As backpackers, our mantra is to sacrifice while traveling. This means finding a cheap place to stay in every destination we visit. In some parts of the world, this is easier than in others. Below is our guide to finding affordable accommodation on the road.
Factors to Help You Find a Cheap Place to Stay
First, you need to know which factors can make any accommodation you choose cheaper. Once you know these and are willing to sacrifice any of them to save some bucks, you can expand your budget in other areas of your trip.
Location
No matter where you travel, your accommodation's location is always a factor in affordability. Of course, a hotel in Times Square, New York City, will cost more than one on the city's outskirts, like across the bridge in Jersey City.
If you choose to save money this way, make sure it's worth the time you'll spend on local transportation to reach the city center.
If you save only a few bucks on accommodation by staying a few miles out of the city, but then have to pay a few dollars for transportation to get into the city, you might want to reconsider.
Time of Year
Around the world, the busiest spring and summer travel seasons range from May to August. During this time, prices are higher, lines are longer, and beaches are more crowded because the weather tends to be warmer. People traditionally plan their vacations around this season.
Alternatively, you could travel in the months preceding or following the high season and save big. These are called "shoulder" seasons because they fill the gap between the high and low seasons.
For example, Dave visited Japan for ten days in February, which is the winter season. He had a positive experience couchsurfing in Tokyo and was thrilled to find that the hostel dorm in Kyoto, where he stayed, was 50 percent off during the low season.
In total, he spent less than $200 on accommodation while visiting one of the world's most expensive countries.
Privacy
For some, privacy in accommodation matters a lot. Others willingly invite socializing. No matter where you stay, you can always choose more privacy.
For example, you can stay in a private room or a dorm with anywhere from a few to 25 other people in hostels. However, privacy comes at a premium in hostels, so you can expect to pay more per night for smaller dorms.
A 12-bed dorm will be cheaper than a 4-bed dorm. However, dorm room design and occupancy can vary. I have often stayed in an empty dorm room during the off-season, having a room to myself.
Types of Accommodation
Traditional Options
Generally speaking, traditional accommodation options refer to the options on a travel booking search engine such as Booking.com.
Hostels
Many people who have never stayed in a hostel may have the wrong idea of what amenities a modern hostel offers. Often, a hostel offers the average traveler more than a budget hotel.
They offer a full kitchen, shared spaces, capsule sleeping arrangements, bars (with happy hours), tour services, swimming pools, large communal bathrooms (and private ones), complimentary breakfast, and more.
Hostels offer so much that regular hotels cannot. If you are hesitant to try hostels because of outdated clichés and horror stories from your parents, I suggest giving them another shot.
Hostel stays are central to many backpackers, and you might end up, like me, making hostels as your favorite part of traveling!
Pro tip: Hostelworld is the best platform for booking hostels, where you can read customer reviews and easily compare prices and options.
Bungalows
Especially popular in tropical climates, bungalows are an affordable option for the minimalist traveler. While expensive luxury bungalows exist, backpacker options usually offer a bed with a fan (sometimes A/C) and a basic bathroom.
The grounds are usually the biggest benefit, as the minimalist setup lets them be in neat locations like rainforests, mountains, and rice paddy fields.
Homestays
Homestays are very common in Asia. This option offers a private bedroom and bathroom, plus a shared kitchen and common area.
The unique part of this is that you get the comfort of your own space, plus a space to share with other travelers. In addition, a local family usually lives on these properties, so you will also get a bit of a cultural experience.
Now that Airbnb has arrived in Cuba, you can rent rooms through the platform and stay in a Cuban family home. Often, the family will offer one or more meals for a fee.
Guesthouses
This is a popular option in some parts of Africa, usually offering an entire apartment-style space with a kitchen, one or two bedrooms, and a living space. These are great options when traveling with others.
Hotels
Everyone is familiar with hotel stays. This is often cost-prohibitive for solo backpackers, but if you are traveling with a friend or two, you might find an option that fits your budget.
In Southeast Asia, you'll be shocked by how cheap a single or double room can be in an average hotel. Alternatively, if you collect travel points, hotel stays are a great way to earn more points.
Many hotels now make stays easier with a guest-experience app like Duve, which lets you check in online, message the front desk, and arrange extras before you arrive.
Camping
You may not find as many camping opportunities on a booking portal such as Booking.com, but they exist. If you're outdoorsy and the climate suits you, this is an excellent way to save money while traveling.
Reserve America is an excellent booking platform for those looking to camp exclusively in America. The only drawback is that you usually have to bring a tent or rent one, which can bring accommodation costs up to a similar price as the other options listed above.
Non-Traditional Options
If you like to think outside the box and experience new things while traveling, here are some options you won't find on the regular accommodation booking sites.
Airbnb
One of the latest ways to find accommodation is through Airbnb's easy-to-use portal. Traditional Airbnb stays usually offer private accommodation, with the option of a whole house or a private room.
Sometimes you get access to private amenities, and other times you share with travelers or the local family that owns the accommodation. Airbnb's benefit is the flexibility to choose the type of place you want.
Couchsurfing
This is a real backpacker's portal. Couchsurfing links local hosts with travelers to create an open-minded community. Stay with a local for free and share in conversation and traditions.
Couchsurfing has become more than just a way to find a free place to stay. It's also become a social network where you can meet locals and other travelers for drinks, sightseeing, or events.
Whether you use it as a platform for finding accommodation or meeting friends as you travel, the Couchsurfing app is worth a download.
Workaway / Farm Stay (WWOOF)
Workaway, Worldpackers, and World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF) are membership-based, so you must pay a small annual fee. However, it could still save you a significant amount of money on accommodation.
Generally, these options are free stays in exchange for a few hours of labor each day. Sometimes, they even include free meals. It's also a great way to meet locals.
House Sitting
Sites like Mind My House and Trusted Housesitters let longer-term travelers stay in one place for weeks or months, doing basic household chores and caring for pets while the homeowners are away.
These sites, like Workaway and WWOOFING, are membership-based, so unless you plan to be semi-rooted during your travels, I wouldn't jump into building your profile.
Monasteries
Sometimes, you can stay in religious buildings, such as monasteries or church-managed hostels.
For example, Dave rented a private room at a Bhutanese monastery in Bodhgaya. Every morning, the monks chanted in the main building, and guests could sit in on these rituals.
More recently, while Dave was hiking the Via Francigena, an ancient pilgrimage route through Tuscany, he met a modern-day pilgrim staying at a church-run hostel along the way.
The man was nearing the end of his thru-walk from Canterbury, England, to Rome, Italy. No doubt he stayed at many church-run hostels along the way.
Staying with Acquaintances
I can't tell you how often I've stayed with friends in their home cities after meeting them for only a few days in a hostel elsewhere. Remember the friendships you make in the world, because you never know when you will be in their city.
This works both ways. If you are willing to stay with an acquaintance, you should also be prepared to host them.
For example, Dave met a woman on his Qatar Airways flight to Cape Town, South Africa, and she invited him to stay with her and her partner after he finished his already scheduled Couchsurfing stay.
My Favorite Accommodation Resources
Through all of the options that have been presented throughout this article, here are the ones you must check out the next time you are booking accommodation for your trip:
Use these sites the next time you are looking for a cheap place to stay, and you are guaranteed to save some bucks on your travel budget.
