Travel safely. Travel well. On a budget.

HOW TO GET CHEAP ACCOMMODATION

photo credit : mara conan design | unsplash

If you’re anything like me, you want to be comfortable where you stay. And since everyone’s budgets and comfort levels are different, this blog runs the gambit on the different types of affordable accommodation that are out there. 

I have had some of my best travel experiences staying in cheap accommodation… whether it’s the thrill of finding a gorgeous homestay and meeting lovely locals after chatting with fellow tourists, or finding a deeply discounted gem tucked away in the jungle on a last-minute excursion to Chichen Itza. If you’re open to exploring cheap accommodation, I promise there’s an adventure waiting for you!

I’ve kept this blog short and sweet for easy consumption. I’ll be expanding on some of these options in an upcoming blog. Follow me on Pinterest to stay in the loop on when that blog drops.

Happy hunting!

Renee | August 2024

PS: As always, I’ve created a fun and free PDF workbook to help you stay organised while learn all about new-to-you types of cheap accommodation.

HOW TO GET CHEAP ACCOMMODATION IN 2024

  1. Hostels
  2. House Swaps and Pet Sitting
  3. Credit Card Points & Hotel Loyalty Programs
  4. Negotiate Rates at Airbnb & VRBO
  5. Book Last-Minute
  6. Meet The Locals
  7. Homestays
  8. Stay Off-The-Beaten-Path

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Before Getting Started

Here are a few key things to jot down before you start looking for cheap accommodation:

  • Figure out the currency and conversion rate in the country you’re travelling to, and pay attention to what form of currency is advertised for each booking type.
  • Decide what city or town you want to stay in.
  • Look around at hotels / motels to see what a standard bedroom would cost per night, so that you have a baseline to compare your cheap options to.
  • Determine how many nights’ accommodation you need in total.
  • Set a budget for the total number of nights’ accommodation you’ll need for your trip (do this so that you can splurge on one or two nights at fancy accommodations if you want, and then go cheap for the rest of your trip).

Now you’re ready to explore your options!

Hostels

Whether you’re travelling solo or with a group of friends, hostels are a great option for cheap accommodation. As a solo traveller I’d recommend splurging on your own room for safety reasons, but if you’re travelling with a friend or a group of friends then sharing a room with others will knock the price down even more. Read the hostel website and recent traveller reviews to find out about luggage storage options, bathroom and shower access, cleanliness, location, and safety. 

Safety Considerations: Read my blog How To Travel Safely In 2024 and download the free PDF workbook to learn all about how to travel safely wherever you’re headed. Pay special attention to the sections on ‘crime’ and ‘areas to avoid’ when booking your hostel stay.

Hostel App: Hostelworld

House Swaps and Pet Sitting

My husband and I have had a couple of wild experiences pet-sitting for an acquaintance, and we have learned a lot. So allow me to pass on some sage advice: book through a reputable site, and only house swap or pet-sit for someone who has good reviews. Read reviews for apps and websites that specialize in swapping / sitting services and book through them (see below).

Spend some time thinking about your personal preferences and non-negotiables for the home you want to stay in. I’ve compiled a list of considerations to help get you started.

The best gigs go to those who have good reviews, which can be a chicken-and-egg scenario in the beginning. To navigate this I recommend writing a cover letter with personal references when applying for your first couple of swaps / sitting gigs. When you have a good experience make sure you leave a good review (and a small gift if you feel like it), and ask your host to give you a good review in return. Once you have a couple of solid reviews under your belt you’ll be landing sweet getaways on the regular. 

Safety Considerations: Ask about being added to auto insurance if a vehicle comes with the swap. Get contact information for a veterinarian if you’re pet-sitting. Find out what your insurance will cover in case of damage to your own home.

Credit Card Points & Hotel Loyalty Programs

Points points points. You can collect them directly from staying at hotels, or you can sign up for credit cards that award points-per-dollar-spent. Since every credit card and loyalty program awards points differently, you’ll need to do your research to find out what program is best for your travel needs and spending habits. Check out my blog called A Beginner’s Guide To Travelling On Credit Card Points, and download the free PDF workbook to stay organised while you do your research.  

Safety Considerations: Password protect your loyalty programs the same way you do banking information, and consider using MFA wherever available. Loyalty account fraud is a real thing, and it’s on the rise. Read What Is Loyalty Account Fraud And How Can You Protect Yourself by Experian.com.

Negotiate Rates at Airbnb & VRBO

Did you know that you can negotiate rates on Airbnb and VRBO? Just message the host and strike up conversation. Let them know what kind of solid human you are and what aspects of their culture you’re most interested in learning about. Invite them to read reviews you’ve earned from past stays, and compliment them on how gorgeous their accommodation is and how much you’re looking forward to staying there. In short: build a rapport that makes them want to meet you, or at least help you have the best vacation possible. Then, make a good impression while you’re there so that you can collect another good review and keep the good times rolling!

