Travel with Zero Dollars (9): Techniques on how to save money on accommodation

Hotel accommodation is one of the most money draining expenses when it comes to traveling. So how does one overcome such ruthless schemes?

Here are some tips and tricks that will help you save money on traveling.

Do you know that you can also save money on your hotel room through negotiation? Sometimes, it is very important to open your mouth and speak up. For example, when you call the hotel, you are arranging with the clerk or the administrator and not the manager or the boss. These guys only follow what the book says and are not flexible when offering rates.

Talk to them and negotiate with them what are the best rates for the season and see if there are any last minute cancellations.

If you are part of a business trip, you can organize a conference or meeting at a hotel and they will usually offer a much cheaper rate for you and your business partners. Once again, all you need to do is open your mouth and ask.

They will be more than happy for you to bring big business to their doorstep.

You can also opt to stay at the suburbs. In most places, you will pay a lot more for staying in the urban areas. Once you figure out the bus route or other forms of transportation, you will save on accommodation and still enjoy a day in the city. You need to know the train or bus routes so just ask one of the locals.

You can also stay at motels or guest houses. Guest houses are actually smaller hotels, with fewer hotel type services, are called guest houses. If you don’t need a bar or a direct phone, you can save tons of money.

You can even try traveling off-season. Of course, it depends on the location which you visit. You can even arrange for Self-Catering. Cottages and small apartments are suitable because you cook and clean for yourself. These places are rented by the week and are much cheaper than other kinds of accommodations. Say for example, you and your friends could rent a place, which is big enough for five or six people, for a whole week, for not much more than the cost of a couple of nights for two in a good hotel.

If you are feeling adventurous, try traveling in an RV or a caravan. You will eliminate your hotel costs all together.

Remember to check out everything on the Internet. Never book a hotel before checking out the many online, accommodation search engines first. You can save lots of money doing your research in advance.

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