Which accommodation is best?

Hotel. Hostel. Apartment. Couch-surfing. Deciding where to stay can feel overwhelming. You'll want to read our earlier overview article that explains the options; then consider these factors:

• location

• number of people traveling

• amenities

• your standards

Location

You know you want to stay someplace safe, and you've already consulted the FBI crime statistics (U.S. cities) or the appropriate crime statistics for your destination (which may be easy or hard to find, depending on where you're going). But what comes after finding a "safe" neighborhood?

Simple: distance from places you want to see. That's because the time you spend traveling to and from your accommodations is time you're not spending doing more interesting things.

The first time we traveled to Europe as a family, we stayed in an apartment about five minutes from a train station. It was ideal in so many ways; we felt like we were part of the community, and our children had their own room, plus a backyard. But getting to London took an hour each way. If someone felt tired or sick mid-day, it was tough to head back to a room to rest up. We also had problems reaching the landlord when the washer stopped working halfway through our stay.

The next time we were in London, we stayed in YHA London St Pancras, a hostel about five minutes' walk from Kings Cross Tube station in the heart of the city. Our children were older, so they stayed in a two-bed dorm with a bathroom down the hall; my husband and I stayed in our own private, ensuite room. Heavy-duty washing machines were available, breakfast was served every day for a nominal cost, the staff was helpful and we were surrounded by street food vendors and boutique stops. It was dramatically more efficient than the apartment had been.

Number of people traveling

If just one or two people are traveling, a bed in a hostel's dorm might run only about $25 per person, per night, including breakfast. But if you are a family with young children and you need a private, ensuite room with multiple beds, you should expect to pay closer to $150 in a hostel. Unless it has an in-room kitchenette or access to a communal kitchen, you may as well stay in an apartment or hotel.

Amenities

What is important to you, and what do your semi-finalist locations provide? Sometimes you trade conveniences for a wow factor you just can't duplicate.

We once stayed in a private family room at Jugendburg Bacharach, a German castle which had been converted to a hostel. It was an incredible experience, and affordable, too, but it towered 20+ stories up a winding cobbled path. We arrived in a pelting rain/snow mix, with luggage in tow: miserable. We thought that going down the hill to catch our train, a couple days later, would be easier on foot, but it was so steep that I almost fell a couple times.

It was still worthwhile, and I'm glad we did it.

Your standards

Regardless of where you stay, you are likely to have a mix of amazing experiences and disappointments. That's just how travel goes.

If your standard is perfection and you expect one place to meet every one of your expectations, you will probably be disappointed. By contrast, if you think about your needs, make educated decisions and adapt to the inevitable surprises, you are much more likely to have a great time, every time.

For examples of different accommodations, including that castle-turned-hostel, check out our videos below.