Everyone would like to get a better deal and have more money to spend on traveling and seeing new places and the good news is there are lots of ways to find cheap accommodation around the world. Our article will help show you that you can travel abroad on a budget and save money.
Some hotels can be really expensive especially if you stay more than a few days and this guide will help you find other kinds budget accommodation and find cheap ways to stay around the world. You'll see that you can live abroad on a budget and save money.
Below you can find useful tips to find budget places to stay if you are travelling by solo, with friends, a partner or with your family.
1. Hotels
Hotels are the most popular option for accommodation with thousands of places to stay around the globe. You can find places for all bugets, whether you are looking to backpacking on a budget to luxury 5 star hotels.
Booking a hotel at a reasonable price can be a challenge, especially in popular big cities like London, Barcelona, Paris, New York and Sydney.
With hotels its important to think the earlier you book in advance the cheaper the price will be and the better deal you will get. Also one benefit with a booking website is that some offer a free cancelation service (please read the small print). So if you book a hotel and then change your mind you can get your money back.
Some websites, especially hotel booking sites have membership offers, for example discounts are available and also free stays if you make a certain amount of bookings. If you follow hotels, or booking sites on social media or sign up for newsletters you can also usually receive special offers throughout the year.
Sometimes if you sacrifice location you will save a lot of money on accommodation, try to work out if you really need to be an expensive central location or if you don't mind commuting and staying a little further out. In Venice for example, you can stay outside of the main city and catch a bus, taxi or train to the main tourist area and this will save you lots of money!
You might also want to us a hotel comparison website like Booking.com to search the cheapest prices and book ahead to get the best deal.
2. Hostels
Staying in a hostel whilst is one of our best suggestions on how to save money when travelling the world and they are perfect if your budget is tight.
You can find hostels in most countries and prices are usually a fraction of the price of hotels. There are dorm and shared rooms where prices are really low. If you have never stayed in this type of accommodation before, don't let the name 'hostel' put you off, some offer amazing modern facilities including kitchens so you can cook and save money on eating out.
Some hotels are a lot more exciting than staying in a hotel as some have bars or organise sightseeing and social activities which are a great way to meet new people.
In places like Thailand for example it is possible to stay for as little as $3 per night and even in more expensive countries if you choose a hostel which is away from the touristy areas or city centre it is usually much cheaper than hotels.
With most hostels the longer you stay the cheaper the rate will be, some hostels do special promotions where if you stay 3 nights you get a 4th free. Some hostels even allow volunteer work in exchange for a free bed.
What's more, some hostels even offer better services than hotels, making them an attractive option for travelers who want comfort and affordability. For instance, some hostels provide modern amenities like Alpine Home Air mini splits for a comfortable temperature in the rooms.
Others offer free Wi-Fi, laundry facilities, and even gym memberships. You might even find hostels with private rooms and en-suite bathrooms, rivaling the amenities of luxury hotels. Additionally, some hostels offer services like tour bookings, travel advice, and language lessons, making them a one-stop-shop for travelers.
Be sure to book in advance with a comparison website like Hostel World to secure the cheapest price possible. Also check out our hostel survival tips.
3. CozyCozy
If you are looking to search and compare lots of different places to stay, from hotels, vacation rentals to Airbnb, check out cozycozy.
You can find a range of places to stay in popular destinations all around the world.
From the perfect Airbnb or apartment to share with friends, a luxury hotel or budget youth hostel, or even home exchanges, cozycozy is the perfect website for you.
4. Stay With Friends or Family
The world is a small place now especially with social networking websites like Facebook which link people together.
Get in touch with people you know who live abroad and see if you could stay with them, or get them to post a message on Facebook to see if anyone you know could offer you a place to stay.
Staying with someone you know is always a good way to see more of places you might not normally see, and you will likely stay for free allowing you to put more money towards sightseeing!
5. Airbnb
Airbnb is now one of the most popular ways to book accommodation. From reserving rooms, to flats, houses and castles - you can find so many unique places to stay in desirable tourist locations around the world.
If you are travelling solo, then Airbnb can be quite expensive, but if you are a couple, or travelling with family and friends and split the cost it can work out cheaper than hotels.
