For most of us, when we take a trip away, we always have money on our minds and look for the cheapest possible options when it comes to accommodation. There is a fine balance to be struck when seeking cheap accommodation however as just because we want to pay as little as possible, that isn’t to say that we want to sleep in some filthy basement, well, not all of us anyway.
If you want to know exactly how to get the best priced accommodation for your upcoming trip then here are some of the best ways to go about it.
AirBnb
I always check AirBnb first when I book a trip and in all honesty, nine times out of ten it gives me the best places and the best value. The things with AirBnb when contrasted with a hotel or hostel is that you are not renting from a company, you are renting from someone with a spare room, a free place or a novel sleeping situation and they are rarely greedy in terms of their price. The other benefit of renting an AirBnb is that the host will usually be on hand to help you with any issues you may have, as well as giving your bit of guidance about the area.
Direct to Hotel
The pendulum seems to have swung a little but in terms of booking hotels online and whereas in the past, booking through an Expedia or booking.com, was always cheaper than calling directly to the hotel, in my experience this has now changed. I usually use search engines to find hotel prices and then I will contact the hotel directly to see if they can offer a better price, and usually have success. When you find a hotel that you like, get on the phone and call them directly to get the best possible rates.
Consider Camping
If you are traveling to somewhere set in nature, then avoid the eco-lodges and nature hotels and opt to camp. Many campsites these days have tent rental or even some cool little wooden yurts which you can stay in. Not only will this give you an outstanding night under the stars but you can also cut down on the costs of accommodation by a huge amount. I have done this in many areas of North and South America as well as in Scotland during my European trips.
Got a Blog?
If you blog about your travels then why not contact some hotels and resorts to see if they will enter into an agreement with your for a sponsored stay. This will involve you writing for them after your stay with a positive review which you can place on your blog. This is a great way for many hotels to advertise and if they are not full up for the night, it will cost them very little to do it, a complete win-win.
There are always ways to bring the cost of accommodation down and if you follow these tips then you could be paying budget rates for beautiful places.