One of the most significant fixed expenses for travelers is lodging, and cutting back on this expense can result in significant savings while traveling! If barns were the cheapest place to stay for backpackers, I’m sure many of them would do so! To save money, I’ve even slept in hammocks in national parks!
However, you do not have to do that.
No matter what kind of lodging you prefer, one thing that no one wants is to spend a lot of money on it. Since you have to stay somewhere each night, cutting this expense can cut a significant portion of your trip’s total cost. Finding free or cheap lodging will have the biggest impact on your budget, after finding a cheap flight.
Fortunately, there are numerous options for inexpensive lodging when traveling. The best ways to do so are as follows:
First Cheap Hotel Tip:
Participate in Hospitality Exchanges Staying with a resident is one of the best ways to receive free lodging. Stay with a local who will give you free lodging, information about the area, and a company to hang out with! This is one of my favorite ways to save money and have a great cultural experience at the same time!
People frequently avoid couchsurfing because they are concerned about its safety. At first, it made me nervous too. You are in a stranger’s house with all of your belongings, in a new city. What if they attempt to kill you while you’re sleeping? What if they take your belongings? However, I’ve found that people who are willing to let strangers into their homes are typically former travelers who have a wide range of perspectives.
They understand what you are going through. They wish to assist. Couchsurfing is aware of this and takes numerous precautions to ensure safety. It lets users rate and comment on other people’s profiles and provides a variety of verification levels.
Tip #2: Stay in a Hostel Another option for budget travelers is to stay in a hostel.
Hostels have dormitory-style rooms with shared facilities. A lot of people don’t want to sleep in a dormitory because they see hostels as a “young thing.” However, many people are unaware that many hostels provide singles, doubles, and small rooms for solo travelers or couples.
In hostels, I’ve met people in their 50s and 60s. They are not the filthy, disgusting places intended for young people. Numerous lodgings offer a larger number of conveniences than inns and are truly perfect as youngsters anticipate more solace. These are not the ghastly hostels you see in movies or hear about from your parents. They have bars, curtains, wifi, tour desks, lockers for your belongings, big bathrooms, and a lot more! How hostels keep getting better and better every year amazes me.
Hostel dorms, in my opinion, offer the best value for travelers on a budget. The price is lower for larger rooms. Even though you’ll have to share a room with a lot of people, it’s the best way to save money if you’re on a budget. You don’t have to share a dorm with strangers if you’re traveling with a group. You could get one of the dorms for the whole group.
Some of the larger international chains, like YHA and Hostelling International, focus more on older travelers or group travelers, whereas many hostels cater to young travelers and have age restrictions. In hostels all over the world, I’ve seen families, tour groups, and older travelers. A hostel is really for anyone, regardless of age, who wants to meet other travelers.
Tip 3 for Cheap Accommodations:
Stay in a Home Exchange This is probably the most effective option for older travelers who already own a home. These projects have been around for quite a while however are filling in fame because of good showcasing and verbal exchange on the Web. As the name suggests, home exchanges involve sharing a home with a family from another country for a predetermined period. It’s a great way to save money while traveling.
The majority of people do not do this out of safety concerns; however, keep in mind that the other family is also entrusting you with their home. Similar to Couchsurfing, websites that facilitate home exchanges typically offer various levels of verification and security. Families communicate with one another via email and phone, and there is no obligation if you decide it is not for you.
Since the majority of those who participate in this activity share similar values, there is little chance that anything will go wrong. In addition, when you arrive, the family sends a few people to check on you. You can have all of the amenities of a home, like hot water, laundry, and so on. while in a different city, free of charge.
Visit Home Exchange to learn more about home exchange. This site was highlighted in the film “The Occasion,” which did a great deal to ease individuals’ feelings of dread over home trade and carry this movement choice into the standard. Seniors Home Exchange, IHEN, and Home for Exchange are three additional websites that offer home swaps.
The majority of people do not do this out of safety concerns; however, keep in mind that the other family is also entrusting you with their home. Similar to Couchsurfing, websites that facilitate home exchanges typically offer various levels of verification and security. Families communicate with one another via email and phone, and there is no obligation if you decide it is not for you.
A great many people who do this are similar, so the possibility of something turning out badly is thin. In addition, when you arrive, the family sends a few people to check on you. You can have all of the amenities of a home, like hot water, laundry, and so on. while in another city, without paying for it.
Visit Home Exchange to learn more about home exchange. The movie “The Holiday,” which is featured on this website, did a lot to dispel people’s concerns about home exchange and make this travel option more commonplace. Seniors Home Exchange, IHEN, and Home for Exchange are three additional websites that offer home swaps.
