A vacation wouldn’t be complete without lodging. Unless you intend to stay at a friend or relative’s home, you’ll likely need to get some sort of lodging when you travel. For many travelers, that means finding cheap hotels. But that’s not the only option.

While discount travel sites are great for finding deals on traditional hotels, using a cheaper alternative to hotels can save you even more money on your trip. Here are some great alternative lodging options to consider for your next adventure. 

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Cheap Hotels May Not Be the Cheapest Option: Unique Alternatives for Affordable Lodging
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Vacation Rentals and Airbnb 

Vacation rentals, including Airbnbs, have become popular lodging options for many travelers. Essentially, sites like Airbnb put you in contact with homeowners at your travel destination that want to rent out their home for your travel dates.

That means you’ll get access to comfortable lodging and amenities that can feel like a home away from home. 

The Airbnb cost per night varies by location, travel dates, and other factors, but it’s common for an Airbnb to be cheaper than a hotel. Why? Because homeowners are the ones setting their Airbnb price! 

Outdoorsy 

Outdoorsy is similar to Airbnb and other vacation rental websites. It even has an app like Airbnb. However, instead of renting a vacation home, you’ll be renting an RV as your lodging so you can camp in style.

Not only are RV rentals usually more affordable, but most owners will let you travel a set distance with them, so you can choose the nearby RV Park you’re interested in. 

Hostels 

Hostels are unique in that you share lodging with other travelers. This can be an exciting opportunity for some, though others may be a bit more leery at the idea. Either way, hostels are a great way to save on lodging costs during a vacation. 

House Sitting 

Have you ever tried house sitting? House sitting is where you stay at someone else’s home while you are traveling, but with certain conditions. For example, the homeowner might need you to bring the mail in, let the dogs out, feed the cat, or water the plants. 

House sitting websites are usually upfront about what will be expected of travelers so you can comb through the fine details and communicate with the homeowner before you book. Since you’ll be helping the homeowner out, lodging tends to be significantly cheaper.

In some cases, it may even be free, or they may even pay you if you’ll be doing more around the house, like full-on pet sitting.

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