Choose the right base before comparing hotels: neighbourhood character, transport, late-night atmosphere and the trade-offs that matter.
4 published guides
Rome rewards walking, but the centre is larger and more uneven than it looks. Choose a base that fits your evenings and the attractions you will visit early — not simply the closest pin to the Colosseum.
Tokyo does not have one centre. Pick the rail lines and evening atmosphere first, then the hotel — otherwise a cheap room can quietly add an hour of commuting every day.
The best London base is not the neighbourhood with the most sights. It is the one that lets you end the day well — with a direct ride home, somewhere good to eat and no unnecessary cross-city commute.
Midtown is convenient, but convenience is not the same thing as a good evening. These are the New York bases we would choose for different first trips — and the trade-off behind each one.