The short answer
A nightly rate is only one input. Compare the final accommodation total, the daily routine it creates and any services you will actually use. Keep refundable deposits separate from expected spending. A fair comparison uses the same dates, party size, room needs and cancellation conditions.
Get the complete accommodation figure
Open the final price breakdown before paying. Check taxes, cleaning, extra guests, parking and any separately stated charges. Airbnb's pricing guidance distinguishes the nightly rate from fees and taxes; other booking channels have their own display and payment arrangements. For any unclear charge, ask the property whether it is mandatory, how it is calculated and where it appears in the booking. Do not assume every property charges every item on your checklist.
Price your normal day at each location
Imagine breakfast, leaving for the beach, coming back to change and going out for dinner. Which journeys are necessary at each property? Do you need a car for the whole stay, only a few days, or not at all? Include parking and any facility fees you expect to pay. Compare the same activities, otherwise the cheaper itinerary may simply include less holiday.
Use a worked example, not an island average
These are invented figures for seven nights. Stay A costs $120 per night, plus $100 cleaning and $210 in transport: $1,150. Stay B costs $155 per night, with no cleaning charge and $35 transport: $1,120. B's higher nightly rate is $30 cheaper overall under these assumptions. Replace every number with your actual quotes and add any taxes or food costs not included. The result changes if your plans change.
A kitchen is useful only if you use it
Check what “kitchen” includes: fridge size, hob, cookware and enough seating. Estimate the meals you realistically want to prepare, not three cooked meals a day if you expect to eat out. Add the first grocery trip and basic supplies. Cooking can support children's routines and dietary preferences even when it is not the cheapest option. Conversely, included breakfast may save both time and a daily journey.
Compare risk and comfort too
A flexible booking and a non-refundable deal are not identical products. Note payment dates, cancellation deadlines and how an arrival delay is handled. List comfort items that matter to you: air conditioning in the actual sleeping rooms, a quiet place for naps, shade or a usable work area. A room that saves money but fails your essential requirements is not a useful bargain.
Your comparison sheet
- Accommodation total for the complete party and stay.
- Necessary transport, parking and likely facility charges.
- Food costs based on the meals you actually plan.
- Deposits or card holds recorded separately from spending.
- Cancellation terms, payment dates and essential room features.
Decide with a clear trade-off
Write one sentence for each option: “This costs more, but removes two daily journeys,” or “This saves enough to pay for the car we already want.” Keep optional luxuries separate. That makes the decision understandable and prevents a small nightly discount from dominating the whole holiday plan.
Sources & method
Sources reviewed on 10 October 2026. The references below support the factual details; trip suggestions are editorial choices. This is a desk-researched guide, not an on-site inspection. Conditions and provider terms can change.
Our method & corrections