While traveling, accommodation happens to be the second biggest expense next to airline tickets. One common thing every traveler wants is to cut down on accommodation costs as it is one of the best ways to have a cheap holiday. Being able to reduce accommodation costs can lead to big savings, which can be used for other exciting travel related activities. Luckily cheap accommodation is available all over the world. There are many affordable and even free options that let you save a lot of money.
Here are a number of ways travelers can find a decent place to stay without spending a fortune:
Hostels
If you are a budget conscious traveler, backpacker hostels are one of the best options as they provide very cheap accommodation. In hostels, you will be sharing your room and bathroom with multiple people, which helps to keep the expenses low. The rooms often hold bunk-beds and can accommodate 4-10 individuals. Personal lockers are also available to keep your belongings safe and secure. This is a great option to meet fellow travelers and interact with each other.
Guest Houses
Although a bit more costly than hostels, a guest house provides a simple, affordable and decent sized private room. For those who don’t want to be sociable and wish to have some privacy, this is a very good option. The guesthouses will not offer the services of a fancy hotel. Kitchens/ breakfast may or may not be included.
Short-term Apartments
In some places, people may rent a whole apartment or part of their house for travelers on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. Not only are these apartments budget friendly, they are also fully furnished and comes with a kitchen. It feels like home away from home and you get the opportunity to mingle with the locals.
Local Homestay
A great way to learn about the culture of a new country is to stay in a local homestay, where a family rents out a spare bedroom to travelers for extra income. By staying with then, you get to know about their lifestyle. A homestay usually includes breakfast and in some places dinner too.
Camping
If you are a nature lover and want to get really close to nature while traveling, then get into the wilderness. There’s nothing like camping in a beautiful and serene place. With a tent or camping hammock you can have a place to sleep without spending any money. Although camping is free most of the time, you may have to pay if you are choosing popular tourist locations.
