Hotels can make or break a holiday; if the check-out time is too early, the beds lumpy or the location inconvenient, it can put a damper on your impression of a city. Turn to an online travel agent who can gather feedback from a wide set of hotel visits in many locations. Select your preferred type of lodging from a list of budget hotels and self-catering rooms to luxury villas.

Hotels can be rated on a star system that takes into account food, the view from the rooms, amenities such as spas or gyms and ease of location. An example of a five-star hotel is the Burj Al Arab in Dubai that is shaped like a sail boat and which stands on an artificial island (the hotel is often mistakenly reported to have achieved seven stars). Critics suggest that the star system undermines hotel credibility as it lacks a globally recognised rating list, and so it’s safer to rely on experienced agents to give you advice on the best accommodation to suit your budget.

During overnight stops or detours it may be expedient to book a night’s stay in a hotel chain. These are hotels that are easy to find, often located in the town centre, with available vacancies. You may have stayed in an Intercontinental, Holiday Inn or Crowne Plaza hotel, owned by the largest hotels company in the world, Intercontinental Hotel Group. With its headquarters in the United Kingdom, IHG owns nearly 5000 hotels across 100 countries.

One of the biggest appeals of staying in a hotel is that it’s designed for your comfort €” and the novelty doesn’t always stop there. In Croatia, at the crossroads of the Balkans and the Mediterranean, visitors can rent lighthouses along the coast of the Adriatic Sea. Sit back and enjoy the view while full-time keepers prepare meals and keep up the day-to-day functions of the lighthouses. In Turkey, adventurous tourists can stay in hotels constructed from cave formations, some of which are restored Byzantine monastic retreats. These hotels provide modern comforts without sacrificing the atmosphere of rest and reflection.

Booking a hotel is a great way to complement your holiday, whether you’re travelling for business or leisure, long haul or across the channel. Rely on expert advice from professionals who collect feedback and know how to get the best deals. The wider the range of hotels you access, the higher the likelihood of finding one to suit your budget.