So, I just had an epic vacation in Europe + Turkey and I wanted to share the places that I stayed during my almost one month trip. I stayed mainly in hostels in the Schengen area and mostly in hotels in the Balkans and Turkey. I booked all my stays at Booking.com since I find their rates to be the most competitive compared to other booking sites.
Some of my stays were booked ahead of time (places I stayed in the Schengen zone) and some were booked last minute.
VIENNA, AUSTRIA
Space Home Hostel – City Hall [Check rates and availability]
Why did I choose Space Home Hostel – City Hall?
- Good reviews on Booking
- Near the subway and tram station
What did I like about Space Home Hostel – City Hall?
- It’s clean and safe.
- The storage locker was large enough to fit my luggage and other stuff
- Within walking distance to restaurants and convenience stores.
- It’s a capsule hostel so I still had some sort of privacy
What I did not like about Space Home Hostel – City Hall?
- Nothing
MUNICH, GERMANY
CVJM Jugendhotel München [Check rates and availability]
Why did I choose CVJM Jugendhotel München?
- Good reviews on Booking
- Walking distance from Muchen Hbf (Munich Central Station)
- Close to popular tourist attractions
- Within the city center
What did I like about CVJM Jugendhotel München?
- It’s clean and safe but you have to bring your own lock for the locker.
- Walking distance to restaurants and supermarkets.
- Complimentary breakfast
What I did not like about CVJM Jugendhotel München?
- The room was very small
PARIS, FRANCE
Walled off Hotel Paris [Check rates and availability]
Why did I choose Walled off Hotel Paris?
- Good reviews on Booking
- Near the subway station
- Competitive price for a single room
What did I like about Walled off Hotel Paris?
- Walking distance from two subway stations
- Close to bus stops
- Affordable restaurants just a few blocks away
What I did not like about Walled off Hotel Paris?
- Shared T&B but I already knew about it. It’s still a good deal. The shared T&B was clean though.
AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS
ClinkNOORD Hostel [Check rates and availability]
Why did I choose ClinkNOORD Hostel?
- Good reviews on Booking
- Close to the Amsterdam Central Station (I knew I’ll be arriving late so I wanted a place close to the central station)
What did I like about ClinkNOORD Hostel?
- Its proximity to the train station and it’s also just a walking distance to the red light district and other tourist spots.
- The free short ferry ride was also fun.
What I did not like about ClinkNOORD Hostel?
- Very small room
- Small locker but you can rent a big locker at the reception which I did
SPLIT, CROATIA
Hostel Dvor [Check rates and availability]
Why did I choose Hostel Dvor?
- Good reviews on Booking
- Located within the city center
What did I like about Hostel Dvor?
- Clean and quite spacious
- Complimentary breakfast
- Walking distance to the Diocletian’s Palace and Riva (Split Waterfront)
What I did not like about Hostel Dvor?
- Quite far from the bus terminal
DUBROVNIK, CROATIA
Hotel Dubrovnik [Check rates and availability]
Why did I choose Hotel Dubrovnik?
- Good reviews on Booking
- Close to a bus stop
- Near Sunset Beach
What did I like about Hotel Dubrovnik?
- Just a couple of minutes to the sunset beach
- Close to restaurants and walking distance to the supermarket
- Complimentary buffet breakfast
What I did not like about Hotel Dubrovnik?
- Small room and T&B
KOTOR, MONTENEGRO
Apartments Wine House Old Town [Check rates and availability]
Why did I choose Apartments Wine House Old Town?
- Good reviews on Booking
- Inside the old town
What did I like about Apartments Wine House Old Town?
- Friendly owner
- Interesting interior
- Near the jump-off point to hike to the Fortress
What I did not like about Apartments Wine House Old Town?
- It’s inside the old town so you’ll have to walk from the main entrance to the apartment which is quite exhausting if you arrive midday with huge and heavy luggage.
TIRANA, ALBANIA
Prime Hotel [Check rates and availability]
Why did I choose Prime Hotel?
- Good reviews on Booking
- Located within the center center
- Near Skanderbeg Square
What did I like about Prime Hotel?
