How to Travel on a Budget Part II: Hotels and Accommodations

Dog Bark Inn
Cottonwood, Idaho
Rate: From $86/night

Looking for a hotel can be stressful. But with these tips and tools it can be as relaxed as the Hawaiian shirt in your closet waiting to be worn.

Staying in a Town Next Door – Sometimes the smaller towns close to where you are going have hotels that are much less expensive. If you don’t mind the 15 minute ride, you might just save that bundle.

HotelsByMe – This handy smartphone app uses your location to help you find nearby hotels. It sorts the list by distance from your current location and plots the hotel locations right on your phone. The application is backed by Hotels.com’s customer service and uses their cross- searching technology to find you the best deals nearest your current location.

Download this FREE app at http://www2.hotelsbyme.com/templates/400526

Check with your Credit Card – Some major hotels have ties with credit card companies to promote travel and business in a specific area, giving discounts if the client uses his credit card. You can land up discounts up to 20% through this connection in some hotels.

Call the Hotel for Reservations – Once you have found the best price online, call to see if the hotel will give you an even cheaper rate. As an added bonus, they might even offer you an upgrade or a voucher to a local restaurant.

Home Exchanges – These are pretty cool and popular especially in Europe. Your trip might not be as romantic as the movie, The Holiday, but if you are of the adventure type switching homes with someone for a week could be exciting and refreshing.

Here are a few sites to check out for home exchanges:

• http://www.homeexchange.com/

• http://www.homeforexchange.com/index2.php

• http://www.homelink.org/usa/

Hopefully you’ve taken a few notes for the next time you book a room. Your stay is a part of the traveling experience, so make it a memorable place that’s worth every affordable penny!