Travelling or backpacking around the world is mighty fun. Sure, it’s hard work as that abundant enthusiasm at the start wears off as you get more tired and have to deal with the tests of paperwork and such. But, for the most part if you know what you’re doing you’ll never be afraid or nervous no matter where you are. The number one concern we all have, apart from our healthy of course, is making sure we have a place to stay when we’re abroad. The days of just making do with whatever you have, even having to sleep on the street if things don’t work out in time of your arrival, are long gone. There’s no excuse to not have a certain kind of room that you feel comfortable to sleep and stay in when you’re on holiday or traveling. Modern technology is inside your pocket, you can reserve and book rooms with a few swipes of your fingers. If you have been at this game for a while, you’ll already know that traditional styles of rooms get snatched up really quickly. Hotels, hostels, and lodges are jam-packed with fellow world-crawlers. So can you be imaginative and get a different kind of room for yourself?
A humble home
The ingenuity of poorer destinations to find ways to accommodate and support their tourism industry is quite inspirational. South America is one such example whereby poorer nations have worked with locals to find new ways of hosting travelers and holidaymakers. Not to miss out on an opportunity to give customers what they want and get a what is needed for the economy in return, locals are putting up their homes to stay in. Take Paraguay for example, there are homes that are advertised on a per night basis, for a very, very reasonable price. And they’re not just small shacks that villagers and perhaps less developed areas have created, they’re real homes.
To varying degrees, you can get a family-sized home to stay in if you want. Usually, however, they are offered in flats, which means a couple or more bedrooms, one or two bathrooms and a lounge to stay in. Sometimes you may be lucky enough to gain access to the kitchen, but for safety reasons, the people that own the homes are reluctant to offer tourists this service. However, just like a modern home, every room is furnished. You have leather sofas, HD televisions, dining room tables and chairs, and heating systems as part and parcel of a local homestay. On average, the price of a flat is going to be around £30 which is around $40 per night. Which is an absolute bargain!
Lounging high
Traveling to places where you know there will be a high human density take a different kind of planning. No doubt, this will be something like a major or capital city. There’s little to no way or avoiding high prices for simple rooms to stay in since the demand is so high and the supply is small. On top of this, the companies and properties that are purpose-built for tourists and travelers will be in the center of the city. This is so you have convenient access to public transport, restaurants and much more. You are simply paying a lot more for convenience which is a bit of a crux if you think about it. Staying just outside the main zones is far more sensible as you can always use public transport to go into the city.
Perhaps an autonomous city-state like Singapore has got it right in this regard then. Because they have rooms that are HDB for rent, which means public housing in high-rise buildings is offered to those who want to stay close by the city center. Just like a proper family-sized and catered-for property, some flats are expensive as they offer great room sizes, spacious open plan living and dining room areas, as well as fully furnished. However if you’re someone alone, just looking for a place to stay and want something cheap, you can get a flat with two rooms that are around £112 per month, which makes out to $154 per month. Considering that this is pretty much a quarter of the average price you would pay in the Western world for one room, this is an excellent choice for the savvy tourist. You have access to bathrooms, kitchens and pretty much everything you would expect from a general economy flat.
Ye Olde stay
One of the best kept secrets in the UK, is the short-stay cottages for tourists. These are old homes, that have been standing for at least a century and are no longer being used by the buying market. Made from strong timber, these small cottages are fantastic for a cheap night stay in a great quality home. The average price you will pay for a night’s stay is around £70 or less. You can go higher if you’re looking for a cottage that is modern on the inside, however, for the most part you are getting a cosy cottage in the countryside. The cottages are as you would expect, fully furnished and you have access to almost everything. If the owner is living in the cottage with you, there’s generally an agreement that they will be of assistance to you. If would like to be left alone that’s fine but the owners can help you plan your visit as their local knowledge may well be better than any tourist information spot can give you. Small things like hot drinks and snacks will more than likely be provided for. Depending on what part of the country you’ll be visiting, the interior decor and designs will vary, but the space inside is openly visible by pictures taken of the room you will be staying in.
As you can see, you don’t need to book into hostel, hotel or some other tourist trap kind of place. If you look around and use the companies that work with locals, you can book yourself a great flat or room that isn’t just affordable but has everything you need for your stay.
This post was collaborative content.
