How To Get Cheap Accommodation While Traveling

Whether you have a lot of money or not, the idea of budget traveling is an interesting topic for many. How do people travel for $800 a month in some countries you might wonder? Well in this post, I will explain the ways you can obtain cheap accommodation while traveling. The main expenses while traveling are flights, transportation, food, activities, and accommodation. In this blog, we are going to talk about the accommodation side of travel. If you need a little travel motivation, read my blog on reasons to travel this upcoming year.

What people look for when booking accommodation varies widely from person to person. For some, it is half of the reason to go travel. There are very extravagant places to stay that make you feel like you’re living a different life. For others, it’s just a means to be able to travel to that location. For me, it’s definitely a mixture. I love a good place to stay with an amazing view. I’m a sucker for a balcony but it isn’t the end all be all. I mainly try to find ways to get cheap accommodation. Experiencing as many things as possible is my ultimate goal and that’s why I’m going to teach you a few tricks to getting cheap accommodation while traveling.

1. Airbnb

Everyone should know what Airbnb is these days. It’s not a perfect platform and I understand the backlashes that it comes with. At the end of the day though, you can find some amazing deals on some beautiful homes. If you are wanting to travel for longer, like a month or more, hosts will give you discounts on monthly rentals. Depending on where you are in the world, you can get some cheap deals for $600/month or even less.

2. Hostels

The view on hostels is different depending on who you talk to. They carry a bad reputation for some and for others it’s a great way to meet like-minded travelers. It’s not only for people in their 20’s either. I have seen many families and older adults stay in hostels plenty of times. Don’t knock it until you try it. Many hostels are between $8-$20 per night. The sleeping arrangements can vary between a large dorm-style room with 12+ beds or a private room for 2. Hostelworld is a great platform that has a selection of the highest-rated hostels in that area. Not all hostels are on this website though. I would also try and check out booking.com.

3. Homestays

This is a very unique way to travel and something many people know exists. Basically, you stay with a host family in a country and for the most part, is very affordable. I have found deals that are as cheap as some hostels but also offer three meals a day. On top of all of that, you get to experience the country from a different side. You might see things and get opportunities you may never have gotten otherwise. Also, if you’re in another country wanting to learn their language, this is a great way to do that. The best site I’ve found to do this is homestay.com.

4. Housesitting/pet Sitting

There are many like-minded travelers around the world that want to get away for long stretches of time but there’s one problem. They have pets and this can put a damper on their plans. This is where you come in. You can apply to housesit for them and watch over their pets. Many of them have dogs and cats but it can vary. They may also have small other tasks that they want to be done but other than that, the cost is basically FREE! The site to use is Trustedhousesitters.com. There is a yearly fee of $150 but totally worth it. It is possible to find houses with no pets and all they want from you is to keep the house clean and tidy with some yard work. So, if you don’t mind doing any of those things, then you should check it out when planning your next trip!

5. Couchsurfing

There’s a high probability that if you have been in the travel scene for some time now that you have heard of Couchsurfing. It is a strong community of over 5 million users that let guests either sleep on the couch or in a spare room. This is a great opportunity for the host and yourself to learn more about each other’s cultures. Often times the host will give you tips on where to go or what to do. They even sometimes come along for the adventure themselves! A lot of things have happened to the original site. The original site went from being free to have a paywall, along with many other issues. A new CouchSurfing community has been started and if you want to check it out, the website is couchers.org. This is by far the best way to get cheap accommodation while traveling.