Costly h otel rooms are not always the best way to holiday. Sometimes you can get a much nicer place to stay for less money by using alternative accommodation ideas. Consider renting a vacation home with a few friends or try a reasonably priced bed and breakfast or how about staying in a monastery? All of these ideas will get you better value for your money and provide an interesting experience as well.
Rent an apartment or house
If you are willing to share your vacation space with friends, how about renting a vacation house or apartment? Renting an apartment or house is a great way to live like a local and often you can get more for your money this way. Often you can rent a multi-bedroom/bathroom house with a terrific view and super amenities for less than a budget hotel, if you pool your resources with another couple or some friends.
Vacation Rentals by Owner, (www.vrbo.com) a vacation rental website, lists house and apartment rentals all around the world. There are descriptions and photos of the properties as well as prices. Other websites that offer similar services include:
www.vamoose.com bill themselves as the “world’s largest vacation rental directory”
www.waytostay.com offers apartment rentals in Europe, including destinations in Spain, Germany and Paris.
www.worldvacationrental.net features rentals based on activities, such a skiing, golfing, etc.
www.craigslist.org also has vacation rental listing under “housing”
Bed and Breakfasts
B & B’s range in size and style from five star luxury guesthouses to cozy reasonably priced mom and pop style homes. Staying at a B & B is a great way to live like a local and the hosts are usually very helpful with suggestions on site seeing, restaurants and local transportation. Often the breakfast is more than just cereal and juice. Many B & B hosts go all out with fresh orange juice and a deluxe cooked breakfast that you will never get in the average hotel.
Some useful websites for finding B & B’s are:
www.tripadvisor.com – you can search for B&B’s and then contact the owners directly to make reservations.
www.bedandbreakfast.com not only lists B & B’s but also gives awards to outstanding properties. Also has a blog and a newsletter.
www.bnbfinder.com another useful site to local B&B’s
In most cases you can’t book the B & B on a website but must contact the owner/operator for booking. The same is often true for vacation rentals.
Monasteries
France, Spain and Italy have several monasteries that practice the “century old tradition of hospitality” for travelers. These are clean, gracious, unhurried, uncrowded, and tranquil places to stay for a reasonable cost. They are open to people regardless of religious denominations or affiliations and give the traveler a unique experience. Most monasteries are just that, functioning religious orders but they offer their hospitality travelers to help offset their operating costs. The rooms will not be five star quality but the atmosphere and locations, often in historic buildings, is second to none. Some monasteries include meals along with the cost of the stay.
Eileen Barish has written a series of guide books on staying in Monasteries in Europe. Her books list dozens of monasteries and include pictures, accommodation types, prices, locations, rules, directions and contact information. Most monasteries must be contacted by letter to book accommodation but the cost is reasonable, usually less than $30(US) per night.
Staying in a nice, interesting place doesn’t have to be expensive. There are several options available to enjoy unique accommodations at reasonable prices. Try renting a vacation home or apartment, stay in a bed and breakfast or guesthouse or even spend the night in a monastery. Traveling can be affordable and fun even in these tough economic times.
