Booking holiday with friend

[princesspeach21]

I am currently trying to organise a city break with a good friend of mine. It's something we've been talking about for ages and are now finally trying to plan something.

However, we seem to have very different ideas when it comes to booking accommodation. She has just sent me some screenshots of hostels (dorm rooms) which quite frankly I wouldn't feel comfortable staying in. They are also a good way out from the centre.

On other hand I would normally opt for luxury/5* hotels and would much rather stay centrally as we are only going for a few days. The only thing I can think of is to ask her the maximum she would be prepared to spend and then for me to pay the extra. I am happy to do this especially if it saves us time getting to the attractions. Does this sound unreasonable? I really cannot see how we could find a compromise and I really want to go.

Just come up with alternatives. Budget doesn't have to be hostel or a long way out. However if you up the accommodation cost it may impact on spends for meals and attractions. Where are you hoping to go?

Where are you going? Can you come to a compromise, maybe a twin room in a budget hotel?

Can't you compromise with an ibis or equivalent?

I think a 5* hotel is a waste of time for a city break when you'll be out all day and want to go out at night.

Fair enough if you want to pay the extra but it seems unnecessary.

Surely there’s a mid range compromise available?

Where are you going?

AirBnB is your friend.

I pretty much only use them now, unless I've got the budget for a swishy Five star.

My friend is the one who likes the expensive hotels, but I used hostels for years.

I think she's already telling you her budget. You don't spend much time in your hotel room, and I prefer to spend the money on the trip, events, meals etc.

You would be perfectly reasonable to say you don't feel safe in a shared dorm and want to look for private rooms though.

I agree with Airbnb

Have a look on travel republic. There are lots of hotels on there for all the citybreak type places. Many of these could be a compromise for you both. I would not stay in a dorm either but nor would I need 5 star luxury. And for a city break surely you won't be at the hotel that much anyway? For my last 2 city breaks I found clean comfy and modern 3 star hotels within walking distance to the city centre that were budget prices on this site. Could you both agree on something like this?

Airbnb.

Sometimes there are good last minute deals online for good hotels

We were hoping to go to Amsterdam.

Well, she seems to be suggesting the rock bottom cheapest shared rooms and even the more basic hotels would cost a good bit more. I would certainly be willing to stay in a non-luxury hotel. I stayed in an Ibis in London earlier this year and thought the shower was a bit rubbish and the beds were quite uncomfortable but I'm not insisting on 5* either.

I was planning to share a hotel room with her not separate rooms but she is wanting to stay in a communal dorm with 8-12 other people :/ plus as I say location is a big factor to me.

Will have a look on Airbnb thank you for the suggestion!

£54 on trip advisor
www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g188590-d3526759-Reviews-XO_Hotels_Park_West-Amsterdam_North_Holland_Province.html

I think she's already telling you her budget. She may not be.

I used hostels for years, as I hadn't much money. Even when I could afford better, though, I kept using hostels for a long time, out of habit.
Your friend may be doing this.

Why not tell her you'd like for you both to treat yourselves and ask how she feels about that, also including screenshots of places you'd like to stay.

If she says she can only afford £X per night, you can offer to pay the difference, saying you're happy to do it so you can both have a great holiday.

If you are good friends, and you explain it as being a treat that you want both of you to have, I hope she'd be okay with that.

Ask her budget. I think your point about being central for a city break is a good one and I don't think it's UR to want to stay in a hotel rather than a hostel.
Maybe have a chat about what you expect to do, where you're going to eat, etc. There's nothing worse than having mismatched budgets on a joint trip so hopefully you can work out compromises before you go.

@Mxyzptlk that is a good point, she has only really travelled when we were at university so has probably got used to that option by default. However, our circumstances are quite different and she has a lot of bills to pay which I don't. I would feel mean asking her to spend way over what she had in mind. I think I will suggest it to her but it does feel a bit odd when we are both grown adults with jobs.

the art'otel is good for a city break.

Only thing is you need to be good friends cos they have a penchant for glass sliding doors (at best) to the bathroom.

@SilverSpot I have stayed there before actually and loved it! You're right about the doors though

How much would travel be in comparison to the cost of accommodation?

I've been on holiday with a friend a few times. Our budgets are totally different, with me being the poorer by far. Whenever we go away I pay for the flights and she gets the hotel, which means it's her decision to go for 5* luxury if she wants, whilst I'll go for a cheap flight.

Would you be able to split it similarly?

The comments about hostels are really starting to worry me, that kind of thing would ruin the trip for me

I would say to her, she is such a good friend you would like to throw in some extra for a posh hotel - "let's do it in style"

I'd be the same as you, budget accommodation does ruin a trip for me, no matter how clean or well apportioned it is. i will do travel Inn if I'm on a tight budget but no less than that.