The Best And Cheapest Lodgings (with some cheap advice)

When I’m traveling, I want to make use of the little time I have in an area and explore as much as I can. For heaven’s sake, I may never have the opportunity to travel there ever again. Sad, but true! When I’m traveling, I want to take advantage of every moment. I want to get out there and take it all in as much as I can. Therefore, when it comes to lodging when traveling abroad, why would I spend more than what I have to on room that I will only be using to shower and sleep? Screw the big or overly accommodating rooms and find one that is the most basic to your needs for that little amount of time you are even in the room. The most basic room means the most economical and convenient for you. It also means more money saved that can be used on your current (or even next) trip.  Here are my favorite lodging options that we have tried when traveling:

London Hotel

Cheap Hotels: Ok, so hotels are obvious. However, keep in mind that the less picky you are with deluxe room accommodations, the more likely you will find not only a cheaper room, but one that is possibly in a good location that caters better to your itinerary.

Side Note: Try to find hotels with breakfast. I do not mean to get a hotel that services those awful “cold continental breakfasts” here in the US.  Most places outside America have REAL breakfasts.  An example is our hotel in Copenhagen.  They had specialty cheeses, aged meats and artisan breads, along with about a dozen different types of fruits and vegetables.  Besides making sure to fit in the most important meal that will give you energy for your day’s adventures (coming from a Health teacher), many times they are all-you-can-eat so you can fill up and not worry about getting hungry in an hour. Filling up on breakfast at your hotel means money saved on getting breakfast elsewhere, and maybe even saving a few bucks on snacking and lunch. Also, less time finding and going to restaurants means more time to spend on sight-seeing and exploring! However, just make sure you don’t miss out on opportunities to try out some on-the-go local foods and snacks. After all, trying new foods is part of the experience.

Barcelona Hotel/B&B

Galway B&B

Bed and Breakfasts: These are my favorite. Bed and Breakfasts are always competing with each other, so you’re bound to find one that is very reasonably priced. You can also find these all over. Therefore, regardless if you’re wanting to stay in the city or country, they won’t be hard to find.

Irish Breakfast, Doolin

There are many great attributes to bed and breakfasts. However, one of my favorite qualities of these homey accommodations is the food. Similar to hotels, most bed and breakfasts offer breakfast options (In fact, can somebody tell me why some are allowed to be called “Bed and Breakfasts” even when they don’t offer breakfast? Wouldn’t they just be called “Bed” then? Whatever!). Plus, a lot of the breakfasts include home-cooked meals. Local, fresh food made by locals? You can’t beat that!  Many times these breakfasts are extremely filling also.  In addition, if you have this option of eating breakfast where you are staying your nights, you can save yourself time, money, and the hustle and bustle with crowds in the morning at a breakfast joint. It’s nice to begin the days of your trip with a convenient and cheap breakfast that doesn’t involve your day starting off with stress.

Another reason why I think bed and breakfasts are so awesome are the owners or hosts. We have come across some amazing bed and breakfast hosts who were incredibly friendly and helpful. Take advantage of staying in a bed and breakfast and ask your hosts questions you may have about the area, including great places to eat and “off-the-beaten path” areas. Heck! Ask your hosts anything about the country for that matter.

Kilkenny B&B

In Ireland, one of our B&B hosts and I had a great conversation about the current education system in the country. Did you know a lot of the colleges/universities in many European countries are free to attend? Crazy, huh? Anyway, I’ll get back on track here... Just know that many or most B&B hosts open up a bed and breakfast for a reason. Yes, it’s a great way for them to make money, but they are friendly and social people who are obviously well-informed of the area. They know they can be an asset in many ways to tourists. These hosts want to welcome visitors, make them feel comfortable, and help them discover the great features of their country. They are eager to help tourists have a good time, so be sure to ask many questions. While you're at it, maybe even stir up a conversation. You may learn some fascinating things, and/or you may even find yet another reason to come back.

Air BnBs: After my first experience with an Air BnB, I thought I would never want to do another one ever again. Everything about it was horrible: the host was never available for questions (we never even physically saw or met him our whole stay), the water heater in the shower was broken the entire time (even after mentioning it to our host the very first day), we were never informed we were sharing a floor and bathroom with other guests, our room was extremely hot (no air conditioning), and we had curtains that didn’t serve their purpose so the sunrise woke us up every morning. Did I mention the seagulls at 4am? Since we needed our windows open to cool off our room, these guys were extra loud. These birds, along with the sunlight, became our undesirable alarm clock.

Our Alarm Clock in Dublin's Air BnB

However, soon after we returned home from our Dublin Air BnB nightmare, we learned that there are hosts of Air BnBs that are called “Super hosts”. These hosts have the top ratings of Air BnBs to stay. I wish we would have known about Super Hosts before our first, horrible experience with Air BnBs! I had a tarnished image of Air BnBs, and I almost completely marked these off our lodging options list. Yet, another reason to check reviews and do a little research, folks.

After understanding Air BnBs, we decided to try it out again in Spain. And again in Boston. Boy! Are we glad we did! The Air BnB in Barcelona was incredible, and the one in Boston was perfect. The hosts were always available and very helpful. They were also very patient and welcoming even though we arrived late at night to check in due to our flights. Both times, different countries, these Super Hosts were amazing.

Air BnBs are also great because small snacks and refreshments are usually provided. These come in handy, trust me. Sometimes, the hosts will even provide toiletries such as shampoo and toothpaste (rare, but awesome when they do). Also, available appliances may be of use to you if you are trying to save money and prepare food on your own.

Just like in a B&B, good hosts of Air BnBs offer help and will answer any questions you may have. They will also give good advice. Some hosts live in the same building (or general vicinity) where they rent out rooms. Therefore, if needed, you may be able to check in earlier (or later) than planned. If not, they still may allow you to drop off your luggage when you arrive so you can start exploring the area without having to lug around your bags everywhere you go.

Most  Air BnBs are in convenient locations. It makes sense.  Many hosts open an Air BnB in an area where lodging is at a high demand. These areas include bigger cities, major attractions, and airports. In turn, they get a lot of business and make the most money. The visitors and guests benefit also by staying in a convenient location. Guests will also find a cheaper option. Air BnBs are multiplying as well as competing against each other. As an outcome, prices for Air BnB lodging is reducing.  A win-win for everyone!

Cheap hotels, Bed and Breakfasts, and Air BnBs are always good options for lodging when abroad. Just be sure to do the research for best prices, location, and personal preference first. And as always, make sure you check reviews!