Different Types Of Accommodations That Are Budget-Friendly

One of the most expensive parts of traveling is the accommodations. Sure, you want to stay at a nice place, but you don’t want to spend all your money somewhere you will hardly ever be. I guess that’s my mindset anyways. Now, I get it if you are truly on a “vacation” and need an all-inclusive resort with all the bells and whistles. But if you are out exploring and getting lost in the adventure, you don’t need much except a place to rest your head when you need it. Here are five different types of accommodations I recommend that are budget-friendly.

Out of the five possibilities, this is the only one I personally have done during my travels and that is staying in hostels. At the cost of sounding like a broken record, hostels are my favorite accommodation type. They are a dorm-like style of room with multiple beds in one room. So you pay for basically a bed for yourself. Most hostels have the option of a female-only dorm or they all have mixed dorms available. The female-only dorms are the only ones I have stayed in because that is what I was most comfortable with. I don’t think I have paid more than $50 a night for a bed before, but they can range anywhere from $20-$60 a night. It could be more or less but from what I have seen, it is around this range. They have everything I need from luggage storage to all the space I need for myself and my backpack. I’ve only ever stayed at hostels while I was solo traveling so they also make a great place for solo travelers to meet new people. I have stayed in seven hostels and they have all served their purpose well. You can also volunteer to work at some hostels in exchange for room and board!

The next type is one I am familiar with in my day-to-day life. I am talking about house sitting. I currently work as a dog sitter, so I stay overnight at the owner’s house with their pets while they are on vacation. Since I am at these people’s houses, I do things around the house as well that they ask me to do. So it’s kind of a two-for-one. But I have heard of others house sitting as they travel! They will schedule it out to where they will go from one house to the next. I know that’s how my pet sitting usually works! And the best part is that you don’t have to pay anything! In my case, I get paid to take care of and watch the pets. There are Facebook groups and websites to find house-sitting openings. Hopefully next time you find yourself looking for a different type of cheap accommodation, you can find someone to house sit for at your destination!

Similar to house sitting, there is also couch surfing! Another method I haven’t tried yet but have looked into. With this type, it is pretty self-explanatory: you sleep on someone’s couch and you move from place to place or couch to couch. There are also Facebook groups and websites for this kind of accommodation. Of course, there are pros and cons just with everything, but I still think it would be worth trying. And the best part is that it is also free! 

While I have camped before, I have not done so while wandering the world. Camping is a great way to be at your desired location and save money on a place to sleep. There are so many different ways to camp like in a tent, camper, RV, or just a good ole sleeping bag under the stars! I definitely want to try this soon! Depending on the type of camping you choose will also depend on how much you will be paying each night. Tent camping is going to be your cheapest option, with RV camping being the most expensive. But don’t let the word expensive stop you as it is still a way cheaper option than a hotel or Airbnb in most cases. The location also has a big role in the price you will pay. If you are looking to stay at a national park camping site, except to pay more than if you would stay outside the park. Campsites are kind of like hotels in that sense. 

And the last type of accommodation that is budget-friendly that I have for you is a workaway. Workaways are basically how they sound: you pick your dream location and you search on workaway’s website for a job and place to stay. There are different options depending on the posting itself. Some workaways offer some pay along with food and accommodation. There are so many types of jobs in lots of countries it would be so hard for me to choose! I have looked into this and really want to do this someday! It looks and sounds amazing! Just imagine living and working on a farm in Scotland or off the coast in Greece!

So which option do you think you will be trying out soon? Will it be trying to find a house-sitting job or crashing on somebody’s couch? Or will it be checking out a hostel? Maybe camping in the wilderness? And you can’t forget about starting a new path by booking a workaway! All these choices are budget-friendly and are great alternatives to more costly options. This leaves you more money to spend on activities and experiences! And isn’t that what traveling is really all about?