For a young adult with a minimal budget, I travel often. I’ve been to 11 countries and over 50 cities and i’m only 22 years old. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve been blessed with extraordinary opportunities that have allowed for my high frequency in traveling, such as a semester overseas and annual family vacations. While these opportunities have expanded my footprint across the country and globe, they are certainly not the only way to go about seeing the world. That being said, I’m here to share with you today how to visit the cities you ache to see and cross off your bucket list, all while not breaking the bank. And that, my friends, starts with affordable accommodation.
First things first, if you solely look forward to ending the day of your tourist adventures in a 500 thread count, Egyptian cotton-lined king sized mattress, this article will not interest you. If you solely travel for business and enjoy a reputable hotel to welcome you after a hard day’s work, big kudos to you and your cool job that allows you to see the world, but this article will not cater to you. This post is about how those who are tight on money, but have a strong passion for traveling can budget a leisure trip without running up the CC bill (@ me). Above all, this article is for the true wanderers at heart who prioritize the ability to explore the beauty of a place, regardless of the conditions they must follow to make the trip happen. So, leave your glitz and glam at the door and let’s talk about affordability in traveling.
At my age and with my current salary, it should come to you with no shock that I don’t have a suite at the SLS in Miami or a penthouse at the Ritz-Carlton in London waiting for my arrival. News flash, most normal people don’t! And while I dream of the day where I spoil myself on a lavish weekend with exquisite accommodation, I’ll be here scouting deals and comparing prices to find the best bang for my buck. With the expansive and daunting nature of endless search engine results, it’s great to have a friend or two to help you out in planning. Lucky for you, I have the best of the best when it comes to hotel hunting and she’s here to share with you all her secrets and tips! Sam Nelson is one of my best friends and also a major flight risk in the best way possible. I say this because she will literally pack up her life and move to Australia when, not if, the opportunity presents itself, and she’s definitely laughing in agreement while reading that statement. Since every city in the entire world entices her to visit, she is constantly drafting up travel plans - which means she’s also researching how to fit everything we want to do into our budgets. So without further ado, here are some of her tips on how to do just that when it comes to hotels, bed and breakfasts, and hostels on both a national and international scale.
Q: Are there any specific websites that you use to narrow your search down when looking for the best deals?
A: For traveling outside of the United States, I solely use www.hostelworld.com for finding accommodation as it is the cheapest way to stay in a foreign city. If I wanted to spoil myself with a nicer or more unique place to reside, Airbnb would be my first option as they have great prices for home-style stays.
If you’re not fond of Airbnb or staying in a space that belongs to someone else, look at hotel deals through Google and travel agencies. If you type in the city you’re looking for and the word “hotel,” Google will generate a list of accommodation options in the geographic area you’re searching and provide different pricing options for that hotel based on the travel agencies that can book you a room there. For example, you can click on a Marriott hotel in Boston and under the “compare prices” tab, different travel agencies, like Booking.com, Expedia, Kayak, Hotels.com, and Travelocity will list the prices that they can provide you with at that hotel. This way, you can view all the deals offered at that hotel and get the best bang for your buck! Win, win.
Q: How do you know whether a hotel, hostel, or Airbnb is reliable and trustworthy, especially at such a low price?
A: First, I research where I’m going to locate the safest neighborhoods to stay in and then I start searching for accommodation. You must rely on reviews and the pictures - I first look at the gallery before even reading the reviews to see if the place looks good on its own and sells itself visually. Then I’ll find myself reading reviews to see other people’s experiences and whether or not they recommend the residence. It’s super important to keep in mind that one bad review is not an end all be all!
Sam’s method to finding reliable places to stay is bulletproof. If you take anything away from her interview with me, let it be this. Safety is a priority in everything we do, so make it the highest importance when traveling to a location you know little about and conduct some thorough research like a man on a mission. Actually read the reviews people post because they are verified users who have stayed at the hotel or hostel before and feel so strongly about their experience. Like Sam said, one bad review should not steer you away, as many popular hotel chains have a poor review every now and then. Also, a bunch of bad reviews under a listing is just as good to know as the stellar remarks because now you know which place to avoid. Lastly, visual appeal is everything, guys. If a listing is advertising itself with images that feature poor cleanliness and maintenance, run the opposite way. All in all, trust your gut and be smart.
