Finding the right accommodation for you can often times be overwhelming. Especially if you’re on a limited budget and don’t have the ability to take the safe route and just opt for a 5 star hotel on your travels. Here are some tips for getting started and finding the perfect accommodations for you.
Booking websites are your new best friend
Do your research! Don’t just stick to one website, search multiple websites. Booking.com, HostelWorld, and Hostels.com are great places to start for budget travelers. They all offer several options that allow you to specify what you are looking for, like how far you want to be from the city centre and what amenities are crucial for the room or hotel to have.
Tip: Always make sure when you find a place you like, to check the price of it on different booking websites, and even the hostel/hotels website to find which one has the cheapest rate. Each website may have different prices, or booking right through the hotel may end up being cheaper.
Read what people have to say
This is an important step that you don’t want to miss, even if you are booking luxurious 5 star resorts. Reviews can provide insight on what the hotel is actually like. Maybe the hotel listing says it’s close to the city centre but in reality it’s actually a 30 minute drive away. Make sure to not only read the reviews on the booking websites, but also places like Trip Advisor.
Tip: Don’t always judge a place by its rating, sometimes the people that are rating the place low, really are complaining for the sake of complaining, or the stuff they are complaining about is not something that would turn you off.
Be open to exploring all options
Some people are automatically turned off by hostels because when they think of a hostel they think of dorm rooms with 12 other 20-something party animals. The truth is, hostels are a great budget option and many/most of them have private rooms, quiet hours, and smaller dorm size rooms where you’re only sharing with 3 others (same sex or co-ed).
Tip: Private rooms with shared bathrooms can be a great option for those wanting some privacy but want to save money.
Look beyond a hotel or hostel
There are so many different options out their for accommodations while traveling, no matter what your budget may be, there really is something for everyone. Some other options to try out aside from your regular hostel or hotel are:
- Couchsurfing – Look for people and places with reviews and ratings, and full profiles filled out.
- Home Exchange – Swap your house with other people in the destination of your choice.
- AirBNB – Rent an apartment or room for your stay.
- Farm Stays or WWOOF – Stay on a farm in exchange for working on the farm. A way to see the world and it makes your wallet happy.
- Monastery stays – Mainly available within Europe, a cheap and authentic choice.
Do you have tips and tricks for finding the perfect accommodation for your travels? Leave a comment and tell me about them!
7 Comments
Curt
July 23, 2020 at 6:05 pmGreat tips :)) I agree. Im using worldee like community place for inspiration about places/accommodations. I recommend it.
Shammy Peterson
July 22, 2021 at 10:49 pmI like that you said that reviews could provide insights into what the hotel is actually like. As you said, it is a step that you should not miss. My husband and I are planning to stay in a hotel for 4-7 days because we want to spend intimate moments together as we celebrate our 8th wedding anniversary. We would like to find a hotel that offers a great deal like free breakfast so we could use our pocket money for souvenir shopping. We will consider all your tips.
Lauren
July 26, 2021 at 3:14 pmThanks for reading!! Enjoy your trip together.
Vivian Black
November 1, 2021 at 10:02 amThank you for the great suggestions to visit reviews for insight on what a hotel is actually like. Even checking websites with maps can tell you how far away a hotel is from desired places. We will be looking for accommodations for our vacation spot soon.
Jeff Carbine
November 1, 2021 at 9:10 pmI liked how you mentioned that finding suitable accommodation for you can often be overwhelming. Especially if you’re on a limited budget and can’t take the safe route and opt for a 5-star hotel on your travels. My family and I plan for an outing for us to bond. I will be looking for a hotel online to accommodate us on this journey. Thanks for this post very helpful.
Lauren
November 2, 2021 at 10:36 amHappy you found it helpful! Enjoy your family vacay.
Jeff Carbine
November 29, 2021 at 11:49 pmIt’s good to know that reviews can provide insight into what the hotel is actually like. My mom mentioned to me that she wants a gateway outing to ease stress. I will share this post for her to choose a suitable vacation lodge to book for her vacation.