- And if it’s a special occasion, I don’t want to trawl endlessly – I’d rather pay a bit more for something I know will be beautiful.
I book accommodation for every trip my family takes and these are the sites I use regularly:
- City Breaks / Romantic Breaks – Booking.com, Mr & Mrs Smith
- Ski Holidays – Vrbo
- Villa Holidays – Vrbo, Simply Owners
- USA – Expedia
- London – Premier Inn
- Worldwide Accommodation – Booking.com
- Hostels – Hostelworld
- Unusual Stays – Coolstays
- Dog-friendly UK – Canine Cottages
The Accommodation Booking Sites I Use (Pros, Cons & When I Use Them)
Booking.com – My Starting Point (But Not Always My Final One)
I find that Booking.com is always a fantastic starting point for any trip because of its massive range of properties across the world. It’s so easy to use and has many great features like ‘map view’ and ‘💗lists’ that enable you to save properties in one list to easily compare. Plus, you can nearly always get ‘free cancellation’ – perfect for someone who changes their mind (a lot!).
It’s not just for the usual hotel stays – I’ve booked unique stays too including a tree house in Thailand and a bubble tent in the Wadi Rum desert.
Why I use it:
- ‘Genius’ status means I can usually get a good price and often free room upgrades
- Best map view – I can easily see exactly where the hotel is located
- Filters are genuinely useful if you know which ones to use
- Genuine reviews from previous customers
- Cancellation flexibility (essential for me)
- Fantastic customer service where you speak to a human – from start to finish
- Transfer prices are often the most competitive
The downsides:
- Fake urgency – I hate the way it often says (“only 1 room left”)
- Not always the cheapest – especially if you want a decent room
- Booking.com’s relationship with accommodation partners can be complex, particularly for smaller independent properties
- If a partner hotel changes hands or closes and they don’t notify Booking.com, it’s still listed. Always check your booking with a human at the accommodation.
- I get a bit confused with the tourist taxes because Booking.com displays them separately, even when labelled ‘included’ – but collection is done locally.
- Booking.com does sell flights, but I don’t use it for flights because they’re rarely competitive compared to flight-first booking platforms
When it’s best for:
I’ve booked accommodation across the world with Booking.com.
- City Breaks
- Short stays 1-2 weeks
- Hotels & aparthotels
✨ Tip: Don’t just book the first room suggested – always self-select the room according to your preferences – sea view, suite, etc.
🔗 Blog to read: How to Get the Best Out of Booking.com
Expedia – Best When I’m Booking Accommodation in the US
Expedia is an American company so you’ll find it often has better choice for US accommodation – it’s also great for booking flight and accommodation bundles.
Why I use it:
- Bundles (flight + hotel)
- Loyalty points actually add up
- Often better for US hotels, villas and condos
Downsides:
- Cancellation rules can be stricter
- Room choice not always clear
- This hasn’t happened to me personally but my friend who owns a hotel said that Expedia often double booked rooms. Always check your booking exists with a human at the accommodation.
Best for:
- US stays
- Package-style DIY bookings
Vrbo – My Go-To for Space & Privacy (Especially with Family)
Vrbo is part of the Expedia Group. It used to be Owners Direct and Home and Away before Expedia took over and we’ve used it through all these changes. It’s our favourite booking site for villa and chalet accommodation. We’ve booked many family holiday stays with Vrbo because it has the widest choice.
Why I use it:
- Massive choice of self-catering properties (more than Booking.com)
- Entire properties (no “host lives downstairs” surprises)
- Less hidden fees than Airbnb
Cons:
- Cleaning fees can sting
- Less flexible cancellation
- Vrbo availability delays aren’t universal now, but it’s still common, especially with independent owners where you need to “request to book”
Best for:
- Family trips
- Rural, ski or beach destinations
- Self-catering holidays
Simply Owners – The One People Don’t Talk About (But Should)
Simply Owners is a site where the property owner pays a yearly fee to Simply Owners to list their property but they don’t pay a percentage of their booking fees, which means prices are lower than Booking.com and Vrbo.
It’s great for finding self-catering accommodation in the UK and Europe and also for specific needs like wheelchair access or pet friendly. You make your booking directly with the owners who are verified by Simply Owners.
Why I love it:
- No platform fees
- Direct communication with owners.
- Often better value in the UK & Europe
Downsides:
- Less protection than big platforms
- Not as slick – it takes more time to use this platform as you have to contact each owner
Best for:
- UK holidays
- Longer stays
- Travellers who want value
Airbnb – I Use It Less Than I Used To (Here’s Why)
Airbnb isn’t what it used to be. Originally Airbnb was genuinely a site for renting out a spare room, your holiday home or property while you were away but now companies own masses of properties to rent out to tourists. I’ve seen the terrible impact this has on communities, especially in popular coastal villages.
