Accommodation Guide for Indie Travelers
When it comes to long-term travel, the accommodation options for independent travelers are many. Gone are the days of only having the choice between a giant hotel chain and a 12-person hostel dorm.
If you’re planning your first big trip overseas, it pays to be informed about all the options you have and really learn about each. You may assume that hostels are only for young, college-aged travelers, but did you know that travelers of all ages stay in hostels these days? From those 20-something travelers to families to retirees and every age in between.
Hostels aren’t the only option for the long-term, budget travelers either. There are now resources like Couchsurfing, private rentals (from a room in someone’s apartment to entire homes) through sites like Airbnb, private hostel rooms, and WWOOF’ing – just to name a few.
Not only should you learn about what options you have for accommodations, there are also the regional differences to deal with. A guesthouse might mean two different things in two different countries (there aren’t many traditional hostels in Asia – most are advertised as “guesthouses”). People are surprised to find out that depending on where you are, a B&B doesn’t always come with breakfast. And even beyond these quirks, budget travelers often make the mistake of assuming that a hostel is always going to be the cheapest option – when sometimes it just isn’t.
That’s where we come in.
Below, you’ll find information about accommodation options all over the world – hostels, hotels, vacation rentals, and more. You’ll also find articles about some of those accommodation choices, too, so you can learn more about them before you choose which direction you want to go.
Booking resources
Use the following resources from BootsnAll to book accommodations for your next trip:
- BootsnAll hostel booking site– BootsnAll’s hostel booking engine and resource for all things hosteling, from info on individual cities and hostels, to online reservations.
- Vacation rentals– Find cheap vacation rentals and book – all from one site.
- Couchsurfing– Connect with travelers from all over the world and crash on their couch. Or host travelers yourself when you’re back home.
- Airbnb – Airbnb lets you rent a room or entire home, sometimes the primary residence of owners who are traveling.
- Flipkey – Find vacation rentals from all over the world.
- HomeAway – Explore various rental options across the globe, and list your home or apartment for rent to make a few bucks while you travel
- Vacations Abroad– Find a condo or vacation rental with this large list of properties from around the world.
- Home Exchange– The name says it all. You offer to let people stay at your house while you stay at theirs.
- Global Freeloaders – An online community, bringing people together to offer you free accommodation all over the world. Save money and make new friends whilst seeing the world from a local’s perspective!
Accommodation articles
Want to learn more about your different accommodation options for your trip? Check out the following articles geared towards the long-term, independent traveler:
- How to Survive Hosteling – This article offers tips and advice for someone who has never stayed in a hostel before – it may not be what you think.
- What Makes a Good Hostel – Check out these 8 things that can make or break a hostel.
- Why You Should Hostel with Your Family – Think that because you have a family that hostels aren’t for you? Think again.
- 8 Things That Separate Great Hostels from Average Hostels – Hostels have a come a long way in the past few decades. Find out what amenities can turn an average hostel into a great one.
- How to Find the Perfect Vacation Rental – Never rented a house or apartment while traveling? This article outlines all you need to know.
- Renting on Your RTW Trip – Find out why you might want to rent on your RTW (round the world) trip.
- 5 Accommodation Options for Long-term Travel – Going on a long-term trip? Check out these accommodation options.
- Why a Home Exchange is a Great Indie Travel Experience – Find out how home exchanges can enhance your experience while saving you tons of money.
- 10 Ways to Use Couchsurfing: A Multi-Tool for the Indie Traveler – Don’t know much about Couchsurfing? Find out all about it here.
- The How-To’s of WWOOF’ing – Learn all about WWOOF’ing – Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms.