8 Cheap Alternatives to Hotels

Many travelers swear by apartment rentals, for an exhaustive list of reasons: living like a local, having kitchen facilities, staying in some truly unique lodgings. Staying in a flat can also be far less expensive than booking a room at a local inn or hotel. Old standbys like HomeAway and VRBO and hip start-ups like Airbnb and Onefinestay offer apartment or home rentals all over the world, in some truly characterful digs: garden flats, penthouses, castles, villas, tree houses, and even converted gas stations. Aside from the unique surroundings and relatively inexpensive nightly rates, you can save further by using kitchen facilities rather than dining out. Best of all, you don't need a membership to use most vacation-rental websites.

If you're not squeamish about letting others into your house while you inhabit theirs, swapping spaces might be the perfect way to save some dough. HomeLink, HomeExchange, and Love Home Swap can connect you with interested swappers safely, securely, and cheaply. Some home-exchange sites are completely free, while others charge a low yearly membership rate (from $39 for U.S.-only homes via HomeLink). You'll need to plan in advance for your exchange, and most sites vet potential swappers in some way, whether it's via a questionnaire or social media, so there's a bit more legwork required than when you simply rent a vacation home. We rounded up some helpful tips on home swapping to get you started.

Couch surfing is the close cousin of home swapping, except you crash on someone's couch (or in their guest room), and the host stays in the apartment with you. Couch surfers—travelers who are interested in sharing meals, drinks, or outings with locals—will experience a truly communal vacation in their destination of choice, with as much or as little involvement with their host as they desire. Simply sign up with Couchsurfing.org, create a free profile, set your "couch status" (indicating whether or not your own futon is free), and begin searching among the 7 million-some members who dot the globe. The site also hosts meet-ups, language exchanges, outdoor activities, and dinners for those interested in interacting with fellow travelers. (Note: While couch surfing is low-cost, it's not a bad idea to buy a gift, a meal, or some other small item for your host.)

Somewhere between a home exchange and couch surfing is "nightswapping," a novel concept introduced by the French start-up Cosmopolit Home in 2012, based on the idea that peer-to-peer travel should also be reciprocal. Here's how it works: First, host your apartment or house on the Cosmopolit Home site. When guests stay in your home for a night, you'll earn credits that you can exchange for nights at other members' homes. You earn one night for each night your home is swapped, but you can purchase additional nights through the website to tack onto existing nightly credits. The more you host, the more nights you earn for your own travels. And with some 6,000 accommodations in 54 countries available through Cosmopolit Home, there are plenty of places to visit.

Camping is a true American tradition, and it's on the rise. According to the Outdoor Foundation, more Americans are taking to the roads (and tents) than ever before, not just to save money on family getaways but to rediscover the byways, trails, and parks that speckle the country. Besides the great outdoors, camping's greatest asset is the financial flexibility it affords travelers. Bare-bones campsites are often the least expensive accommodations you can find. Many camping facilities offer amenities galore (swimming pools, game rooms, even saunas), and while those can come with hefty price tags, travelers may still be looking at significant savings over hotels and resorts. Want a bit of luxury? Cabin, RV, and yurt rentals offer creature comforts for significantly less than most hotels. To find campsites and cabin rentals in your destination, check out Reserve America, KOA, or the National Park Service.

Hostelling isn't just for bearded backpackers and twentysomething spring breakers. In fact, Hostels.com notes that its properties have hosted travelers as young as six months and as old as 80 years. Perfect for longer trips to multiple destinations, these super-friendly, no-frills accommodations can save you big money. While the six-, eight-, or 10-person dormitory-style rooms with bunk beds and shared bathrooms that are commonly associated with hostels are the cheapest offerings, many hostels also offer private accommodations for just a bit more money. Amenities and facilities can be sparse, but they can also be quirky: chalkboard walls, funky basement bars, even hot tubs. Hostelling International and Hostels.com have thousands of adult-friendly properties around the world from which to choose.

If you're looking to save a few bucks and don't mind minimalist digs, academic accommodations (read: dorms) might be right up your alley. Rates can be dirt cheap—generally about $35 to $70 per night—and often include access to a mini kitchen, shared bathrooms, and some college facilities (though you'll need to tote along eating utensils, linens, towels, and toiletries). Generally, these accommodations are only available in summer, when school's out. And finding dorm accommodations isn't easy; UniversityRooms.com is one of the few sites that has a searchable database of academic-housing options. Otherwise, you'll have to do some intensive Googling. Know that some colleges require you to submit an application for short-term housing. But the cheapo rates can be well worth it, and, who knows, reminiscing about your days of frat parties and dining-hall food may be priceless.

You don't have to take religious orders to check into a convent or monastery. With options that span the globe, from monks' quarters in Kathmandu to picturesque abbeys in the Scottish hills, religious retreats are distinctly cultural, reflective experiences. Best of all, they tend to be cheap, with low nightly rates (as little as $1 and change) or, in some cases, merely suggested donations. Meals may even be included, and the settings tend to be cozy, picturesque, and deeply relaxing. The only downside? Curfews can be early and silence is often mandatory, so no late-night Beyonce dance parties for you. Check out Monastery Stays, which manages a list of monasteries in Italy; The Order of the SS. Savior of Saint Bridget, whose cozy accommodations are located all over the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and Asia; or this inspiring list of eco-friendly convents in the U.S. from Mother Nature Network.

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