A boom is sweeping across the budget travel accommodation market. Many operators and owners of luxury hotel chains to private home are riding on it. So, aside from the usual backpacker hostels, AirBnBs, guest houses and coach surfing, there are other lesser-known options, cheaper than the average hotel that you can consider for your next trip. But, like everything else, do exercise caution so that you don’t end up in the wrong places at the wrong time.
Homestay
Homestay programmes are common as a means to facilitate culture exchange and provide exchange students with a budget place to stay. But just because you’re no longer a student doesn’t mean it’s not an option. Homestay families rent out a room in their house usually for a little extra income as well as the opportunity to show a foreigner their way of life and culture. They will likely be interested to learn from you about your culture too. So remember to prepare some pictures in your phone. You don’t need to now the host family‘s language (drawings, electronic dictionaries and miming can go a long way), but taking the effort to learn some basics will make a good impression. You can find homestay families on websites like https://www.homestay.com. Searching homestay and the destination name will give you more specific options. Some countries organise homestays as part of their hospitality programmes and it’ll be much easier for you to find a directory of legitimate homestays through their tourism website.
Religious housing
If you are visiting a place with many religious buildings, this may be an option. The ambience will be peaceful and quiet. You do not have to be religious, and you will not be questioned on your beliefs: However, religious buildings tend to have curfews and there may be other restrictions. Nunneries may not take in male travellers, and monasteries may not take in female travellers for example. Modest clothing would be expected. Be sure to familiarise yourself with the rules and regulations before committing, and do respect others’ religion. Looking up monastery stays online should give you many options. MonasteryStays.com specialises in Italy-based ones.
Academic housing
Summer holidays are months long and during that period many student dormitories are temporarily vacated. Hence, some universities may;open these vacant rooms to visitors and tourists for cheap. Going to a prestigious university with gorgeous campus grounds like Oxford University—is—no longer a dream. Yes, the university is listed on httpt://www.universityrooms.com, one of the platforms where you can search and book rooms in academic buildings. You can also check out the official websites of universities to find out about short-term accommodation options.
House sitting
Some people have to leave their homes unattended for a long period of time, and they need someone to look after their house while they are away. If you don’t mind doing a little housework, taking care of a pet or keeping some plants alive, you could get accommodation for free. https://www.housecarers.com and http://www. trustedhousesitters.com are two websites where you can look up properties in need of house sitting.
Camping
If all else fails, there is always the good old outdoors to fall back on. Camping brings to mind forests and wildernesses, but some countries have camping sites within cities that charge a small fee, and in some parks it is legal to pitch a tent. It may be challenging to find camping grounds in densely populated cities, but even in Tokyo where it’s as urban as it gets, there are camping grounds at the outskirts. Some parks are home to drug dealers or potential crime spots after dark, so be careful where you park your tent!
These days, the concept of travel is so flexible that one can easily mould it to suit their budget and needs. But regardless whether you are staying in a hotel or a campsite, three requirements should remain paramount — personal safety, cleanliness and convenience. After all, you don’t want to come back with bed bugs or get mugged, or spend half the day trying to get to your lodging. Do research, check reviews on websites like www.tripadvisor.com, www.hostels.com and www.hostelz.com, consult friends, travellers and the locals. Travelling is an activity that expends a lot of energy, and at the end of the day, you want to come back to a nice place where you can unwind and gear up or the next day’s adventures.
– This article first appeared in a lifestyle magazine.
Image: Pixabay
