How To Find Cheap Stays

Accommodation doesn’t have to be crazy expensive when you travel.  If you shop around, you can find good deals on hotels and hostels.  In fact there are even some options that allow you to stay for free or for a few chores here and there.

Hostels
Hostels are not only an inexpensive way to travel, but they also provide you with a social network.  If you are traveling alone, a hostel is often the best decision because you will meet people whom you can travel with.  For the cheapest option, you can stay in a dorm room.  If you have more money to spare you can stay in a single, double, or quad, which usually end up being cheaper than staying in a hotel.  Nevertheless it is important to do your research.  Some hostels are more expensive than others, and it doesn’t necessarily mean that the more expensive digs is better.  Check out travel forums and see what people have to say about the hostels you are planning on staying in.

Couchsurfing
If you don’t want to spend a dime check out Couchsurfing.com.  As they say on their website, it is a network for making connections with travelers.  You sign up and can stay on a person couch.  If you are worried about safety, you should only stay with verified members.  They contribute to the couchsurfing community, and their name and address has been verified by the site.  There is also a reference system, where previous visitors can view past reviews of participants.

Home Exchange
A home exchange involves two people looking to offer their home in exchange of staying at the home of another person.  The premise of the movie The Holiday is based on this idea.  Let’s say you want to go to Barcelona for your summer holiday.  Go to the Home Exchange website and offer to swap your digs to someone in Barcelona looking to come to your town.

Housesitting
Housesitting is another option for those of you who do not want to spend a dime on accommodation.  Basically you get to stay at someone’s house in exchange for ’sitting.’  Responsibilities differ depending on the assignment.  You may have to upkeep a garden along with cleaning the house and watering the plants.  Sometimes pets are involved.

Rentals
If you will be staying in a place for a long time, perhaps for over a month, it may be a better decision to get a rental instead of staying at a hotel the whole time.  If you have a big group of people with you, the better.  Renting an apartment will come out cheaper than spending a whole month at a hotel, but more expensive than spending a month at a dorm in a hostel.  Weigh your options and see which your prefer.