Showerthought: I used to book hotels in city centers for convenience

Honestly, I used to just book the cheapest hotel I could find right in the middle of a city, like in downtown Seattle, thinking it saved time. Ngl, last trip I stayed in a neighborhood 20 minutes out by bus and saved over $80 a night, and the local cafes were way better. Has anyone else found a specific area just outside a major city that's actually a better deal?

3 comments

3 Comments

felix14723d ago

Saw a travel blog that called this the "doughnut effect," skipping the expensive center for the ring just outside. My rule now is to look at the public transit map first. If there's a direct train or bus line, staying a few stops out is a no-brainer. You get a quieter place to sleep and way more character for half the price. That extra cash goes a lot further at a family-run restaurant than a hotel mini-bar anyway.

johnr7323d ago

Wait, you actually look at the public transit map BEFORE booking? @felix147 that is next level planning, I'm always scrambling at the last minute. The doughnut effect idea is spot on though. I tried staying just outside the main area in Lisbon last year and it was a total game changer, felt like a real neighborhood. That mini-bar money absolutely bought a lot more pastel de nata.

reesemoore19d ago

Stayed a 15 minute tram ride from downtown Prague last fall and it was perfect. The apartment was half the cost and we had this amazing bakery right on the corner that the locals used. I mean, that mini-bar fund basically paid for our entire beer and dumpling budget.

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