When people talk about travel, most of the energy goes into flight prices, baggage weight, and how to score the best window seat. I get it. Flights are expensive and long. But after years of bouncing between cities and countries, there’s one thing that always stands out to me, and no one seems to talk about it enough — where you stay, and how you feel there.
I once planned a ten-day trip to Portugal. Flights were booked three months in advance. I had alerts turned on for prices. I checked multiple websites every day. Eventually I locked in what I thought was a great deal. But I rushed through booking my stay. I figured, “It’s just a place to crash.”
It wasn’t.
The apartment was far from the places I wanted to explore. Public transport options were limited. The room felt cold in a way that wasn’t just about temperature. I didn’t look forward to returning to it after being out. It made me realize something important — your accommodation shapes your day more than your flight ever will.
In contrast, when I visited Tokyo last year, I reversed the process. I still cared about flight prices, but I spent more time looking at where I’d stay. I wanted something central, clean, close to food, and most importantly, I wanted to feel welcome. I booked through Expedia, which let me see reviews that were detailed and honest. I could see real traveler photos, not just edited hotel promos. I also filtered by walkable neighborhoods and nearby rail stations.
The difference it made was unreal. I started my mornings without stress. I could pop into a bakery right downstairs. My room had a desk with good lighting, so I could journal or take calls in peace. I didn’t realize how much a good stay could affect my mood, sleep, and the energy I had to explore.
It sounds obvious in hindsight, but most people plan travel like a checklist. Flight? Done. Visa? Done. Hotel? Whatever fits the budget. And then they wonder why the trip felt average.
Here’s what I started doing instead: I now plan my trips around how I want to feel. Do I want slow mornings? Then I look for a place with a balcony or garden view. Do I plan to walk everywhere? Then I make sure I’m near local cafes or parks. And I always check how late nearby restaurants are open, because I often come back hungry and tired.
I still remember a stay I booked in Istanbul through Expedia, where a guest had written, “The guy at reception tells you the best breakfast spots within walking distance.” That one line made me book it. And it turned out to be true. He gave me a list on a napkin, and every spot on it was worth going back to.
When you think about it, the flight is just transportation. What makes or breaks a trip is the day-to-day living part. Where you sip your morning coffee, how close you are to things you care about, how easy it is to wind down at night — that’s the real trip. And that’s what most people overlook.
Even the feeling of safety and peace matters. A well-lit entrance, helpful front desk, easy check-in — these small things add up. You won’t always remember the in-flight meal or the gate number. But you will remember how your room smelled when you walked in, or the sound of the street outside your window.
One thing that helps me a lot is reading long-form reviews instead of just checking stars. On Expedia, some people go deep with their thoughts. You’ll find notes about whether Wi-Fi was reliable, if the curtains block out sunlight, or whether a place is really “ten minutes” from downtown or just wishful thinking.
The more I travel, the more I see that the “where” you stay is also a big part of the “why” you travel. If you’re heading to a beach town, staying at a place with easy beach access changes your rhythm. If you’re visiting for culture, staying near a museum district keeps you immersed even between meals and naps.
So now, when friends ask me for travel tips, I always say the same thing — stop obsessing over the flight. You’re going to spend just a few hours on that plane. Think more about where you’ll be for the next five or ten days. Where you sleep, eat, and recharge.
Pick a place that fits your pace. Book with intention. Because the truth is, you don’t travel just to reach. You travel to stay.
Last modified: June 11, 2025
