Skipping the Hotel: 8 Cheaper Accommodations for Your Next Trip

For travellers, a significant portion of their travel money goes to their accommodation for the entire trip. This usually strains their budget allocation, most especially if they are tightening the belt.

If you’re looking for more adventures and new experiences during your trip, a great idea is to skip the hotel. With the trend of non-hotel accommodations increasing, most tourists are now given a lot of options where to stay without limiting themselves in hotels that are very customary and usually coupled with expensive rates.

The following alternatives are much cheaper than a hotel but provide you with the same comfort and hospitality:

1) Hostels

First up on this skipping the hotel list is the backpackers favourite budget travel choice, hostels. Staying at hostels is a perfect choice if you’re really working on your budget. They provide accommodation for a longer duration, but they still offer the same facilities as those of a hotel. It’s also great if you’re travelling with family or friends because hostels offer room types to fit a large group of tourists.

If you’re a solo traveller and if you’re willing to share a room with other travellers, you can opt to pay for a bed. It’ll definitely cost less than if you pay for a hotel room.

2) Apartments and vacation home rentals

Since its foundation in 2008, Airbnb has changed the accommodation industry and has given hotels a run for their money. Most tourists prefer to rent apartments and vacation homes because they feel that they’re living like a local during their trip. They also have the freedom of using kitchen facilities – they can cook and avoid eating out during their trips, which is a total money saver. Moreover, listings that have unique and interesting interiors in their properties provide a whole new experience to travellers.

3) Camping

Next up on this skipping the hotel list is all about getting outdoors. If you’re feeling more adventurous and you want to experience one unforgettable road trip, you can go camping. This option is also best if you’re outgoing and you want to spend your time outdoors. A comfortable tent will be your home away from home.

Pitching a tent is perfect if your trip involves hiking, trekking, and visiting protected areas and parks in the country. If you bring your own tent, you might be spending nothing for your accommodation.

4) Home exchangesz

If you have seen the movie The Holiday, you will be familiar with how home exchanges work. If you don’t mind having someone stay in your abode for a short period, then this is the best option for you.

However, if you’re spontaneous and you plan your trip a couple of days before your intended date, home exchanges might not work well because you need to contact the homeowner. Swapping homes usually involve long correspondence between two parties and answering a lot of questions. Nevertheless, the experience you’ll get will definitely be worth it.

5) Couch surfing

Another way of skipping the hotel is couch surfing. It involves crashing or staying together with the homeowner. If you’re a fun person and you easily get along with other people, go ahead and try couch surfing. You can live like a local and go to social gatherings and meet-ups – instant budget saver plus you make new friends. Definitely a win-win!

Here’s a tip: Because you won’t be shelling out a lot of money for accommodation for this option, it’s nice if you’ll give your host a small token showing you appreciate his/her hospitality.

6) Academic housing

You can go for this option if you’re visiting the city during the time that students are off in their academic life. Some university dormitories open their establishments to tourists during this time. This is cheap – but university housing setups are usually in old buildings, public restrooms, and bunk beds.

7) Religious housing

Do you need some spiritual lifting during your trip? You might want to stay in religious housings. These include:

• Monasteries
• Convents
• Temples
• Synagogues

Most of these offer free accommodation as part of their charity and their purpose. Staying here includes participation in their religious activities, such as meditation and fasting, and respecting their faith. Also, in exchange for your accommodation, you are expected to do charity work and be involved in housekeeping activities of their place.

Another important thing to consider here is that smoking and drinking alcohol are strictly prohibited. If you’re skipping the hotel while trying to quit smoking and drinking, why not stay here?

8) Farmstays

Last up on this skipping the hotel list is a unique one. Do you want to experience working on a farm and earn some cash? Consider staying on a farm. If you’re willing to get your hands dirty and do some extra work, choose to stay in local farms, breweries, and vineyards. If you want to save money, earn some, and experience new things, this is for you.

There are a lot of options nowadays where to spend your nights in a foreign place. Skipping the hotel has become easy with the rise of these alternative accommodations. Not only can you have more fun on your trip, but you can also save more money. So, next time you will be taking a holiday, where will you choose to stay?

What say you?
Thoughts on Skipping the Hotel?
Let’s hear it!

Looking for more accommodations?