Are you tired of ever-increasing hotel prices? Have you considered selling your house to cover the cost of increasingly expensive vacations? No need to worry anymore. In addition to hotels, the American travel website “smartertravel” offers eight accommodation options. With a bit of research and a spirit of adventure, we no longer have to book those pricey hotels. Check them out now!
1. Rent a Vacation Home
Numerous travelers swear by the countless benefits of renting vacation homes—not only can you save a significant amount on lodging, but you also get to truly experience local life in a wide variety of unique properties. There are plenty of both new and established websites that offer these services, such as HomeAway, VRBO, Airbnb, and Onefinestay. No membership is required, making the process convenient and fast.
2. House Swapping
If you’re not a neat freak and don’t mind others staying in your home while you’re on vacation, then house swapping is a great money-saving option. With some advance planning and the help of platforms like HomeLink, HomeExchange, and Love Home Swap, you can securely and affordably swap spaces with suitable partners—most of these sites are even free to use.
3. Couchsurfing
As the name suggests, couchsurfing means sleeping on someone else’s couch during your travels—you stay in a host’s home and eat and explore with locals. All you need to do is sign up on Couchsurfing.org to connect with hosts around the world. (Reminder: It never hurts to be polite. While couchsurfing saves money, doing a small favor for your host is always a nice gesture.)
4. Night Swap
This accommodation style is a hybrid between house swapping and couchsurfing. Introduced in 2012 by the French website Cosmopolit Home, which lists 6,000 accommodations in 54 countries, this new concept operates on a reciprocal basis. Each time a traveler stays overnight at your place, you earn “nights” in the form of points—or you can buy “nights” on the site for when you travel yourself.
5. Camping
Although camping is a traditional American activity, according to the Outdoor Foundation, more and more Americans are choosing to camp during family trips. This not only helps you save money but also lets you enjoy the thrill of exploring the wilderness. You can find campsites and rental cabins through websites like Reserve America, KOA, and the National Park Service.
6. Stay in a Hostel
Hostels may have a reputation for being subpar, but that’s not necessarily the case. According to Hostels.com, these welcoming, no-frills accommodations cater to all age groups—from young to old—and are ideal for long-term travelers. They offer the cheapest dormitory options as well as slightly pricier private rooms, along with a variety of amenities.
7. University Dormitories
If you want to save money and don’t mind simple accommodation, university dormitories are a great option, costing only about $35 to $70 (approximately 217 to 435 RMB) per night. But such accommodations are hard to find and are mostly available during the summer vacation. You can check UniversityRooms.com or search on Baidu. Though it takes some effort, the savings are absolutely worth it.
8. Stay in a Monastery
From monk residences in Kathmandu to beautiful abbeys in the Scottish Highlands, staying in a monastery is also a good way to save money. Not only are the prices low—about one dollar per night or payable by donation—you can also enjoy serene and charming scenery. Travelers can find the information they need through various websites, such as Monastery Stays, The Order of the SS, Savior of Saint Bridget, and others.