Added benefits include having the extra comfort of a whole accommodation rather than just a room, and having kitchen facilities.
Still unsure if this is the right option for you? View our guide to Airbnb vs Hotels.
6. Camping
Depending on what country you are looking to visit you could take a sleeping bag, pillow and a tent which you can buy these things very cheap online or in a range of shops.
Lots of countries have professional campsites where you can stay for a low cost, this is popular during summer in countries like France and New Zealand. Wild camping is also increasing in popularity, you could also just pitch up on the side of a road, beach or field and stay for free.
7. Buy or Rent a Campervan
If you are considering going traveling around Europe, Australia, New Zealand then a popular option is to travel by campervan. You can buy second hand van for cheap or just rent one which can be a fraction of the price of traditional accommodation. If you have a friend or partner you share with this will bring the overall price down.
8. CouchSurfing & Social Networking Websites
Nowadays with the internet you can join a social networking website and find accommodaation abroad. There are popular websites like Couchsurfing and Hospitality Club where you can join, make friends, contact people and then find people to host you abroad.
There are lots of social networking websites where you can meet new people and find a host whether you are travelling solo, with friends or a partner. This might sound scary if you have never come across this concept before but literally thousands of people are registered on these websites and there are lots of safety and security measures you can take.
You can view peoples reviews or get in contact with people who have previously stayed with people to double check authenticity. We would stay away from contacting anyone with any pictures, information or reviews.
Travellers are connected so people you meet might be able to put you in contact with other people in destinations you are looking to visit. Sometimes booking accommodation can be difficult, for example during peak season or special events like Carnival in Brazil and social network websites can help.
Couchsurfing and similar websites are also a route to consider if you are looking to travel on a budget and not just stay in a mundane hotel for example. Accommodation is one part of these websites but you can also get in contact with people who can offer travel advice or show you around where they live.
9. Renting & Home Exchanges
If you are thinking about staying away for more than a few days you might want to consider another option which is renting a room, appartment, flat or house overseas. There are flat and house sitting websites which have been set up so you can stay in a place whilst the owners are away.
With a website like Home Exchange you browse properties you like, get in touch with the owners and see if they would like to swap meaning you get free accommodation for the duration of your stay.
Other websites provides access to a list of rooms and properties which are empty and you can sign up to rent a space. These options are probably our top recommendation if you are working abroad or if you are travelling for a long period with your family but might be worth considering anyway.
10. Travel During The Night
This is more of a budget travel recommendation, but if you would like to save money whilst travelling abroad think about booking transportation during the night. There are lots of overnight buses, trains and flights where you can save a nights accommodation just by travelling.
This might mean you are a little tired the next day depending on how well you sleep but it also means you wake up in a new destination early meaning you have the whole day to relax or explore. Most airports and transport hubs also usually have safe areas you can sleep.
11. Group Activities
If you book a group tour this usually includes accommodation in the price you pay. Althrough some trips can seem expensive, when you work out the price of accommodation in these destinations you will find it sometimes works out great value for money especially when food is often included too.
12. Short Term Rentals
There has been a huge rise in short term rentals as an alternative and popular form of accommodation and the best thing is that it can work out a lot cheaper than staying in a hotel. Websites like Airbnb allow you to search short term rental accommodation all around the world.
- Homestay.com offer affordable homestays for people of all ages. Every home has a host present and they do more than just hand over keys. They're real people bringing real homestay experiences to life.
13. Volunteering
You might be suprised to learn that local farms and some hotels/hostels offer free accommodation to internationals especially those who are willing to offer time to work.
Lots of international volunteering opportunities are free and include acommodation and food. You might be asked to help out with some local tasks and in exchange get a free place to stay.
14. Farm Stays
You can also find farms around the world seeking help, opportunities like WWOOFING are really popular.
If you are new to this idea, World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms, or World Wide Organization of Organic Farms, is a network of national organizations that facilitate homestays on organic farms.
You will get a free place to stay but wil be required to hep with daily farm tasks. This is unique holiday experience, and perfect if for example you want to travel the world by lack the funds to do so. It's also a great way to meet other people from around the word.
Do you have any other suggestions for how to save money on places to stay around the world? Or do you think we missed anything off our list? Let us know in the comments section.
