When you’re travelling on a budget a bit of money saved here, could mean an extra excursion or meal out there. So take note of these top tips on how you can make the most of the cheap hotels, guesthouses and hostels around the world, giving you all the more money to spend on the fun stuff.
Always book as early as possible
Make sure you have the pick of where to stay by getting in there before everyone else. Naturally, the best value accommodation and highest rated is what gets snapped up first, so make sure you’re the one to get it.
Decide what’s important
What is at the top of your perfect accommodation wish list? Is it location? Price? Privacy? Make sure you have the one thing you’re not prepared to sacrifice at the front of your mind, and accept that you might have to lower your standards on the not so important things. If you want to be in the centre of town, then you can save money by staying in a dorm. Or, if the price tops your list of things that matter then be prepared to stay on the outskirts of the city and get the bus in. On HostelBookers.com you can look at properties using the map function and you can also sort the results by shared room price, private room price and rating – helping you to choose the perfect accommodation for you.
Check the reviews before you book
HostelBookers.com asks all their customers to rate their stay to make it easier for potential customers to ensure they get what they pay for. The ratings and reviews prove that a really cheap hostel or hotel doesn’t mean it won’t be of a high quality. By sifting through the reviews you can see the accommodation fares on atmosphere, facilities, staff, safety, location, cleanliness and value – and the results are combined to give an overall satisfaction rating. You can also search these reviews according to the type of traveller you are – single, group or family – and the trip type – backpacking, partying or shopping – to make sure the hostel or hotel is for you.
Keep an open mind
The cheapest accommodation is usually in a large dorm room in a hotel or hostel. The beds will usually be bunks and you’ll share bathroom facilities (either in the room or in a centralised point along the corridor). The biggest dorms are generally 16-bed ones, which can be noisy places, but with some earplugs and an eye mask you’ll be glad you saved the money to splurge during the day. Most accommodation will just charge a little more to stay in a 12- or 8-bed dorm instead. But try it first, you’re sure to be glad of the extra money.
Think about location
After room type the location of your hotel can be the biggest accommodation money saver. Of course, when you’re visiting a new place you want to see as much of it as possible and if you stay on the outskirts of the city, you’re more likely to do this. Do you really need to pay for the pleasure of being right in the centre? If you’re staying in Europe for example, many of the main cities have well-developed transport systems where for just a few euros a day you can get a day ticket allowing you to travel wherever you want in the city. This can save you a lot on hostel and hotel prices, and you’ll get to see the city from a different viewpoint too.