My experiences with Airbnb haven’t been that great, not only through the hidden costs and last-minute cancellations by owners but also the insufficient customer care from Airbnb.
Having said all of that – I still use it on occasion in unique circumstances – large group stays or unusual locations.
What still works:
- Unique stays
- Locations without hotels – e.g. mountain huts
Why I’m cautious now:
- Fees
- Cleaning expectations
- Inconsistent quality
- Lack of customer care from Airbnb
Best for:
- One-off experiences
- Places with limited hotels
Specialist Accommodation Booking Sites Worth Knowing About
Mr & Mrs Smith – Boutique Hotels Without the Guesswork
Mr & Mrs Smith specialises in boutique and independent hotels, and it’s one of the few platforms where I genuinely trust the curation. You won’t find hundreds of options in one city – but that’s the point.
Every hotel is personally inspected and chosen, which means you’re paying for quality control, not just a room.
Why I use it:
- Consistently high standards
- Beautiful, characterful hotels
- No endless scrolling or filtering
- Smith Extras (welcome drinks, late check-out, spa credit, etc.)
Downsides:
- Usually more expensive than Booking.com
- Limited choice in smaller destinations
Best for:
- Romantic breaks
- Honeymoons
- Special occasions
- When you want something memorable, not just functional
Coolstays – Unique Accommodation
If you’re looking for something out of the ordinary, Coolstays has a great range of Cabin stays, hot tub breaks, tree houses, glamping and more. It’s mainly based in the UK but has a few choices across Europe and beyond too.
Dog-Friendly Accommodation
It’s not very often we take our dog, Artie away because he’s not a great traveller but when we do, the best sites for pet-friendly accommodation are:
PetsPyjamas
PetsPyjamas understands what “dog-friendly” should mean. Hotels are vetted, pet policies are clear, so you’re not left awkwardly emailing hotels to ask if your dog is “allowed”.
Why it’s useful:
- Hotels genuinely welcome dogs
- Clear rules on size, number of dogs, and fees
- Often includes dog perks (beds, treats, walks)
Best for:
- Dog-friendly hotels rather than cottages
- Short UK breaks
- First-time trips with a dog
Canine Cottages / Dog Friendly Retreats
This site is an absolute time-saver.
Instead of filtering endlessly on big platforms, every property is already dog-friendly – often with enclosed gardens, walking routes, and sensible layouts.
Best for:
- UK self-catering stays
- Multiple dogs
- Rural or coastal trips
Budget & Simple Stays
Hostelworld
Not something I usually book for myself (anymore) but my daughter often uses Hostelworld. It’s a great site where not only can you find great budget accommodation with honest traveller reviews but it also helps you meet fellow travellers.
- Private rooms
- Great locations
Premier Inn / Travelodge
Two sites that people often forget or don’t know about (if they’re not from the UK) is Travelodge and Premier Inn. People forget because they don’t list their hotels on other booking platforms.
Pros:
- Often cheaper than other hotels in the same area
- Standard – you know what you’re getting
Cons
- It’s not as easy to compare prices with other hotels
- Free cancellation can cost quite a bit extra
- Some accommodation can feel tired or dated
So… Which Accommodation Booking Site Is Best?
If you just want a quick answer, this is how I personally choose the best accommodation booking site based on trip type:
Best Accommodation Booking Sites According to Trip Type
| City breaks | Booking.com |
| Family villa holidays | Vrbo |
| UK cottages & owner direct bookings | Simply Owners |
| Dog-friendly accommodation | PetsPyjamas / Canine Cottages |
| US, Hotel & flight bundles | Expedia |
| Boutique and romantic hotels | Mr & Mrs Smith |
| Unusual stays | Coolstays |
| Budget & social travel | Hostelworld |
My Go-To Accommodation Booking Checklist (Free Download)
After years of trial and error, I’ve created a simple go-to accommodation booking checklist that I use for every DIY trip – whether it’s a short city break, a family holiday or a UK cottage stay.
This checklist exists because I got fed up with repeating the same checks for every trip – and it’s saved me from more than one expensive mistake.
This free checklist shows you:
- Which accommodation booking site to start with for different types of trips
- What to check before you book (that most people miss)
- Red flags that can turn a “great deal” into a bad stay
- When it’s worth checking a second site – and when it isn’t
👉 Download my free “Go-To Accommodation Checklist”
Make planning a trip yourself simple and stress-free with our ‘how to’ guides in the DIY Travel Planning Hub for tips on flights, accommodation, transport, itineraries and more – all in one place.
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