Do you ever book cheap accommodation when you can afford nicer?

[desap]

Planning a beach holiday for two of us. Options that I like are:

A) Mid-Lux Standard - Villa for £2,000
B) Mid Standard - Cottage for £700

I actually like cooking some days on holidays, especially if I can try cooking some local fish or other delicacy. Obviously in a hotel you can't cook.

We could potentially afford somewhere even more expensive than the £2k villa, but I kinda think "what's the point?" the cottage is very cute and then this way, we can splash the cash on dinners and excursions without really giving it much thought.

All the time. I want to retire before I'm 60.

Personally I would go for the cottage. That’s a substantial difference and I’d rather spend that elsewhere on the holiday.

Always, because we could afford so much 'better' than we go for but it's not worth it to us. I'd rather spend the difference on experiences whilst there or just up my investments.

yes, quite often. I struggle to justify spending crazy amounts on holiday accommodation. I’d rather save money and have excursions, nicer meals out, or more holidays later in the year.

We don't but I guess it depends what your options are. With yours I would pick the cheaper option .

I would go for the cottage. Sometimes we will splurge, other times we choose the cheaper option which means more spending money (or more trips). I’m too old to do really basic these days but no need for top end all the time.

Depends what mid lux means - does it have a pool?

If it was amazing and had a pool I would do it once for a treat, but if it’s just slightly nicer furniture and space then I wouldn’t.

Absolutely, sometimes there’s just better things to spend money on. Also your expectations go up the more you spend and actually the holidays you enjoy most aren’t necessarily the ones that cost the most.

Yes.
I'm also not scared to look around for flights. Our last holiday was £2k cheaper going to a airport further away.

Yes, quite often, I like the privacy and the option to cook or eat out or just eat toast and drink wine some nights. So always book the accommodation that suits us not the most expensive. And we do tend to spend a lot on eating out

Yes all the time.

There is a minimum level but I don't need or even want a pool and I'd rather have basic and private rather than luxury with lots of other people about.

I like to get out and see the place where we are holidaying, see things, do things.. Accommodation is just a place to lay my head and not worth spending silly money on.

I would go with a cheaper option if it met all my needs: location, close to restutants & shops, what are the reviews like, what's the layout, does it have a pool etc

Always, literally all you do is sleep in the room clean and serviceable is all I need

Is the accommodation part of the experience or just a place to sleep? The answer to this determines whether I will pay more or not.

We always book the best accommodation our budget allows, for me treating ourselves with somewhere luxurious is all part of the holiday experience

Yes, and then i wonder why i did it (thinking most recently of a horrible Travelodge with a very cramped room)

The best you can afford.
I don't want to go away and stay somewhere less nice than my own house, I might as well stay home!

I often prefer the cheaper option as my expectations are that much lower so that I relax more and enjoy the holiday.

There is nothing worse than being on an expensive holiday with high expectations and having the constant feeling of jeez did I really waste £xxxx on this when I could have had "abc" instead.

Our accommodation is not at the top end of what we could afford nowadays. However, I’m also not looking for the cheapest accommodation. My main criteria are usually based on location, traveller reviews of 8.5+ and a king or larger bed. I don’t really care about very luxe accommodation as we’re generally out and about all day, but will pay a bit more for somewhere that I am confident will be clean, well located and comfortable.

I can afford more as in there's lot in my accounts but I'm not stupid, I'm saving to retire!

That said I don't do villas or cottages, I like my food cooked for me

I pay for what I need

I don't get the cheapest for the sake of it no

I also don't get the most expensive I can afford either just for the sake of it

Being able to afford it doesn’t mean I have to spend it. The mentality of going for the most you can afford means you are more a spender not a saver.

Yep we often go for cheaper than we could afford - I pick places that look nice over luxury. I’ve stayed in some absolutely lovely pubs with rooms on walking holidays, and some incredibly cute beach cottages which were far cosier than a 5* spa hotel.