A place to lay your head can be one of the biggest fixed costs that travelers have outside of the price of airfare which is generally the largest expense on the trip. We all want to stay in a nice place, but the amount of time spent in that place can vary. Some people prefer to spend most of their trip in a nice hotel and while others only look for a place to lay their head. No matter what type of accommodation you like, one thing is for sure, you do not want to pay an exorbitant amount to stay anywhere.
As travelers, we have many options available to us relative to the type of accommodation you are looking for. Prices vary for these accommodation types, so let’s begin with the basic types of places where one can stay.
Accommodation Type #1 – Hostels (Low Budget Level)
Hostels are a somewhat of an unknown gem for low budget travelers. I highly recommend this type of accommodation for students and those who are on a strict budget. If it were not for hostels, I could have never made the trips I made during my time at the University as my budget for travel was extremely low. Rooms are provided in dormitory-style with shared facilities. Usually larger rooms cost less while smaller rooms with less beds cost more. In the past, hostels were often referred to as “youth hostels”, but nowadays, most hostels accept people of all ages. Groups of hostels like Hosteling International are more geared toward students while other independent hostels are generally open to most age groups.
Hostels are basically as Spartan as you can go in terms of luxuries, but the price point is just right if you are on a strict budget. Most hostels run from $10 - $40 USD per night depending on where the hostel is located, the type of room chosen, its state of repair, etc. Some hostels also offer single or double rooms which can be significantly lower in cost than a hotel.
Hostels often come with Wi-Fi access, discounted tour offerings, lockers/luggage storage, and in some cases a free basic breakfast to help give you the energy you need to begin seeing the sites. This type of accommodation is open to solo travelers as well as couples, or large groups. Having a larger group could be an advantage, depending on room size. If enough people are in the group, entire dormitory style rooms could be reserved for your group adding another layer of security and privacy.
I have stayed in hostels across 14 countries during my time as a backpacker and can state that I did not have a single problem during my stay at these types of facilities. Given that one is in a dormitory style environment, precautions have to be taken to ensure your valuables remain safe. For example, taking the most important things with you in a daypack while leaving your larger backpack connected by lock and key to a bedpost. I never had a single incident during my time at hostels where an item was stolen. This is because taking precautions in any foreign place is vital to success as a traveler.
Hostel Websites
Hosteling International – Youth Focused Hostels
https://www.hihostels.com
Hostel Bookers – General
https://www.hostelbookers.com
Hostelsclub – General
https://www.hostelsclub.com
Hostel Geeks – General
https://hostelgeeks.com
I also recommend running a search for specific cities on Google to see what hostels are available for that city. This can be a great way to turn up hidden gems that are not listed on public hostel sites. Just make sure to check for reviews.
As travelers, we have many options available to us relative to the type of accommodation you are looking for. Prices vary for these accommodation types, so let’s begin with the basic types of places where one can stay.
Accommodation Type #1 – Hostels (Low Budget Level)
Hostels are a somewhat of an unknown gem for low budget travelers. I highly recommend this type of accommodation for students and those who are on a strict budget. If it were not for hostels, I could have never made the trips I made during my time at the University as my budget for travel was extremely low. Rooms are provided in dormitory-style with shared facilities. Usually larger rooms cost less while smaller rooms with less beds cost more. In the past, hostels were often referred to as “youth hostels”, but nowadays, most hostels accept people of all ages. Groups of hostels like Hosteling International are more geared toward students while other independent hostels are generally open to most age groups.
Hostels are basically as Spartan as you can go in terms of luxuries, but the price point is just right if you are on a strict budget. Most hostels run from $10 - $40 USD per night depending on where the hostel is located, the type of room chosen, its state of repair, etc. Some hostels also offer single or double rooms which can be significantly lower in cost than a hotel.
Hostels often come with Wi-Fi access, discounted tour offerings, lockers/luggage storage, and in some cases a free basic breakfast to help give you the energy you need to begin seeing the sites. This type of accommodation is open to solo travelers as well as couples, or large groups. Having a larger group could be an advantage, depending on room size. If enough people are in the group, entire dormitory style rooms could be reserved for your group adding another layer of security and privacy.
I have stayed in hostels across 14 countries during my time as a backpacker and can state that I did not have a single problem during my stay at these types of facilities. Given that one is in a dormitory style environment, precautions have to be taken to ensure your valuables remain safe. For example, taking the most important things with you in a daypack while leaving your larger backpack connected by lock and key to a bedpost. I never had a single incident during my time at hostels where an item was stolen. This is because taking precautions in any foreign place is vital to success as a traveler.
