3 + 1 Great Ways to Save on Travel Accomodation
June 11, 2009 by Jessie Goh
This article is about Rest & Relax
Sweet dreams when accommodation is free!
Airfares are plummeting and a nice holiday overseas will do the soul good. However, holidays do tend to be expensive as most people usually spend the bulk of their money on accommodation. With a nice four to five star hotel costing at least $3oo upwards a night, can you imagine how much you will be able to splurge on the essentials such as clothes and shoes if you were able to save on accommodation?
The easiest way to score FREE accommodation skinflint yet chic style is to bunk with family or friends. Plan your holidays where you either a friend or a family member who is willing to offer their floor space. Find out where your friends and family members are via Facebook or other social media that you use to help stay in touch with people. Most of the times, friends or family are more than happy to host you.
Lounge with lovely fireplace at the Grampians YHA
Another form of accommodation that I tend to book is Youth Hostels. Before you squirm at the thought of visiting a youth hostel, check out the YHA Grampians and YHA Apollo Bay in Victoria. Both are eco-certified, clean and comfortable (especially in winters where you are able to lounge in front of the huge fireplace). I have been to both YHAs and they are the cleaner than some of the four star hotels that I have stayed at. My partner is a true skinflint and only really likes staying at youth hostels. He enjoys the value for money and also the different people who you will meet at those places. However, he understands my need for nice hot showers that are clean so he makes sure he does his due research before he makes the booking to avoid an earful from me 
.
Lastly, for those who are more daring, there is “couch-surfing”. The idea behind “couch-surfing” is more altruistic than scoring a freebie. According to CouchSurfing.org, “CouchSurfing seeks to internationally network people and places, create educational exchanges, raise collective consciousness, spread tolerance and facilitate cultural understanding.” A friend of mine has used this service before and she had no complains. It is great for travellers on a budget and especially University students who are backpacking. Do practise common sense and be courteous towards the host and reciprocate the kindness of those people by hosting a traveller when you are able to. In short, clean up after yourself and be kind. Exercise caution and make sure you only couch surf with members who have been verified. For more information on couch surfing, check out these links:
www.couchsurfing.org (A non-profit organisation dedicated to network people one couch at a time)
www.globalfreeloaders.com (An Australian hospitality network, that helps you save money while travelling and meeting new people)
Finally, the +1 point came to me when I recalled my friend (Jia-en’s) story of student poverty, living in New York and the travel bug. Both are mutually exclusive but Jia-en managed to solve the problem with her brilliant partner. They came up with Roomorama. In short, Roomorama is a “short term rental marketplace” for those wanting to visit the United States of America. You can search for places that you would like to stay at within New York or any other states. This works great for those who like to stay longer in a city but find that hotel rates are ridiculously exorbitant. There are heaps of websites offering this type of services. My Google search on “House Swap” gave me the following websites and many others:
www.homeexchange.com - With over 20,000 listings worldwide, you can have your pick of homes to swap. Save money on accommodation and use the money to get yourself a fabulous dress or two.
www.homeforexchange.com – Why rent your vacation home if you can swap it with someone else? Save your money on better things such fabulous dinners and shoes!
www.sublet.com (As seen on Channel 9’s Getaway)
www.aussiehouseswap.com.au – This is an Australian website for those interested in seeing more of Australia. Need a temporary seachange? Why not swap your urban home for a beach house for a couple of months?
www.roomorama.com – A New York Based peer to peer rental portal. Wanna live the high life in NYC for a month without incurring expensive hotel bills? Roomorama has the answer.
www.homeaway.com – This website offers villas, condos, beach houses, ski lodges and etc for swaps. You name it, they have it.
So, before you plan your next travel destination, save your money on accommodation and try out these new ways. The money saved will definitely be well spent on clothes, shoes and souvenirs. Enjoy your holiday!
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Thanks for the excellent tips. I’d like to add +1, in some smaller hotel chains they may willing to give free upgrades or they may offer free nights if we ask for.
Thanks. That is such a great tip! Will bear that in mind and there is no harm asking
I never knew there were sites just for couch surfing. I’ve found YHA to be a great value. You often can find rooms with en-suite, and the hostels are often cleaner than low-end hotels.
If you’re going to stay at a YHA for more than a few days a year, it usually makes sense to get an annual membership. Membership is open to people of all ages, not just youths. However, it does cost a bit more if your over 26. This membership is also a must-have if you plan to travel on the Indian Pacific or Gahn.
YHAs are great too! The best ones I’ve been to are at Halls Gap and Apollo Bay in Victoria.