HOW TO FIND CHEAP ACCOMMODATION IN 7 EASY STEPS

One of the biggest fixed costs for travelers is where they stay, and lowering that cost can help them save a lot of money on the road. Many backpackers would probably sleep in a barn if that was the cheapest place they could find to stay. Even in national parks, I've slept in hammocks to save a dollar.

#1 You don't have to do that, though.

No matter what kind of accommodations you like, everyone wants to avoid spending a lot of money on them. Since you have to stay somewhere every night, cutting back on this cost can save you a lot of money on your whole trip. Finding free or cheap places to stay will have the biggest effect on your budget after finding a cheap flight.

When you travel, there are many ways to find cheap places to stay. Here are the most effective ways to do it:

The first tip for cheap lodging is to stay in Hospitality Exchanges.

Couchsurfing is a cheap way to stay in a hotel.

Staying with someone who lives where you're going is one of the best ways to get free lodging. Stay with a local who will let you sleep for free, tell you about the area, and give you someone to hang out with! This is one of my favorite ways to save money, and it's also a great way to learn about other cultures. There are a few websites that can help with this:

Couchsurfing

BeWelcome

Couchsurfing is my favorite, and it also has the largest and most active community. The site's goal is to help travelers save money on lodging and learn more about the local culture by letting them stay with and talk to a local.

This site is one of the best things to happen to travel, and I use it all the time. I like that I can avoid hostels and hotels and save money, but what keeps me coming back to the site is that I get to see how locals live. I'm taken to parties, restaurants, and places that aren't in any guidebook.

People are often afraid to couchsurf because they don't know if it's safe. At first, I was nervous about it, too. You're in a new city with all your stuff in the home of a stranger. What if someone tries to kill you while you're sleeping? What if they take what you have? But I've found that people who are willing to let strangers stay in their homes tend to be very open-minded and often have traveled before. They know how you are feeling. They are trying to help. Couchsurfing knows this and takes many steps to make sure people are safe. It has different levels of verification, and people can rate and comment on other people's profiles.

I use the following criteria when I'm looking for a Couchsurfing host:

The profile must include a picture. This just shows me that the person is real.

You have to fill out the profile. It shows that they care and are interested. Most people won't take the time to fill this out if they don't want strangers to come into their homes. If a person hasn't taken the time to fill out their profile, it's likely that they don't use the site, so I just move on.

There should be reviews of them. If other people have stayed with or at least traveled with the host and had a good time, you and your things will probably be fine. Even if you don't like the host, at least you know he or she isn't a creep. The better, the more good reviews there are.

It helps to check. There are different levels of verification on Couchsurfing. Other travelers, a mailing address, or a credit card can be used to confirm someone's identity. Knowing that someone has been checked out makes it less likely that they will be a psycho killer. But I don't mind if someone isn't verified but has a lot of reviews.

Use your own judgment no matter what, but I haven't heard of any really bad couchsurfing experiences, other than the host being a jerk or a little unfriendly. Most of the time, you end up talking to hosts through email to get a sense of who they are and what they want. If it doesn't seem right, don't do it! But once you've done it once, you realize that it's not that bad. If you do it often, you'll save hundreds and hundreds of dollars on lodging and meet people from all over the world.

Read this article to find out more about how to beat these services. It will tell you how to find a host and how to keep yourself safe.

#2: Hostels are a cheap place to stay.

Hostels are inexpensive places to stay.

Hostels are another option for travelers on a tight budget. The rooms in hostels are like dorms, and all the facilities are shared. Many people think that hostels are for young people and don't want to sleep in a dorm. People often don't know, though, that many hostels have small rooms, singles, and doubles for people who are traveling alone or with a partner. I've met people in their 50s and 60s in hostels. The idea that they are dirty, gross places for young people to stay is not true. As young people expect more comfort, many hostels have more amenities than hotels and are really clean. These hostels aren't like the ones you see in movies or about which your parents tell you scary stories. They have wifi, tour desks, bars, curtains, lockers for your stuff, big bathrooms, and a lot more. Every year, hostels get better and better, which always amazes me.

I think the best deal for travelers on a budget is to stay in a hostel dorm. The price of a room goes down the bigger it is. Even though you have to share a room with a lot of people, it is the best way to save money if you are on a tight budget. If you are traveling with a group, you could get one of the dorms for your whole group and not have to share with strangers.

Many hostels are for young travelers and have age limits. However, some of the larger international chains, like YHA and Hostelling International, are more for older travelers or groups. In hostels all over the world, I've seen families, tour groups, and older travelers. Anyone of any age who wants to meet other travelers can go to a hostel.

Hostels are cheap, safe, and easy to get to. Even if you're not a young backpacker, you shouldn't forget about them.

My favorite hostel booking website is Hostelworld. They have the best selection, best deals, and best way to shop. A dorm bed in most hostels costs between $5 and $30 USD per night. They also have private rooms, but those are not a good deal at all. Airbnb or a cheap guesthouse will give you much more for your money. I wouldn't get a private room in a hostel unless you really want the hostel experience and a place to meet other travelers.

