Finding Cycling Accommodation

Finding cycling accommodation overseas can be particularly frustrating. You invariably have four options:

1. Use a local travel agent
2. Find a place via web search
3. Wotif/Expedia/Booking.com/etc
4. Wait until you're there

Let's look at each option in more detail.

Using a Local Agent

Travel agents can be great in some situations, but my personal opinion is there are some situations they don't offer value and one of these is finding cycling accommodation.

Agents are effectively middlemen and only really access listings from their wholesaler and then just add markup.

Although I don't have a problem with using travel agents for booking (they're awesome for accessing airfares, and can often find bargains), often times they won't have accommodation in the area you need, or it will be quite limited (and usually more than you intended to spend).

Quite frankly you are better off booking it all yourself.

Pros: saves you time as someone else does the work for you.

Cons: almost certainly reduce the number of properties you can access probably increasing the price.

Do It Yourself

Some people rightfully are sceptical of or reluctant to book segments of a trip themselves; dealing with an agent gives you a security blanket that someone will be accountable if something goes wrong.

And in some cases this is true – a good example is our 2010 Lufthansa baggage allowance snafu.

However, having booked segments myself and through agents I much prefer to deal direct and save money.

I personally believe that having another party (the agent) between you and the service provider just is another party who can pass the buck.

So, finding cycling accommodation on the Internet yourself, and booking it, is easy as pie.

Pros: you can find many more places, and lower your costs dramatically.

Cons: can be a pain in the bum trolling through endless sites looking for a suitable place. Some providers (in France especially) are slow to respond to emails.

Wotif, Expedia, Booking.com, Trip Advisor

These websites are basically service provider aggregator and can in some cases offer access to a dazzling array of accommodation at very competitive prices.

Pros: Can have some awesome deals and lots of options in some towns.

Cons: Can have limited listings in some towns.

You can check out accommodation now on these sites [disclosure – affiliate links]:

• Expedia
• Wotif.com
• Booking.com

How to find your own accommodation (DIY option)

My key tips for finding hidden accommodation gems are:

1. Use Internet search (including forums). We uncovered plenty of places doing Google searches around the areas we wanted to stay.
2. Look for search results that provide feedback from people who've been there; that's the most accurate marketing brochure.
3. If you can, ask your friends.
4. My final tip is for those with Plantinum credit cards or cards with a concierge service; as with a hotel concierge, they are your best friend. I am able to call my Plantinum concierge, give them my dates and locations and budget, and they will find somewhere for me. Use them, they rule.

Google

Google (or Bing, DuckDuckGo etc) is your first stop. Try to be really specific – like “self catering Pyrenees” or “Cycling Accommodation Aramits”.

Although Google favours very specific search (and obviously rewards pages targeting specific terms) many smaller VeloDigs do not have an SEO wizard to properly target search so you quite often will have to trawl through lots of pages to find something.

My advice is to search specifically in an area for what you need, then do some legwork. For instance, you might search on “cycling accommodation Pau” or “self catering Pau” or similar, then explore other terms before “Pau”.

Also, try and stick to places that seem credible. There'd be nothing worse than booking and paying a deposit only to find there's no record of your booking.

Word of Mouth

After web search, word of mouth is your next best friend.

For instance, we found a very affordable place near Pau (actually in Aramits), through a friend.
The place was €700 for 10 days between 3 people – that was less than 1/3 the cost of what we could access via an travel agent.

I actually couldn't find that place without using a search time I'd never have thought of (remember, use very specific search).

Again, remember, many of these places are run by a couple, who probably won't have invested time and money into SEO to ensure they pop to the first page of Google (which is often the only place we'll look, before changing our search term entirely).

VeloNomad cycling Accommodation Listings

Although the VeloNomad cycling accommodation listings is very new, and does not have many accommodations (yet), you could check it out.

(And if you own accommodation anywhere in the world, and want to get in front of cyclists, check out the cycling accommodation listings options.)

Leave it until you're there

Some people may wish to leave booking their accommodation and try and find accommodation where they need it, as they need it.
Whilst this provides you with loads of flexibility, it is fraught with danger, particularly around Tour de France time.

Remember, not only are there thousands and thousands of people in town during a Tour stage, much of Europe descends on France for summer holidays.

So, hoping there’ll be some accommodation free is a little risky, particularly in hotels and campgrounds.

More reading

The Guide to Cycling Through France discusses this topic in much more detail.

Need help?

If you need help booking your trip, or for general advice, drop me a line and I’ll see if I can help. Or, book me for some concierge time.
Or, book accommodation now through:

• Expedia
• Wotif.com
• Booking.com