It’s sometimes possible to find chain hotels operating in the middle of a city, but those you do find are likely to be quite expensive or very grotty. There are two sides to city-centre hotels. On the one hand, there’s the 5-star hotel with sparkling chandeliers and golden staircases, whilst on the other, there’s the damp, dingy hotel with suspended ceilings and bed bugs. Nobody wants to walk into their hotel to find Nebraska exterminators (or any other exterminators) fumigating their bedroom! Instead of running into issues like this, take advantage of your city-centre location by booking a bed & breakfast, boutique hotel, or serviced apartment.
Such accommodations are almost always right in the centre of a city. Here’s a quick overview of each one.
The Bed & Breakfast
You’ve probably stayed in a bed & breakfast before – as such, you probably know exactly what to expect when you visit again. It’s an especially good idea if you’re planning to stay in smaller towns. When you go online and do a little research, you might be able to book a b&b in Skipton town centre or anywhere else for that matter. You’ll be given a bed and … well, your first meal of the day, and sometimes there’s the option to add supper. A bed & breakfast will often be the most cost-effective option, but they generally offer the smallest rooms and least amenities. If you’re only going to be spending a day or two in the city, and aren’t planning on spending much time in the room, a bed & breakfast should appeal.
The Boutique Hotel
It’s often hard to land on exactly what separates a bed & breakfast from a boutique hotel, but it usually simply comes down to quality. Boutique hotels are generally quite upmarket, with finer furnishings and more elaborate decoration. They also place focus on socialising, so you’ll often find guests sitting together in the evening. Of course, a boutique hotel will be more expensive than a bed & breakfast.
The Serviced Apartment
More of a home-away-from-home, a serviced apartment will offer space and flexibility beyond the reach of a bed & breakfast or boutique hotel. You’ll have your own cooking and laundry facilities, and you can count on a serviced apartment for strong Wi-Fi. Perhaps most importantly, a serviced apartment will provide privacy and a sense of independence that you’ll never receive from either of your other options. Prices vary greatly, but you’ll often find yourself saving the longer you stay compared to bed & breakfasts and boutique hotels, which both tend to be aimed at people spending only a night or two before moving on.