Accommodation accounts for one of the biggest fixed costs while travelling. As a budget traveller saving money on accommodation can have a big impact on your overall travel cost. But if you are opting for cheap accommodation options you need to be extra careful while booking. Quality of accommodation can either make or break your travel. You don’t have to live at a substandard space with a bad mattress or an untidy washroom to save a couple of bucks.
If you are looking for ways to book cheap flights then read : Tips and tricks to book cheap flight tickets to Europe.
Are you a budget traveller and do you want to make smart travel decisions to save money?
Follow these 5 tips & tricks and you can never go wrong with booking value for money accommodations:
Tip 1: Location
Before you start searching for accommodation do quick research about different localities in the city. Most of the tourists believe that city centres are the best for accommodation. You don’t have to pay extra and stay in the city centre all the time. Due to high demand, accommodation pricing in historic centres are usually steep and you should always check alternate neighbourhoods.
Every traveller is different with different preferences. If you are into nightlife then staying close to the party areas makes more sense. You can simply walk back home late in the night. If you need to catch an early morning train then staying close to the railway station might make more sense. It would save you from spending an enormous amount of money on a taxi at odd hours.
Sometimes cheapest might not always be the best option. Don’t stay at far away locations with limited connectivity to the city. So do the math before booking accommodation.
Planning your first Euro Trip? Read : How to plan your first Euro Trip on a budget in 8 easy steps.
Tip 2: Hotels vs hostels vs house rentals
There is no thumb rule here. There are times when a hostel would suit your needs better, at other times a hotel or house rental would do.
Don’t always assume that hostels are the cheapest. In a group of 2 or more travellers, AirBnB’s are the most convenient and cheapest accommodation option.
Also, don’t rule out hostels because you are not up for a dormitory or a shared bathroom. Many hostels have private rooms. As a couple who likes to interact with other travellers, we often book a private room in a hostel. Chances of meeting fellow travellers are also higher in hostels. In cities known for their nightlife, we are usually inclined towards booking hostel rooms. You would anyway spend most of your time outside in a new city so booking a hostel makes sense.
Pro Travel Tip : Early check-in or late check-out becomes a problem when opting for an Airbnb. So if you are reaching early or leaving late then booking a hostel or a hotel is a more convenient option. Even if your room is not ready you can store your luggage which is usually not an option at an Airbnb.
Tip 3: Read traveller reviews and ratings
To book risk-free cheap accommodation trust reviews from other travellers. We use TripAdvisor, Google rating and Booking.com a lot to check for hotel ratings and reviews. As a budget traveller, you can filter results to find the best accommodation within your budget.
Few things we check for in reviews include :
- The most important is the location and its surroundings
- Internet connectivity
- Proximity to public transport
- Ease of check-in and check-out
- If the host or hotel or hostel staff are knowledgeable and friendly
- Hygiene
- Free breakfast quality
Pro Travel Tip : Once you have finalised where you are going to stay, do compare pricing on multiple booking websites. Check for additional taxes and fees before making the final booking.
Tip 4: Accessibility to public transport
Proximity to public transport might not have a big impact on your accommodation cost. As a budget traveller, it would have a huge impact on your overall trip cost. Give preference to accommodation options within walking distance from public transport especially in Europe. Ease of movement plays an important role in enhancing your overall vacation experience.
Tip 5: Collect points
Enrol for reward programs by hotels. Nothing can beat free accommodation. Collect points through reward programs run by hotels and credit cards. Redeem these points for free hotel stays.
It pays to choose one hospitality loyalty programme and add all your business and personal stays to it. We prefer to accumulate points on Hilton Honors, which gave us close to 15 free nights stay in one of our Euro trips. It was after just three years of enrolling for this programme.
