Artsy Traveler Recommended Accommodations

Last updated on June 22nd, 2026 at 06:44 pm

One of my favorite parts of traveling is finding and staying in great accommodation. I favor family-run hotels, aparthotels, and the occasional apartment. Occasionally, I’ve also been known to splash out on luxury places and have my favorite chain hotels. From this page, find all my posts about the accommodations I recommend.

Note that I almost always use booking.com to book my accommodations. I do so for several reasons:

I can see all my bookings in one place
Prices are generally the same and sometimes cheaper than booking direct or using other websites
Communications are quick and efficient
I can filter for my preferences
I get good discounts the more I book (currently I’m at Genius 3!)
Customer service is generally good

Here are posts featuring my accommodation recommendations (frequently updated!):

Where to Stay in Spain: My Best Picks

I've had great luck finding marvelous places to stay in Spain. Hotel proprietors are friendly, and almost all speak English ...

Woman sitting on a balcony overlooking an Italian city - example of hotel accommodations in Italy

Where to Stay in Italy: My Best Picks

I've had great luck finding marvelous places to stay in Italy. Hotel proprietors are friendly, and these days almost all ...

Where to Stay in France: My Best Picks

You're in luck when it comes to finding great places to stay in France. In fact, some of our most ...

Row os half-timbered houses in Germany. A sign in the corner says "Zimmer Frei" which means "Rooms Free". The picture represents the theme of the post which is accommodation options in Germany.

Where to Stay in Germany: My Best Picks

You'll find accommodations in Germany to be clean and reasonably priced, but not always comfortable. Get used to single duvets ...

Where to Stay in Portugal: My Best Picks

I don't think we've ever stayed in a bad place in Portugal. Hotels and apartments have been comfortable, reasonably priced, ...

Two Highly Recommended Places to Stay in Copenhagen

Finding accommodation in Copenhagen can be challenging if you're on a budget. But if you have money to spare (and ...

Why the Wilde Aparthotel in Covent Garden is Perfect for a Central London Stay

Choosing where to stay in London can make or break a short trip, especially if your time revolves around theater, ...

Row of cypress trees in Tuscany in the late afternoon

Stay at Sant’Antonio Country Resort: A Tuscan Hidden Gem

Every so often when traveling, serendipity rears its delightful head. The plans you've made go awry, but instead of facing ...

10 Best Charming Hotels in Europe for Independent Travelers

Europe is a great place to find charming, family-run hotels. Most are small, boutique-style places that won't break the bank; ...

About Carol Cram

Carol M. Cram is the author of five award-winning novels inspired by art and the women who shaped it, the creator of Artsy Traveler, an arts-focused travel blog, the founder of Art In Fiction, a curated database of 2,500+ novels inspired by the arts, and the host of The Art In Fiction Podcast. She also authored 60+ textbooks on computer applications and taught at Capilano University for over two decades. She lives with her husband, artist Gregg Simpson, on beautiful Bowen Island near Vancouver, BC.