Where we actually book our stays

These are the platforms we turn to in every country. Some links below are affiliate links, so if you book through them we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend what we genuinely use.

Booking.com

Our #1 pick

Booking.com has become our go-to lately, and for good reason. You can pay at the property, cancellation is free on most stays, and the Genius discounts get better the more you use it. It just works.

When we look at reviews, we sort by “Lowest scores” first. A bad review about location or missing toiletries doesn’t worry us much. But if someone mentions mold or humidity, we’re out. Simple as that. Then we sort by “Newest first” so we know what the last few guests actually thought. A great review from two years ago only tells you so much.

We filter by “Very Good: 8+” and start there every single time. It’s a small habit that has made a big difference for us, and we hope it does the same for you.

Airbnb

Our #2 (Longer stays & monthly discounts)

When we want a kitchen, a neighborhood feel, and the chance to actually live in a place rather than just sleep in it, Airbnb is where we start. We’ve used it across more than 12 countries and the experience is almost always better than a comparable hotel room. Renting from a local owner also gives you a built-in source of insider tips: where to eat, what to skip, best places to watch the sunrise and sunset, and which street market is worth the early wake up.

We tend to lean on Airbnb most for monthly stays, and the longer term discounts alone make it worth it. When it comes to reviewing properties we go through pretty much the same process as Booking.com, but we take it one step further. Whenever we can find them, we pull up the Google reviews for the property too. It gives us one more layer of confidence before we commit.

Pro tip: book the accommodation for a night or two to try it out first, then negotiate a monthly rate directly with the owner for longer stays. You’d be surprised how often that works. (Just keep in mind this is harder to pull off during busy seasons when the property may already be booked out for the dates you need.)

Agoda

Our #3 pick

Agoda is one we found ourselves reaching for more and more during our time in Southeast Asia. If Booking and Airbnb aren’t giving you enough options, it’s absolutely worth checking here too. The inventory can be surprisingly different and the discounts are sometimes extreme, we’re talking deals that make you do a double take.

The map feature is easy enough to navigate and lets you browse properties by area with prices visible as you go. Not the most intuitive map we’ve used but it gets the job done, and sometimes the deal you find on here makes it more than worth the extra few minutes.