My husband told me a story yesterday about some unconventional places to stay that were cropping up as a result of the 2012 Olympics in London. For example one creative cabbie is renting out his cab as a sort of makeshift hotel for desperate tourists who waited too long to get regular lodgings for the games. For $75 a night, his guests can sleep somewhat comfortably in his cab, with access to the bathroom in his home.
Considering that hotel rates for the games are in the hundreds if not the thousands of dollars per night, that is a pretty good deal. And while you may not want to sleep in a cab while on vacation, there are other ways to sleep cheap, no matter where you are traveling.
Get Independent
Independent hotels and local bed and breakfast inns can be much cheaper than hotel chains. Plus you usually get a nicer room and more attention. The independent lodgings don’t always show up online when you use travel search engines, so use a general search engine or a visitor center’s website to find these gems. Yahoo maps can sometimes work as well.
Earn a Free Stay
If you do find a good deal at a chain hotel, sign up for the reward program. These programs will reward you with free nights after so many stays. Sometimes you can use the free nights during the same stay. Also look for deals where you book two nights and get a third night for free.
Just check carefully before you take advantage of a promotion because there may be restrictions, such as which type of room qualifies and which check in dates are eligible.
Rough It
There is no cheaper way to sleep than when you rough it through the option of camping or staying in a cabin, lodge or inn through the National Park Service. Some of the accommodations are more luxurious than you might think, and you can’t beat the pricing.
Related Articles:
Things to Do with Leftover Sand