Choosing your base
Before you book a longer stay: questions the photographs cannot answer
Look beyond the room photographs and ask about access, daily routines, comfort and the full cost before committing to a longer stay.
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Follow the journey from the street to the room
A bright balcony is easy to picture. Arriving with a suitcase is worth picturing too. Ask how you reach the entrance from the drop-off point, whether there are steps before the lift and which floor the accommodation is on. A listing that mentions a lift may still leave part of that route unexplained.
Describe what matters to you in practical terms. Instead of asking whether a property is suitable for older guests, ask whether you can reach your room without using stairs. If the answer is unclear, request a photograph of the entrance or an explanation of the route.
Think about an evening indoors
On a longer visit, you may spend quiet evenings at home. Look for somewhere comfortable to sit, a useful reading light and enough space to put things away. Check what is actually included in the kitchen rather than relying on the word ‘kitchenette’.
Ask about the room’s heating or cooling arrangements for your dates, and whether using them changes the bill. If reliable internet matters to you, ask about the connection in the actual accommodation. A general statement about Wi-Fi in the building may not answer your question.
Draw your small daily map
Put the accommodation, a food shop, a place to eat and a useful transport stop on the same map. Then consider the routes between them. Distance alone will not tell you about a steep return walk, an awkward road crossing or a lack of places to pause.
Recent photographs and maps can help you form questions, but ask the host about details you cannot establish. Think about coming back after dinner as well as going out in daylight. If you expect to use taxis, include those journeys in your comparison of properties.
Ask for one complete written quote
Request the total for your exact dates and number of guests. Ask which charges are included, how utilities are handled, whether cleaning is compulsory and whether a deposit is required. Keep the payment schedule and cancellation conditions alongside the quote.
Compare like with like. One property may quote a nightly rate and another a total for the stay. Put both into the same format before deciding. Keep important agreements in the booking record so that you can refer to the wording later.
Use a short message to fill the gaps
You could write: ‘I am considering a stay from [arrival date] to [departure date]. Could you confirm whether there are any steps between the street and the room, how heating or cooling is charged, and the total price including compulsory fees? Please also confirm the deposit and cancellation terms.’ Add the one or two questions that matter most to your own routine.
A clear answer is useful evidence. An unanswered question remains unanswered, however appealing the photographs. Give yourself permission to keep looking when an essential detail is still uncertain.