Safety considerations: As with any app or website, make sure your internet connection is secure before inputting personal or banking information, even on your own device. For more device and data safety tips read How To Protect Your Devices And Data While Travelling in 2024 and download the free PDF checklist.

Book Last-Minute

It’s happened a few times now that my husband and I have added a stop to our itinerary after we’ve arrived in-country. So what do we do? We hop on accommodation booking sites and look for the best deal. And we have never failed to get what we’re looking for.

It happened when we were on a week-long getaway to Playa del Carmen during high season and decided to knock Chichen Itza off our bucket list. We got a suite at Hotel Okaan for half price through Booking.com. Not only was it a gorgeous room at a heavenly jungle resort, but it included a served hot breakfast in a tree-top restaurant, free wifi, and a welcome amenity. Not too shabby!

To make sure you’re actually getting a good deal, you need to first find out what the standard rate is a few weeks in advance and then compare it to what it’s going for at the last-minute. Download my workbook and flip to the section called “book last-minute.”

Remember to consider outside factors that could drive up the cost of accommodation – things like big conferences, sporting events, concerts, and whether it’s high season. Visit the tourism website for the city or area where you’re travelling.

Safety Considerations: Always call the property directly (hotel, motel, etc.) to confirm that your reservation is guaranteed. An email from the third-party booking site is not a guarantee that the room is available – it’s only evidence of payment. There is always a slight risk that the hotel hasn’t updated their inventory on the booking sites, and you could end up sleeping in your car. 

Here are the sites we surf when looking for last-minute deals:

Download the free workbook for this blog.

Meet The Locals

This is a fun one. The next time you travel, book only the first two or three nights’ accommodation, or book a room someplace where you can shorten your stay without penalty. Spend those first few days chatting up your servers, bartenders, or even the receptionist where you’re staying. Ask them about rooms for rent. Often they have a friend or an aunt who owns property that’s not currently booked and they’ll give you a great deal.

We did this during shoulder season on a recent trip to Greece. Our bartender called his Mom, who walked us all the way down the beach in Agios Gordios on Corfu to show us what she had available. We told her all about our travels and had a good-natured haggle and then she rented us a beach-front apartment for a third of what it normally would have cost. To top it off, she came by a couple of times to gift us wine and aperitifs made by her friends and family, and even did our laundry! 

Do your research in advance and find out what the going rate is for accommodation so that you can spot a great deal when you’re presented with one.

Safety Considerations: To avoid having to take less-than-desirable accommodation, err on the side of caution and budget for standard rates for the duration of your stay. Any money you save by finding a great deal can then be spent sampling local fare, supporting local trade, or paying down your credit card after the trip.

Homestays

During our trip to Bali in 2017 my husband and I booked a beautiful bungalow homestay with a walk-out garden. We had complete privacy in our own immaculately clean white tile outbuilding, complete with private bath, AC and free Wifi. The bungalow was located in the back yard of a modest home (even by Balinese standards) down a winding alley in Denpasar. Our $27CAD rate for the night included a lovely breakfast of home-made pastries served on banana leaves with local organic tea.

Homestays can vary in comfort and amenities, so do your research before you book. Or better yet: chat up the locals and other tourists for their recommendations. I’ve found some of my favorite cheap accommodation this way.

Check out Homestay.com.

Safety Considerations: Privacy expectations should be discussed and mutually agreed upon before booking. Make sure you know what to do in an emergency. Read and follow the house rules. Read Homestays 101: Tips for Choosing the Right Accommodation and Host.

Stay Off-The-Beaten-Path

I might be a bit biassed on this one because there’s nothing I love more than a good road-trip, but: if you’re planning to rent a car anyway, then you may as well stay where the accommodation is cheapest. Look for your preferred accommodation in smaller towns or outlying areas surrounding the attractions you came to see. Remember to factor in the cost of insurance, extra kilometres, and petrol.

Safety Considerations: Look into car theft, crime, and areas to avoid when researching where you plan to stay, where you plan to park your car, and when you plan to drive in densely populated areas. Learn the rules of the road for that country. Get a talking GPS that speaks English so you don’t get lost.

Conclusion

Choosing the right accommodation for your budget might not always immediately align with your travel goals. But if you do it safely and with an adventuresome spirit, you could find yourself making some truly cherished memories.

Renee | August 2024

PS: A lot of my confidence for staying at cheap accommodation originates from my first trip to Bali. You can read all about it in my travel diary called, simply: Bali.

“Do not go where they path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.”

Ralph Waldo Emmerson