Find a Place to Stay

Accommodation is one of the biggest day to day expenses people have while traveling so it is important to be able to find cheap places to stay. While most people dream of luxury holidays, the reality of long term travel means that you have to find a way to cut costs. Since accommodation is one of the biggest expense, this is an obvious target. Hostels are the obvious choice for many travelers but not everyone is into the hostel scene. Moreover, sometimes you just need a break from all the mayhem of hostels.  Here are some other cheap accommodation options for travelers:

Couchsurfing
Couchsurfing is probably the best way to get free accommodation. Couchsurfing allows travelers to e-mail locals in various cities about staying at their place. These locals offer travelers a place to stay in lieu of hostels or hotels. Sometimes you get a bed, sometimes a couch, sometimes a spot on the floor. However, it is a great way to meet locals from a city, get the local perspective on the area, and find out local tips on what to see, do, and where to eat.

One thing that keeps people from doing this though is fear. There you are, in a new city with all your stuff inside some stranger’s home. However, there is really nothing to worry about. Just use common sense. The people who use this site are usually travelers and are very open to meeting new people. There are very few problems and you can always leave. Moreover, websites like this are aware of this and take steps to provide security for users. They provide various levels of verification and allow users to rate and leave comments on traveler’s profiles so you know if someone is a psycho or worth staying with.

When using couchsurfing, you can use the following tips to help increase safety:

• The user should have a profile picture. This just shows that it is a real person.
• Their profile should be completed. It shows they are involved in the site and really want to participate in it. If they took the time to fill it out, they are probably serious about the site.
• They should be verified. If they went through the verification process with Couchsurfing, it also shows they take this seriously.
• They should have comments from other travelers. If other people stayed with them and had a good time, you probably will too.

However, in the end it comes down to common sense. If you don’t feel comfortable, don’t do it. Couchsurfing can be great but you only get what you put into it. If you end up somewhere and the person isn’t what they appeared to be, just thank them and leave.

Hostels
Hostels are a good option for round the world travelers. For more information about hostels, check out hostels information page. You’ll find all the relevant information about booking hostels, how to pick good hostels, and how to get good hostel deals there.

Hotels
A way of finding cheap hotel accommodation would be to compare many hotel reservation websites on the internet to find the best price. We like HotelsCombined.com as they compare over 30 popular hotel reservation websites at once. It helps save a lot of time. We don’t really want to spend a lot of time searching for accommodation so aggregate sites can be a big help. While hotels are a bit more expensive than couchsurfing or hostels, their are plenty of cheap ones out there and they make a great option for couples, older, or family travelers.

However, with the downturn in the economy recently and the subsequent decrease in travel, hotels are sometimes a better deal now. As companies try to fill rooms and tours, they are slashing rates and adding features in order to entice you. You’ll find that even the trendy and boutique hotels are offering many good packages. A good traveler checks out all the options before making his decision so look into hotel deals when traveling too.

Home Exchange
Home exchange is another good alternative for travelers. Home exchange has been around a long time but is growing in popularity as hotel prices rise and people look for other places to stay. Home exchanges are just like they sound- you exchange homes with another family from another place. Sites that facilitate home exchanges also have security and verification methods to help ensure safety. Families talk to each other over phone and email and you can back out if it doesn’t feel right for you. But like Couchsurfing, people don’t do this because they worry about security. But the other family is also trusting you with their home too. Moreover, people, always suspicious, send people to check up on you when you arrive at their home. It’s a great way to get piece of mind for you and gives the other family a chance to meet locals.

Rentals
Like home exchanges, apartment rentals also allow people to stay in furnished places while they are on holiday. These apartments are usually cheaper than hotels and give many more amenities like a kitchen, laundry, and TV room. They are great to get if you plan to spend a week or longer in one place. You’ll get the comforts of home without spending a lot of money like you would have to do at a hotel.

While on the road, consider these options when thinking about cheap accommodation. They’ll help reduce your expenses and give you more money to explore the culture you came all the way to visit.