We travel to the UK every few years, though it is particularly expensive to get good accommodation in the UK. In fact, most guest houses and hotels are substandard, expensive, and variously unpleasant.
For example, one guest house I stayed in had an entrance way that smelled of urine. Another hotel looked great from the outside, but as soon as you entered it, you realized it had been extended grossly at the back to accommodate even more guests. Others don’t even offer breakfast. And the minimum price for all of these ‘quality’ rooms: US$70.00. By contrast, when you travel in Asia, you can stay in top class hotels for less than that in many countries, Asia wide. And the service standard is just far superior. British hotels are just terrible. Oh, and some hotels try to have their cake and eat it, by charging per person, not per room!
One serious alternative is to rent a house for a week, and stay in one place. It’s very attractive as an alternative: it cuts down your travel expenses. And the cost would be quite affordable for a family or group of people traveling together.
A good example would be Vegas or New York: The rates vary throughout the year and can go up and down quite dramatically; but if you are shrewd, you can visit in the off-season and get the best deals. There are issues though, as you are expected to reserve and pay the booking fee well in advance. So if plans change, you may lose part or all of your deposit. But the advantages are tremendous: you have your own space, kitchen, luxury accommodation, …
Have you ever used holiday accommodation? Was it good value? What problems did you experience?