Q: When dealing with international bookings, do you find it more challenging to arrange accommodation than it would be for domestic trips?
A: Surprisingly, no! International bookings are just as simple as national bookings. One recurring challenge to keep in mind though, is to notify your bank and credit card companies of your plans. Even if you haven’t left home for your foreign destination yet, booking accommodations beforehand will pop up as a purchase in said country on your credit card or bank statement. This has happened to me a few times where my card has been declined because my bank thought it was a fraudulent charge, so take a note from my book and notify your bank!
Q: In popular cities that you’ve traveled to, such as Paris, how were you able to locate affordable options for stays within a reasonable distance from the city center?
A: We stayed in a 12 person room at St Christopher's Inn Canal in Paris - this was the first time I ever stayed in a room with so many people at a hostel, but the price was unbeatable and the reviews were stellar. Being that the inn falls outside the city center, we were also able to see an area we probably wouldn’t have if we booked a more expensive option closer to the attractions and we were just a short ride away. The hostel was located near a metro station (also a factor to keep in mind when traveling) which allowed for quick and simple transportation to the city center - only 20 minutes to the Louvre Museum and 40 to the Eiffel Tower. A rule of thumb for www.hostelworld.com is anything rated 8 and higher is likely to be of high quality for a hostel.
Q: When you stayed in hostels, specifically naming your travels to Athens and Munich, did the fact that you were sharing a room with strangers negatively impact your trip? In other words, was it worth it to share a room with travelers in order to save money?
A: It was so worth sharing a space with strangers to save money. Truthfully, when traveling you should only be in your room to sleep, so it didn't have a heavy impact on my experience in those cities. This is also a prime time to meet people from all over the world that clearly have a passion for traveling as well. I personally never had a bad experience with sharing a room and, in fact, made friends to go out or get food with. You never know when strangers could turn into friends! If you’re worried about your possessions due to the high volume of guests in the shared room, know that most hostels have locks and safe places to store your belongings while you’re out exploring.
Sam and I have had interesting memories at hostels, to say the least, but all which call for great stories and laughs. We stayed in the 12 person shared room solely for women in Paris together as a top and bottom bunk (which you can request for, by the way) with curtains to cover our beds as means of privacy. While we were only in the room for about eight hours of sleep and an hour to get ready each morning, we had no issues whatsoever. The women we shared the space with were respectful upon arriving at night and leaving in the morning, as to not wake anyone from their sleep, and kept to themselves as most solo travelers do (at least in our experiences). Some of the funniest memories I have abroad were made in our four person hostel room in Munich during Frühlingsfest (the spring version of Oktoberfest). We shared a co-ed room (with a chef, nonetheless), made friends with a few lads from Manchester in the lobby, and later went to the local pub with them to keep the liveliness of Frühlingsfest going! We also had such wonderful service here and the hostel owner wrote down a flashcard of German catch phrases and sayings that we should familiarize ourselves with during our stay. Don’t knock hostels until you try them, trust me. If my neat freak, germaphobe, introverted self is recommending shared rooms with 11 other travelers to you, that must mean something big.
Q: If there was one thing you would advise someone booking a trip in need of affordable stay to do, what would that be and why?
A: Stay outside the city center. This is a way to ensure you’ll find affordable stays and it’s the best way to see more of a local side to the city you’re in. Become more cultured and get the most out of your travels!
Seriously though, throughout our whole time traveling abroad, the greatest dining experiences and people we met were located just outside the city center. Find a spot close enough to a metro station or that’s easy to travel into the city from so that it doesn’t take away too much time for exploring during the day, but that’s just far enough to blend the local/tourist border. I mean really, do you want to spend your entire time in a new city surrounded by people who are barreling you down with selfie sticks and waiting in line at an overrated restaurant when there’s great food, drinks, and company only blocks away?
Travel affordable, travel often has become somewhat of a mantra we live by because it’s true. You can travel often, if you travel budget friendly. This is our secret to seeing as many places as we have and fleeing town as often as we do. We travel smart and safe, do our research, and keep it all within our price range. While we may not be dropping big bucks on fancy hotels, we are seeing the world one city at a time and that’s all that matters to us. If you enjoyed this article and would like to know more about our experiences and opinions on hostels and hotels we’ve stayed at, drop a comment below and i’ll share my tips with you! Until then, kickstart your search engine, compare prices, and score some deals on your next travel.