Hostel Websites
Hosteling International – Youth Focused Hostels
https://www.hihostels.com
Hostel Bookers – General
https://www.hostelbookers.com
Hostelsclub – General
https://www.hostelsclub.com
Hostel Geeks – General
https://hostelgeeks.com
I also recommend running a search for specific cities on Google to see what hostels are available for that city. This can be a great way to turn up hidden gems that are not listed on public hostel sites. Just make sure to check for reviews.
Accommodation Type #2 – Airbnb/Home Rental (Middle Budget Level)
Airbnb or similar home type rental services offer travelers that ability to stay in a furnished apartment or even a home for a small fee. I have ranked this as middle level accommodation as some apartments can be rented for a fairly low rate, especially if a group of people is sharing the cost. In some cases these types of rentals are less expensive than hotels, provide more amenities, and offer the chance to “live like a local”. I have found that this type of accommodation is better for those who plan to stay several days in a city, or who are traveling in a larger group of say 3-4 people or more. If everyone wants to stay together, this is a great way to share accommodation costs and benefit from “group purchasing” so to speak. For example, a group of 3 friends and I recently rented an Airbnb apartment in Tokyo. The apartment had 4 beds which allowed all of us to stay in the same room which was quite convenient. Also, by splitting the cost of the apartment by 4, we were able to get a much nicer, centrally located place which would have been out of our budgets if we were paying for separate rooms.
Airbnb Style Websites
Airbnb
https://www.airbnb.com
VRBO
https://www.vrbo.com/
HomeAway – Associated with VRBO
https://www.homeaway.com
FLIPKEY
https://www.flipkey.com
Homestay
https://www.homestay.com
Airbnb or similar home type rental services offer travelers that ability to stay in a furnished apartment or even a home for a small fee. I have ranked this as middle level accommodation as some apartments can be rented for a fairly low rate, especially if a group of people is sharing the cost. In some cases these types of rentals are less expensive than hotels, provide more amenities, and offer the chance to “live like a local”. I have found that this type of accommodation is better for those who plan to stay several days in a city, or who are traveling in a larger group of say 3-4 people or more. If everyone wants to stay together, this is a great way to share accommodation costs and benefit from “group purchasing” so to speak. For example, a group of 3 friends and I recently rented an Airbnb apartment in Tokyo. The apartment had 4 beds which allowed all of us to stay in the same room which was quite convenient. Also, by splitting the cost of the apartment by 4, we were able to get a much nicer, centrally located place which would have been out of our budgets if we were paying for separate rooms.
Airbnb Style Websites
Airbnb
https://www.airbnb.com
VRBO
https://www.vrbo.com/
HomeAway – Associated with VRBO
https://www.homeaway.com
FLIPKEY
https://www.flipkey.com
Homestay
https://www.homestay.com
Accommodation Type #3 – Hotels (High Budget Level)
Hotels and airfare are often the most expensive parts of a trip. Finding the right hotel for the right price is often difficult. When choosing a hotel, my suggestion is to check multiple sites to determine what are the best options, and what the best rate is for that particular night. Luckily there are several sites on the net that are available to compare prices. Prices certainly vary across sites so it is best to check multiple sites prior to making a decision. Some sites like Agoda claim to have the lowest price and will in some cases match a lower price on the same accommodation for nights chosen. As a traveler, particularly in Asia, I recommend using Agoda as a starting point.
Hotel Websites
Agoda
https://www.agoda.com
Booking.com
https://www.booking.com
Expedia
https://www.expedia.com
Hotels and airfare are often the most expensive parts of a trip. Finding the right hotel for the right price is often difficult. When choosing a hotel, my suggestion is to check multiple sites to determine what are the best options, and what the best rate is for that particular night. Luckily there are several sites on the net that are available to compare prices. Prices certainly vary across sites so it is best to check multiple sites prior to making a decision. Some sites like Agoda claim to have the lowest price and will in some cases match a lower price on the same accommodation for nights chosen. As a traveler, particularly in Asia, I recommend using Agoda as a starting point.
Hotel Websites
Agoda
https://www.agoda.com
Booking.com
https://www.booking.com
Expedia
https://www.expedia.com