Discover 5 Types of Accommodation to use when Traveling

The first time I really had to choose where to stay was at the end of my second exchange. Me and three other friends were going to New York, and the only hotel they recommended to us was already full on those dates.

Nobody decided anything, everyone said that any place would do and I decided to open Booking and book something that seemed ok. We ended up getting an incredible promotion and stayed at Crowne Plaza Times Square, one of the best located hotels I've ever been to.

But because it was a more expensive place, the room was tiny and all it had was a mini fridge! Now imagine, four girls with almost no money needing to eat out for every meal.. I don't even need to say that we survived on dollar menus from McDonalds and Subway, right?

I'm telling you everything with the intention of showing that where you are staying is a super important part of the trip. But, unlike what I thought at the time, you don't have to limit yourself to hotels, even with friends.

Nowadays, if I'm going to travel in a group, hostel is already my first option, both for the environment and the price. With the family, the search begins directly at the airbnb, as you can't beat staying in an apartment with a kitchen, which helps a lot with the economy.

Keep reading to find out everything about 5 types of accommodation and which ones suit your next trips.

5 Types of Travel Accommodation

Hotel

Without a doubt the most popular option, as it is already known around the world and is the most recommended by travel agencies. As I already said, It was my choice countless times and for the most part I left very satisfied.

Unfortunately, the cheapest rooms usually only have the basics and often don't offer enough to prepare meals in the room. As you end up eating out, the cost ends up getting even higher.

Some offer amenities such as a gym, pool, spa and restaurants on site, which is very practical on those days when you don't want to go out and prefer to rest. If you are the type of person who only uses the hotel to sleep, I don't think it's worth the daily rate.

Advantages: Private room for you and your group; Daily cleaning; Amenities;

Disadvantages: High daily price; Small rooms that do not usually have a kitchen;

Websites: I usually use the Booking or Hotels.com for reservations. The latter has a points system, which you can exchange for free nights.

One hotel that I thought was worth the price was the Barcelo Bavaro Palace Deluxe in Punta Cana. Read the post with my experience.

Hostel

My first option when traveling alone! For those who don't know, it's a hotel whose rooms have several bunk beds or tri-beds, and you only reserve one bed. Yes, you will sleep with several strangers in the room, and that is part of the experience. Most of the time the bathroom is also shared.

The daily price is usually much lower than a traditional hotel., and they often even offer breakfast. For those who want to save even more, they usually provide a kitchen for those who want to prepare their own meals.

I consider this to be one of the best types of accommodation for anyone looking for company for their tours. As the atmosphere is friendly, people end up doing several programs together and it's difficult to be alone if you don't want to.

Keep in mind that it is possible that people from the party will arrive at 4 am making a lot of noise. Unfortunately it's part of it, but most of the time people are considerate and try not to wake others up.

Advantages: Lower price; Kitchen for those who don't want to eat out; Company for walks and making new friends;

Disadvantages: Sharing a room with strangers; Sharing the bathroom with strangers;

Websites: I recommend the Booking and the Hostelworld.

In September 2016 I stayed at Social Hostel Café & Bar in Curitiba. If you are looking for a great value for money option in the city, take a look at the review post.

airbnb

Airbnb emerged recently, but it is already a favorite for many travelers out there. In addition to the option of renting a room in the house of local residents, The big attraction is being able to book the entire apartment. The daily rate is usually better than traditional hotels, especially close to tourist attractions.

I really like this style, because you get the privacy of staying in a place just for your group, you have the ease of cooking at home to save money and still lives like the locals, going shopping at the neighborhood markets.

The site works through reviews, so always read what previous guests have said about the place. Personally, I don't like to book those who haven't had reviews yet, but that's just a matter of trust. You arrange directly with the owner how the keys will be collected and the check-in and check-out times.

Advantages: Complete and private apartment for your group; Cheaper daily rate; Possibility of cooking;

Disadvantages: The only bad thing I can think of is that depending on where you are, it can be difficult to go to the market to buy food;

Website: www.airbnb.com.br

For those who want to read a little more, Débora, from the Foco no Mundo blog, has a Very detailed post telling about all her experiences with this type of accommodation!

Registering through my link, you get R$85 off your first booking on Airbnb!

Couchsurfing

If you've heard of Couchsurfing, you may have read that it's one of the types of free hosting. But make no mistake, that is not the goal, and the site tries to provide a exchange of culture between participants, while they offer a little corner for some travelers to spend the night.

In literal translation it would be “couch surfing”, but people even offer mattresses and entire rooms on the site. Ideally, you should interact with your host and offer kindness. Remember that the person will only be opening their home to you willingly, so be polite and respect the rules.

The site also works with a rating system, where travelers are rated both as guests and hosts. If you have a little space to spare at home and like the idea, it's easy to register to receive visitors. If you are going to use it, give preference to people with recommendations and read what other guests have written.

Advantages: Exchange of culture with locals; Free hosting;

Disadvantages: Staying in an unfamiliar house belonging to someone you don't know, either may or may not be to your liking. Keep an open mind and read the reviews!

Website: couchsurfing.com (In English)

Marla, from the blog Marla e o Mundo, has a Amazing post answering several questions about Couchsurfing.

House sitting

I think it's the least talked about type of accommodation, as it's not very well known in Brazil. I haven't had the chance to test it yet, but it's in my plans for 2017.

The original idea was find people who could take care of houses or apartments with pets while the owners were traveling. From then on, the concept has evolved, and many sites no longer even involve pets, and just want people to leave the houses occupied.

It's a big responsibility, especially when it involves pets, and you need to plan your itinerary according to the animals' travel or food needs. It will be difficult to take trips of two or more days to nearby places.

It is still a great option for free accommodation, but tMake sure you can commit and shoulder the responsibilities before applying. Everything is arranged directly with the owners via the internet.

Advantages: Live like locals; Private apartment/house; Free Accommodation;

Disadvantages: Responsibility for the place and animals; Does not allow quick travel to nearby places; You are not sure what the animals and the house will be like;

Websites: Trusted House Sitters, nomador e Mind my House.

And do you have any other recommendations? Have you had good experiences using some of these types of hosting? Tell me in the comments! I'm always looking for directions and tips 🙂

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