The biggest part of any frugal traveler’s budget is often lodging. Hotel, motel or hostel fees often account for up to 50% of a traveler’s daily budget. In this article, we will share with you some low budget travel tips for saving money on lodging.

Hostels

Hostels are the mainstay of any budget traveler’s list

of techniques for saving money on accommodations, and rightfully so. Hostels offer much in the way of social interaction with other travelers. Hostels often serve as a central clearing house for information on local attractions and tours, often offering discounts to their guests. Another money-saving advantage of staying in hostels is a shared kitchen. Hostel guests can use the kitchen to make low-cost meals - a wonderful alternative to more expensive restaurant meals, with the added benefit of socializing with other guests at mealtime. So, keep hostels in mind when thinking about low-cost alternatives to traditional lodging.

A few things to think about when selecting a hostel to stay at are cleanliness and security. Ask whether they provide such things as bed linens and towels. Often, these items come at an extra fee, so before you start traveling, think about whether you want to bring your own sleeping bag and towel, or if you’d prefer spending a couple of extra dollars to save carrying non-essential items in your luggage to avoid increasing baggage surcharges. Also, ask if they have lockers for your personal items. A security-conscious hostel will have a place for you to lock up your items. It might be handy to bring a padlock with you on your travels for this reason.

Networking

Do you make lots of friends while traveling? Without being invasive or too forward, you might let people you meet know that you need a place to stay. If you use good judgment and be safe, you can benefit in all kinds of ways by accepting the kindness of others and stay with them. If you do stay with someone you just met you should let somebody else know where you will be - just in case.

Another networking technique is to let your family and friends know where you will be traveling - see if they know anybody who lives there who you can stay with.

Camping

Camping is a great low-budget alternative to traditional lodging. It is a great option in many parts of North America and Western Europe, but should be avoided in Central and South America. Follow local advice in other places.

Of course, if you are going to camp you will need to buy camping gear, and the cost can be quite high if you go overboard. Camping gear can be a bit cumbersome in your luggage too, so some prior planning will be to your benefit if you plan on camping while traveling.