Tips For Finding Cheaper Lodging

Are you unable to afford to pay $200 or more per night to stay in a nice hotel? Don't let this keep you from taking a vacation. There are plenty of more affordable ways to find lodging when you go out of town. Here are some options that will help keep costs down.

1. Stay outside of the city center.

Sometimes you can save a bundle just by booking a hotel outside of the city center. For example, hotels in the city might cost $200 for the night, but a hotel 20 minutes away on the edge of the city might cost $60 a night. If you really prefer to stay in hotels, this is a good option. And it's been made more feasible these days due to the popularity of ride-sharing apps that charge less than you'd pay for a taxi for a ride.

2. Look for a hostel.

Hostels are less common in the United States than they are in Europe, but they do exist in a lot of larger cities. Basically in a hostel, you pay for a bed in a shared room. You don't get a lot of privacy, but the accommodations are cheap, and most hostels are really social places to stay if you want to meet new people and make friends. Some also have private rooms for a little more than you would pay for a bunk bed in a shared room. They have far fewer frills than a hotel room, but they provide a touch of privacy. Many hostels have kitchens where you can prepare your own meals, which will save you more money when compared to dining out.

3. Try couch surfing.

Couch surfing is a lodging option that is not for the faint of heart but that is free. There are websites where people offer up space on their couches; you can "book" a stay. There's some risk involved, of course, but you can minimize that risk by only staying with hosts who have a lot of good reviews. You won't typically have your own space, although some hosts do let couch surfers stay in spare rooms, so it all depends on the arrangement. 

If staying in an expensive hotel just is not in the cards, do not let that keep you from traveling. There are cheap and even free lodging options available if you know where to look and are not overly particular.

To learn more about lodging, contact some hotels and other options near where you want to go.