#3: Stay in a nice house that you swap with someone else.

This is probably best for older travelers who already have a place to live. These programs have been around for a long time, but thanks to good marketing and word-of-mouth on the Internet, they are becoming more and more popular. Home exchanges are exactly what they sound like: you swap homes with a family from another country for a certain amount of time. It's a great way to save money while living overseas.

Most people don't do this because they're worried about safety, but keep in mind that the other family is also putting their trust in you with their home. Like Couchsurfing, most sites that help people swap homes have different levels of security and verification. Families talk to each other by phone and e-mail, and there's no obligation to stay in touch if you decide it's not for you. Most people who do this have similar ideas, so it's unlikely that something will go wrong. Also, when you arrive, the family sends a few people to check on you. You can have all the comforts of home, like hot water, laundry, etc., even if you are in a different city.

Check out Home Exchange to learn more about home exchange. This website was shown in the movie "The Holiday," which helped a lot of people get over their fears about home exchange and made it a popular way to travel. Seniors Home Exchange, IHEN, and Home for Exchange are some of the other websites for home exchange.

If house swapping isn't your thing, you could try house-sitting instead. You will get a place to stay in the area you are visiting if you watch and clean someone's house while they are away. Some good sites for house sitting are:

House Carers Mind My House

House Sitting in Style

One thing to keep in mind about house sitting is that it's not for tourists who are just passing through. You can find house sitting jobs that last only a few days, but most are for weeks or months. Keep in mind that you're watching someone's home while they're away, and most people like to get away for a while. You will have to go through a verification process if you are in charge of keeping someone's house in order. There are a lot of choices because they are becoming more and more popular.

If you're interested in doing this, read this article about house sitting to learn how to find a place.

Tip #4: Airbnb apartment rentals are a good way to find cheap places to stay.

Like home exchanges, rentals let people stay in apartments that are already set up while they travel. These apartments are less expensive than hotels and have a lot more to offer. They are great if you plan to stay in one place for a week or more. You'll have all the comforts of home, but you won't have to spend a lot of money.

These apartments are a good middle ground between a hostel and a hotel, but if you are traveling alone, they can get a bit pricey. They cost about twice as much as a hostel dorm room, if not more. But if you are traveling with a group or a partner and want a break from the dorms and crowds of other travelers but don't want a hotel room, this is the best place to stay. Why else should you use this method? You get a kitchen, which lets you cook and save money on food.

These are my favorite rental sites:

Wimdu Airbnb

But let's face it. Everyone now has a website. Airbnb is a big deal and has become one of the main ways people travel. This is the perfect place to stay if you don't want a hotel but also don't want a dorm. I always stay in Airbnbs. I love it. You can meet people, have your own space, and it's clean and quiet. It's perfect, to be honest.

Here's my advice on how to find the right Airbnb or short-term place to stay.

#5: If you want to stay somewhere cheap, stay on a farm.

WWOOFing is a way to live on a farm without having to work. Stay on a farm. Farm stays let you stay on working farms, learn how a farm works, and maybe even help out (milk that cow!). You can also take part in a number of planned outdoor activities. Depending on the farm, you may be able to camp or stay in nice rooms, but in general, it's like staying at a bed and breakfast. Prices vary a lot depending on where you are in the world, but in general, expect to pay at least $40 USD per night, which is the price of a cheap hotel.

Tip #6 for a cheap place to stay: Stay in a monastery.

Want to do something really different? Spend time in a monastery. The rooms in these monasteries are often very simple, with just a bed and a desk. The monks and nuns cook simple meals for themselves. Monasteries are very quiet and good for families (most also have curfews). Many monasteries charge at least $50 USD per person per night (though many have dorms for half that price), but most just ask for donations or are free, making them a great option for those on a budget.

Places to look for a monastery stay:

Stays at Monastery

How to Spend a Night at a Monastery

15 Cheap Places to Stay at a Monastery Seventh tip: Get points!

Apartment rentals are a good way to stay for cheap.

Getting a place to stay for free is the best way to save money on it. If you don't want to couchsurf but still want to stay somewhere for free, you can travel hack.

You can earn hotel points through different programs and then use them to stay for free at hotels. I'm writing this right now in London at the Waldorf Astoria. Price to me? $0. Sign up for a hotel credit card, get lots of bonus points, charge everything, and cash out! That's all it takes.

And you don't even have to spend a lot of money because there are lots of ways to get points without spending money (that you don't have)!

Some of my favorite places to stay

Here are a few of my favorite websites where I can find the best deals on places to stay. When I'm looking for a cheap place to stay, I always start with these websites:

Hostelworld.com

Booking.com

Agoda.com

TrustedHousesitters.com

Couchsurfing.com

Priceline.com

Airbnb.com

***

The next time you go on a trip, think about one of these ways to save money on where to stay. Get your mind out of the hotel! Finding a place to stay can be done in a lot of fun and cheap ways. They will help you cut costs, which will give you more money to do activities, eat out, drink more, and enjoy the place you've been saving for so long. It has never been easier to find cheap places to stay than it is now, thanks to the Internet and all the booking sites.

Share :