1. Airbnb – Instead of crashing at a hostel or hotel while traveling, check out Airbnb for inexpensive accommodations in over 190 countries. The idea is that you’re staying in a local’s vacant apartment or extra room, so you have access to a kitchen and other comforts of staying in an actual home.
2. CouchSurfing – For a free stay in major cities around the world, you can join CouchSurfing where people offer up their couch to thrifty travelers, usually in exchange for something small like a cooked meal or small gift. To find accommodations, users can search for a homestay based on parameters like age, location and gender of hosts.
3. HostelWorld – HostelWorld offers an extensive directory of hostels around the world, with user-generated ratings and comments. The site also offers useful information like what type of rooms the hostel offers, how much they cost and room availability. You can even book your stay on HostelWorld.
4. Kayak – This user-friendly site is among the best for finding inexpensive flights, car rentals and accommodations around the world. Skyscanner and Hipmunk are similar services, great for finding cheap airfare.
5. Trip Advisor – This extremely popular travel site is famous for its user-generated ratings system for restaurants, hotels and vacation rentals all over the world and is an excellent reference if you’re trying to make plans somewhere new. The site claims to have over 170 million reviews.
6. Google Maps – Google Maps is an incredible resource if you’re in a new city and looking for directions to a museum, restaurant etc. If you don’t have internet access on your phone, enter in the destination address before you leave to go out and take a few pictures of the route on Google Maps with your phone’s camera. It’s an easy way to have a map with you at all times.
7. Groupon – While living or traveling in a big city, Groupon can help you find discounts for all sorts of fun things to do during your stay. Coupons for restaurants, hotels, spas and travel are all available. There are new deals posted daily on the site.
Sources: www.independent.co.uk, Wikipedia
Photo 1. based on Lantau Peak, by 流璃, CC-by-2.0
Photo 2. based on Isaacs Hostel, Dublin, Ireland, by Jon Gosier, CC-by-2.0
Photo 3. based on Airplane in the sky, by Kitty Terwolbeck, CC-by-2.0