Where To Stay In Europe

Part of our Europe guide.

Where to stay in Europe depends on your trip: hostels for budget travelers, Airbnbs for self-catered independence, and specialized resorts for wellness-focused getaways. This page gathers eight of our accommodation guides, from Albania’s villas to London’s budget beds.

The Most Beautiful Airbnbs In Albania

Albania’s Airbnb stock ranges from seaside villas along the Ionian coast to mountain chalets in the Accursed Mountains. The most requested properties share a few traits: direct sea views, stone construction, and a host who lives nearby. For a beach stay, look at properties near Ksamil or Dhermi, where you can walk to the water in under five minutes. Inland, opt for a converted stone tower in Theth or a farm stay near Berat, where breakfast includes homemade raki and fresh cheese. Most listings include free parking, which is essential since public transport is sparse outside Tirana. Book at least two months ahead for July and August, when coastal homes sell out.

How To Book A Hostel In Europe

Booking a hostel in Europe works best when you use a dedicated platform like Hostelworld or Booking.com, filtering by your must-haves: lockers, curtains, or a common kitchen. Read recent reviews (within the last month) for noise and bedbugs, not just the overall score. For city-center locations, expect to pay €20–€40 per night in Western Europe, and €10–€20 in the Balkans or Eastern Europe. Always confirm the reception hours—many smaller hostels close between 22:00 and 08:00. If you need a quiet night, book a private room; if you want to meet people, choose a dorm with organized pub crawls.

Where We Stayed In The Balkans + How We Choose Accommodation

In the Balkans, we prioritize location over luxury. We stayed in a family-run guesthouse in Mostar, a hostel with a rooftop terrace in Belgrade, and a lakeside apartment in Ohrid. Our criteria: within a 15-minute walk to the old town, a 24-hour front desk, and at least one recent review mentioning a quiet room. For coastal towns like Kotor or Hvar, we book a place with air conditioning and a fridge, because summer heat and self-catering go hand in hand. Always check the cancellation policy—Balkan hosts often offer free cancellation up to 48 hours before arrival, which saved us when a bus strike delayed our plans.

Make The Most Out Of Your Stay In Sofia, Bulgaria

Sofia’s center is compact, so you can walk from the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral to the Serdika ruins in under 20 minutes. Start at the Saint George Rotunda, then follow Vitosha Boulevard to the National Palace of Culture. The Vitosha mountain cable car runs from the city’s edge, and a round trip costs about 20 BGN (€10). For a quick meal, hit the Central Market Hall for local cheese and cured meat. If you have a layover, the airport bus to the city center takes 30 minutes and runs every 15 minutes. Most attractions close by 18:00, so plan your sightseeing for the morning.

Destinations for Health Tourism: The Best Resorts in Europe

Health tourism in Europe now includes medical checkups, thermal baths, and mental wellness retreats. For a thermal soak, book a resort in Hungary’s Lake Hévíz, where the water stays at 25–38°C year-round. In Austria’s Zillertal Valley, clinics specialize in detox programs with medical supervision. For vinotherapy, head to Bordeaux, where resorts use grape-seed extracts in wraps and scrubs. Most resorts offer packages that include meals, consultations, and treatments; a three-night stay typically ranges from €300 to €800 per person, depending on the season and level of care. Check if the resort has a medical license if you’re going for a specific procedure.

The MushRoom Hotel In Luxembourg

The Mushroom Hotel in Luxembourg is an eco-lodge built into a forested hillside, with guest rooms shaped like oversized fungi. Each of its ten suites has a private terrace facing the treetops, and the restaurant serves a fixed menu using ingredients from the on-site garden. The hotel runs on solar power and uses composting toilets; there is no Wi-Fi in the rooms, only in the common lounge. To reach it, you’ll need a car—it’s a 25-minute drive from Echternach, and the last kilometer is a gravel road. Bookings are limited to two nights minimum, and the hotel is open from April to October. Rates start at €180 per night, including breakfast and a guided forest walk.

How To Find Affordable Accommodation In The U.K

Finding affordable accommodation in the U.K. starts by avoiding London for your first two nights. Instead, base yourself in Reading or Slough, where a Travelodge costs £50–£70 per night, and take a 30-minute train into Paddington. For the rest of the country, use a price comparison site that includes guesthouses and B&Bs, not just hotels. In Scotland, look for “bunkhouses” run by the Scottish Youth Hostels Association—they offer dorm beds for £20–£30 in rural areas. In England, consider a “room in a shared house” on Airbnb; these are often cheaper than a hotel and include kitchen access. Always book midweek, as Friday and Saturday rates can double. If you’re staying a week or more, contact the property directly and ask for a weekly discount—many owners will give 10–15% off to avoid paying the platform’s commission.

What Is A Hostel For Foster Kids In The UK

A hostel for foster kids in the UK is a residential facility that provides short-term, supervised care for children in the foster system who need a safe place to stay outside of a traditional foster home. These hostels are often used for emergency placements, sibling groups, or young people transitioning to independent living. Staff are trained in trauma-informed care, and each child has a key worker who coordinates with social services. Unlike a hostel for travelers, these are not open to the public; referrals come through local authorities. If you’re a foster carer and need a short break, ask your social worker about “respite care” options, which may include a stay in one of these facilities.