- Good value for money
- Clean
- Close to restaurants and bus stops
What I did not like about Prime Hotel?
- No elevator, so I had to take the stairs while carrying my heavy luggage. Good thing I was only on the 1st floor.
SKOPJE, MACEDONIA
Villa Nina Hotel & Lounge Bar [Check rates and availability]
Why did I choose Villa Nina Hotel & Lounge Bar?
- Good reviews on Booking
- Located in the city center
- Competitive room rates
What did I like about Villa Nina Hotel & Lounge Bar?
- The backyard where you can take your take out meal or just chill
- Close to restaurants
- Friendly owner
What I did not like about Villa Nina Hotel & Lounge Bar?
- No elevator, so I had to take the stairs while carrying my heavy luggage. Good thing I was only on the 1st floor.
SOFIA, BULGARIA
Smart Hostel Sofia [Check rates and availability]
Why did I choose Smart Hostel Sofia?
- Good reviews on Booking
- Very affordable. I knew I would arrive very late so instead of booking a hotel, I decided to stay at Smart Hostel.
What did I like about Smart Hostel Sofia?
- Nothing really. It was just cheap. That’s it. Ideal for backpackers. Not for me though.
What I did not like about Smart Hostel Sofia?
- No elevator
- Tiny bed
- 10:00 AM check out time
Generaator Sofia [Check rates and availability]
Why did I choose Generaator Sofia?
- Good reviews on Booking
- Value for money
- Located in the city center
What did I like about Generaator Sofia?
- Friendly staff
- Walking distance to/from the Sofia Central Train Station and Bus Station
- Close to restaurants and supermarkets
What I did not like about Generaator Sofia?
- No elevator and my room was on the 3rd floor. Good thing the staff helped me carry my luggage.
ISTANBUL, TURKEY
Orient Express & Spa by Orka Hotels [Check rates and availability]
Why did I choose Orient Express & Spa by Orka Hotels?
- Good reviews on Booking
- Located in the city center
What did I like about Orient Express & Spa by Orka Hotels?
- Good value for money
- Near Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque
- Close to restaurants, exchange center, shops
- Complimentary buffet breakfast
What I did not like about Orient Express & Spa by Orka Hotels?
- It’s along the tram road so taxis are not allowed to pick up or drop off. You’ll have to walk a little bit to/from the hotel to take a cab.
All Seasons Hotel [Check rates and availability]
Why did I choose All Seasons Hotel?
- Good reviews on Booking
- Competitive rates
What did I like about All Seasons Hotel?
- Very close to a tram station
- Near Carrefour Supermarket
- Large bed
- Complimentary breakfast
What I did not like about All Seasons Hotel?
- Poor breakfast selection. You have to pay extra for an egg.
CAPPADOCIA, TURKEY
Royal Stone Houses – Goreme [Check rates and availability]
Why did I choose Royal Stone Houses – Goreme?
- Good reviews on Booking
- Competitive rates
What did I like about Royal Stone Houses – Goreme?
- Walking distance to the town center. Quite far from Sunset Point but within walking distance
- You can see the hot air balloons from the room window in the morning
- Complimentary breakfast
What I did not like about Royal Stone Houses – Goreme?
- Not so friendly staff
Travel Tips
- Choose accommodation near a bus stop, train or tram station so you can commute easily.
- Travel during the off-peak season for more affordable stays
- If traveling during off-peak, you can book last-minute like a day before your stay. Some hotels offer huge discounts for last-minute bookings.
- Book your stays at Booking.com , never had a problem with them even with last-minute bookings.
- When searching for hotels, use the filter option to see accommodation with elevators, distance from the city center, etc.
- For popular places like Paris, choose accommodation far from the center but close to a subway/train station to save money.
- Always read the guest reviews, both positive and negative.
Glen Nomad is a travel blogger and the founder of Escape Manila, one of the top travel blogs in the Philippines. He has visited all 82 provinces in the Philippines and has explored 53 countries across Asia, North & South America, East Africa, Europe, and Australia. Follow him on IG at @escapemanila