10 Unique Hotel Alternatives

Travel Beginner-friendly

Hotel alternatives are becoming more common as hotels can get very expensive. Depending on what time of year you spend your vacation, hotels can be booked up months in advance. This has always annoyed me as a novice traveler. That’s why I have listed 10 unique hotel alternatives, that are travel beginner-friendly and affordable compared to the usual accommodations.

Universitie’s

When you think of Universities, you do not automatically get the idea that this could be an alternative to hotels, do you?

Universities would rather rent out their vacant rooms than let them sit empty during semester breaks. Call the universities and colleges. Sometimes there are vacant rooms during the current semester.

They are often cheaper and closer to the city center, so it is a pleasant choice for those who like to walk.

The best place to search for dorm rooms is www.university.com. Thank me later.

Housesitting/Pet sitting

Would you like to live in a house/flat, take care of a pet, and pay (almost) nothing?

Then Housesitting/Pet Sitting is the right choice for you.

This is a great opportunity for pet lovers around the world to travel and have a pleasant companion during their stay. A hotel could not possibly offer you this experience.

While you are taking care of other people’s houses/animals when they are on holiday, you are on holiday yourself.

Doesn’t that sound fantastic?

You pay an annual fee that allows you to use the trusted housesitters platform throughout the year for a small amount of money. Trustedhousesitter.com is used by many house and pet sitter lovers worldwide and is a great website to find what you are looking for.

Volunteering

This is a way to help those in need and travel. Assigned to a local family allows you to experience life from the family’s point of view for the time you choose. Often the family will show and guide you through the city and show you hidden gems.

Volunteering can be a very humbling experience for you, as it was for me when I volunteered in Mozambique in 2020. You can apply to several free volunteer programs such as Peace Corps, Volunteer Service Overseas (VSO), or United Nations (UN) Volunteers.

ICYE is the organization I chose for my volunteer service in 2020.

Homestay

Another great hotel alternative similar to volunteering is homestay.

This accommodation allows travelers from all over the world to stay with a local family for a small fee. Here you can focus entirely on getting to know the country without the helping part.

Homestays are open to travelers of all ages, and depending on which program you choose, volunteering may be limited to young adults. After an adventurous day of travel, doesn’t it sound great to come home and enjoy a home-cooked meal?

For more information, visit www.Homestay.com.

Airbnb

The most widely used website for finding apartments and houses of all kinds is Airbnb.

The platform, which had its beginnings in 2008, has become one of the most trusted sites for vacation or weekend accommodations. Here you can find accommodations from all price ranges that fit your budget.

Book a room for yourself or a house for your group – everything is possible with Airbnb. If you want to register your beautiful house, you can find a detailed description on the website

Camping

Feel like unplugging and enjoying the simplicity of nature?

Then camping would give you just that. Nowadays you have so many camping sites all around the world. With camping, you can bring along more of your home belongings, such as bicycles, to enjoy your area. Campsites are easy to find online.

If you think about camping in Europe, www.camping.info is the go-to website.

Glamping

Glamping or Glamorous Camping is a form of camping but with more comfort. You don’t need to bring your own gear because glamping varies from tiny houses, treehouses, or glamorous tents.

This variant of accommodations is suitable for everyone that wants to experience a holiday in nature without the inconvenience of camping. Unlike sleeping in a sleeping bag, you actually sleep in a standard bed, which allows you to get ultimate rest in nature.

Please visit theluxurytravelexpert.com for their blog post about the best glamping sites around the world for more insights.

Religious housing

Another alternative to hotel rooms that has not been considered is religious housing.

Depending on your religious beliefs, you may find inexpensive or even affordable accommodations in churches, synagogues, temples, or other spiritual places. Please call or email the establishments beforehand to find out if you need to belong to the religion.

In addition, it is important that you abide by any rules that have been established to show your full respect. Remember that some organizations require you to attend a religious service in order to stay with them.

You can find religious accommodations throughout Europe at www.monasterystays.com. For religious accommodations outside of Europe, check with friends and relatives. Sometimes you will be surprised to find information among your acquaintances.

WWOF

Have you always wanted to work on a farm and get free accommodation for it?

World-Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms is the answer because this is a hotel alternative where you can work and learn at the same time.

WWOF offers farmers the opportunity to connect with travel enthusiasts who want to learn how to grow organic fruits and vegetables. This is a great opportunity to travel and work. Although membership varies in different countries, it is a low-cost alternative to standard accommodations.

This option might be more attractive to those who want to travel for a longer period of time.

Hostels

Even though hostels tend to be used by students and solo travelers, they are suitable for anyone who does not mind sharing a room with strangers for a few nights.

You can also book a single room if you do not want to share it with a complete stranger, but keep in mind that the price will be a bit higher. This is budget-friendly and will allow you to make new like-minded friends faster.

It’s important to read reviews and find out about hostels before booking, as prices can vary. A hostel in the city center may cost more than one outside the center; this way you can save more money.

Hostel.com is a trusted website among frequent hostel bookers and experts, so visit it when you are choosing a hostel.

Conclusion

Have you found the accommodation that suits you best?

Or do you prefer hotels and Airbnb’s? Then check out my blog post Hotels vs. Airbnb’s to learn more about what might be the best choice for you.

I hope this blog has helped you think outside the box and find accommodation that helps you explore your adventurous side.

Let’s stay in touch. Have you tried any of the accommodations above? If so, feel free to tell me about your experience in the comments section.