Where to stay with a group: house, apartments or hotel rooms

Where you sleep decides how a group trip feels more than almost anything else. A shared house gives you long breakfasts and late nights on the sofa. Separate rooms give everyone a door to close. Pick the wrong one and the group is either on top of each other or never together at all.

There are three main options for a group, and each suits a different kind of trip.

One big house or villa

Renting one large place is the classic group choice. Everyone is under one roof, there is a kitchen and a living area, and a shared space for evenings and meals.

It suits groups of friends who like each other's company, short or medium trips, and places where eating in is part of the point. It tends to work out cheaper per person than separate rooms, because the cost of a kitchen and living room is spread across everyone.

Watch for:

• Bedrooms and bathrooms against heads. Count them honestly. Eight people and two bathrooms means queues every morning.
• Who shares a bed or a room. Settle this before you book, not on arrival. Couples, single travellers and people who snore all matter.
• Bedroom sizes. Rooms are rarely equal. Decide in advance whether the larger ones cost more, and how the extra is split. Our guide to splitting a villa fairly covers the options.
• Noise. Early risers and late sleepers share walls. Agree quiet hours, or choose a house with two living spaces.
• The kitchen. A group of ten cooking together needs real equipment, not two pans. Check what is listed, then ask the host.
• Location. A beautiful house far from shops and transport needs a car, a plan for food shopping and a designated driver.

Several apartments in one building or street

If the group is bigger, or there are couples and families who want privacy, a few apartments close together can work better than one huge house.

It suits larger groups, mixed groups of couples and singles, and longer stays. Each household has its own kitchen, bathroom and door. You meet for meals and plans rather than sharing every minute.

Watch for:

• Distance between places. The same building or the same street is best. Apartments across town defeat the purpose.
• A shared meeting point. If none of the apartments is big enough to host everyone, plan where you will eat together, or choose one with a terrace or courtyard.
• More bookings to track. Each apartment has its own host, rules and check-in time. Keep the details in one place so nobody arrives at the wrong door.
• Cost. Per person it is usually higher than one house, though not always. Compare the total, not the headline rate.

Hotel rooms

A hotel is the simplest option for a short stay. There is no cleaning, no cooking, and often a breakfast included. People have their own space and meet in the lobby or restaurant.

It suits city weekends, mixed budgets, and trips where everyone is out all day. It also suits groups who don't want to share a kitchen or a bathroom, and groups where not everyone knows each other well.

Watch for:

• Everyone books their own room. This lets people choose their budget, but make sure they are all in the same hotel and on the same dates.
• Group bookings. For ten rooms or more, hotels often have a group process. Ask about conditions and cancellation before committing.
• No shared space. Evenings happen in a bar or on the street, which costs money. Choose a hotel with a decent lounge or a roof terrace if the group wants somewhere to sit.
• Cost of meals. Eating every meal out adds up. Budget for it.

Hostels and shared rooms

For younger groups or tight budgets, a hostel with private rooms for the group can be both cheap and sociable. Check that the rooms are actually private, that there is a common area you can use, and that the rules about noise and curfews suit the group.

Compare them on four things

When you are choosing, line up the options against the same questions:

1. Total cost per person. Include cleaning fees, deposits, tourist taxes and the cost of eating in versus out. Do the sums for the whole stay.
2. Privacy. How much space and quiet does each person get?
3. Shared space. Is there a place for the whole group to sit together?
4. Location. How easy is it to reach on arrival, and how close is it to where you will spend your days?

The cheapest option is not always the best. An apartment that saves each person a small amount but is a long walk from everything may cost more in taxis and tiredness.

Check before you book

A short list, whichever type you choose:

• Sleeping arrangements. Number of beds, and what kind. Sofa beds and bunk beds are not the same as double beds.
• Access. Stairs, lifts, step-free entry. Essential if anyone has mobility needs or you are travelling with children or older relatives.
• House rules. Maximum guests, parties, noise, check-in and check-out times. Read them, because they are binding.
• Cancellation terms. Read the actual policy, and check whether the deposit is refundable if someone drops out.
• Who is on the booking. One person puts down the money and holds the reservation. Agree how the others will repay them.
• Extra charges. Local taxes, cleaning and utilities can be added at the end.

Keep the details together

Group stays involve many small facts: the address, the door code, the check-in window, the host's phone number. Keep them in one place that everyone can open, ideally with the confirmation attached. Then anyone can find the address at midnight, even without a connection.

Match the stay to the group

A rough guide for deciding:

• A close group of friends for a week: a house.
• A big or mixed group, or a family with children: apartments nearby.
• A city weekend with different budgets: hotel rooms in the same hotel.
• A group on a tight budget: a hostel with private rooms, or a shared house outside the centre.

If you are planning a reunion with relatives of different ages, our article on multigenerational travel looks at the access and rest needs that matter most. If you are still working out the destination, start with choosing a group trip destination, because where you go often decides what kinds of stay are available.

Book early, then confirm

Large houses and groups of rooms are the first to go in popular seasons, so book the stay before almost anything else. Once it is booked, confirm the details with the host, send the address to everyone, and make a note of the cancellation date. That date is the one to remember if plans change.