From home-sharing to discounted hotel accommodation, this list of websites will help you save on your lodging and stay when you travel the globe.
Accommodation is one of the most expensive purchases for travelers. And despite the fact that I love Booking.com’s ease of use and easy cancellation options, their hotels’ stays can cost you a pretty penny.
Just like you, I’m always looking for ways I can save on my stay, so I have more money to spend on sightseeing and activities in the places I’m visiting.
In this article, I’ve listed some ways to save on your accommodation when you travel the globe. Here they are, starting from home-sharing to discounted hotel accommodations.
Table of Contents
#1. Homestays, Guest Houses & Apartments
Homestays are definitely cheaper than hotel accommodation and you can stay with a local host family in over 160 countries. If you love authenticity in travel, homestays can help you discover rustic, authentic, and unspoiled gems.
You get to do what the locals do, eat where they eat, and experience the realness of the place you’re visiting. You can also save money by staying in the best guest houses in your favorite locations.
And if you’re looking for a home away from home, you can also choose the apartment that’s right for you.
Besides being cheaper than hotel rooms, you can also get assistance and advice from the owners of the guest house or apartments to help you find your way around. Many of them can advise you on where to buy things cheaper, how to travel and the best tourist attractions to visit.
#2. HostelWorld
Stay in the world’s best hostels, and access over 13 million reviews. With over 16,500 hostels in 180 countries, there’s always room for a new adventure!
Connect with global travelers in The Common Room, Hostelworld’s online community for adventure lovers.
#3. Wanderful (Women-Only)
As a Chapter Organiser of Wanderful Pune, I just love this identity-verified home-sharing community exclusively for women travelers looking for a safe place to rest their heads.
Members can rent private rooms to one another for a fee, or just take each other out for a cup of coffee or provide a friendly face at the airport. Right now Wanderful is just in 20+ cities around the world but is rapidly adding new members and chapters.
Each member (both the hostess and the guest) completes a two-step identity verification process and may opt for a background check for enhanced safety.
Wanderful is committed to trust and security and goes beyond home sharing to create a collaborative and inclusive community of women of all ages and backgrounds who help one another travel the world.
Wanderful Chapters connect locals and travelers together over brunches, workshops, day trips, and events like the Women in Travel Summit (WITS) and Wanderfest, to build positive connections and lasting friendships.
#4. BeWelcome
BeWelcome is a hospitality exchange network. Most members of BeWelcome offer hospitality to travelers and/or can show them around. Every member of the network has a profile. Members can search for other members at their travel destination, check out their profiles, and send them a message.
Joining and being a member of BeWelcome is free of charge but you must be over 18 years old. The open-source website is run by BeVolunteer, a non-profit organization of volunteers who created BeWelcome to promote “friendship and better understanding across boundaries.” They are not-for-profit, open-source, and exclusively run by members in a transparent and democratic way.
BeWelcome is a great way to meet friendly and like-minded people from all over the world. This website is also a significant resource for travel information and provides many tools that can help you to plan your next trip or document a previous journey. Read their FAQs to learn more.
#5. Airbnb
Airbnb really needs no introduction. As one of the pioneers of the sharing economy, it allowed homeowners to rent out their homes by the night, to travelers weary of paying for expensive hotel stays.
Not only do these options cost less for travelers and digital nomads who might want to spend an entire month in a certain location, but the website allows us to find and stay in homes that offer unique and exclusive experiences, ranging from a Seashell House in Casa Caracol to a Secluded Intown Treehouse in Atlanta.
Trusted House Sitters and #2 up top work wonders for us Priya. Smashing list!
We are house sitting our way through New Zealand for 3 months. Save a current 2 week Air BnB stretch we are doing sits. Easy, saving thousands of dollars. We also use homeowner’s cars during sits, saving rental fees. Gotta love house sitting!
Ryan
Awesome, Ryan! You’re an inspiration for so many travellers, including me 🙂
I would love to try this one with animals, totally love it. I found an article that is really popular at New Zealand I think if I remember well. When you’re traveling the world it’s nice to know these tips 🙂
If you find house sitting interesting, consider buying my friend, Ryan Biddulph’s book, How to Land the Best House Sits Easily https://amzn.to/2k7iJKz
We are HUGE advocates of AirBnB whilst travelling. As a couple, booking an apartment through AirBnB is often the same price or cheaper than 2 of us booking a hostel! Will definitely be looking into some of these other options now though, love the sound of house-sitting.
I agree. There are lots of ways to save with AirBnB. But if you find house sitting interesting, consider buying my friend, Ryan Biddulph’s book, How to Land the Best House Sits Easily https://amzn.to/2k7iJKz
Great list for a variety of travelers. Airbnb is always my first preference now, except one not-so-good experience, it has been amazing. Sometimes I find nice options at hostelworld.com too.
Thanks for the tips, Binny.
AirBnB rocks. I have had some of my best travel experiences booking though them. This summer, it’s time again for some of that. Italy this time!
That’s awesome, Per. They do give access to some spectacular locations.
wow..very helpful info..i use only air binb and booking of the above….looks like i need to try more websites..homestays i never tried but would really give it a shot on my next travel..thanks for sharing.
Glad you found it useful, Ritika
Wow this is a very interesting list of places where I can stay either at a cheaper rate or for free. I have stayed multiple times in hostels from booking.com and also have stayed in airbnb accommodations. But never knew the other websites you mentioned. Will try them soon.
Glad you found something new in it, Shreya.