Hi lovelies,

Traveling is a gift that we should cherish and take advantage of. Life isn’t complete unless you travel to different places and broaden your mind to things that seem foreign to you. The big issue is that it costs a lot of money to travel all the time. 

Well, it’s possible to find cheap flights that take you to a country where you can then move around by public transport to lots of nearby areas. The main problem is where you stay. Most of us book hotels when we go away, but they can be terribly expensive. 

So, what if I said that you could save a lot of money by ditching hotels? No, you won’t sleep in a car or camp on the side of the road! There are other accommodation options that are more affordable than hotels, yet still let you have a fun experience when you travel. 

Stay in hostels
Instead of hotels, look to book into a hostel. Here, you’re usually in a shared dorm with other travelers. It sounds strange, but there’s a camaraderie that comes when you stay in a hostel. It’s a brilliant way of meeting new people, and they’re usually the cheapest option around. Hostels are great options if you’re traveling on your own and looking for budget accommodation in big cities. They have loads in places like Thailand and South East Asia, as well as in cities like Paris or Barcelona. 

Rent a vacation home
This idea has risen in popularity - particularly amongst family travelers. If you’re heading off on a long vacation with your family, then you need a place to stay. Vacation homes are ideal as you don’t pay for the extra hotel luxuries, so the overall price is more affordable. You see a lot of them in coastal resorts like California. In fact, you can get some excellent Sea Ranch vacation rentals that give your family a beautiful home to stay in during your trip. There are loads of other popular seaside locations around the US with great vacation homes, but they’re also a fantastic option throughout the Mediterranean coast in Europe. 

Go camping
I know I said that you don’t have to camp on the side of the road, and I stand by that! By camping, I’m talking about staying in actual campsites. All you need is a tent and some supplies, and you will save a fortune. Again, like hostels, it’s a great way to meet people and form long-lasting friendships. It’s ideal for family travel too, and you could even rent a caravan for more home comforts. Camping is a brilliant choice if you’re staying somewhere with loads of outstanding natural beauty. For example, the Grand Canyon in the US, or somewhere like the north of Italy in Europe.

Look for B&B’s
Lastly, if you want a similar hotel experience - but on a smaller scale - then B&B’s are your best bet. You get to stay in a nice home, but you also have food provided for you. It’s still much cheaper as B&B’s cost less money to run. 

Essentially, hotels are expensive because they cost a lot for businesses to run. You’re not just paying for a room, you’re paying for everything that comes with it. Most of the time, you don’t even use any of this. How many times have you used a hotel gym or actually ordered room service?! Don’t pay for things you don’t need. If you want to save money on your next vacation, then think about ditching hotels.