Honestly, Airbnb has always been a popular choice for travelers, but when it comes to finding affordable short-term stays, Airbnb isn’t the only option; there are many alternatives that you could try.
Finding cheap places to stay won’t just save you money but will also provide local experiences.
For example, if you’re living in a guesthouse, you might get a chance to meet locals, experience the local culture, and try homemade food, which is rarely possible on Airbnb.
Why Consider Airbnb Alternatives?
In my experience, you can consider cheap Airbnb Alternatives not just to save money but to feel more like a local, learn things from natives, and try homemade and street foods.
Sometimes, you can also cancel your trip and get the money back. Moreover, when you’re considering cheap Airbnb alternatives, you also contribute to the local economy.
Overall, it’s an excellent feeling; you’re saving money and experiencing local culture, and locals are also getting economic support.
Affordable Airbnb Alternatives
Here are some of the best and most affordable Airbnb alternatives that you may want to try to feel more like a local and overall get a whole new experience.
1. Couchsurfing
Couchsurfing is my first choice not just because it’s affordable but also because it’ll connect with more local people and let you experience local things and culture.
When you’re using a Couchsurfing service, many times you won’t just get a bed or a room to stay, but you can also get home and food. Some may charge extra; some may not provide; it depends from person to person.
The signup process on Couchsurfing is very easy. You can use your email ID or Facebook to log in faster.
However, make sure to choose the right host. You can read reviews and see profiles for safety purposes.
Sometimes, you will meet locals like strangers but leave them as friends.
2. Hostels
Hostels are another popular choice for most travelers. They’re more than just a place for sleeping. You can meet many people in local hostels and make friends, and you can meet many other tourists as well.
Depending on your budget, you can choose a hostel; if you need an affordable one, then you can look for a cozy one. But before booking a hotel room, you read reviews on the site or apps.
Overnight, you can have unexpected adventures in the hostel, meet new people, and share interesting stories.
3. HomeExchange
HomeExchange is another Airbnb alternative that can provide you with a whole new, exciting experience. But it’s all about trust; sometimes, you’ll find homes where you may feel nervous.
That’s what makes the difference between HomeExchange and regular hotels. Besides this, you won’t feel like a hotel since you’re not paying for accommodation.
If you’re a budget traveler looking for an affordable place to stay other than Airbnb, then you can consider using HomeExchange.
4. Booking.Com Apartments
If you’re looking for an apartment as good as Airbnb, then consider checking out Booking.Com; it’s worth it.
Booking.Com has many features that you can use to filter out places to stay and choose the right one for yourself.
Another thing you may like about Booking.com is the cancellation policy.
However, Booking.com reviews on Trustpilot weren’t good. Nearly 70% of 70,000 people gave only 1-star rating. This is too poor. It clearly shows that people aren’t satisfied with the service booking.com provides.
Overall ratings of Booking.com is 2 stars, out of 5. It’s really poor.
5. House Sitting
Housesitting is a unique way of traveling, and it can help you save a lot of money on traveling.
As a housesitter, you can stay for free, but you’ll have to take care of your home, and sometimes it also includes your pet.
If you like the idea of free homestay, then you may want to try websites like TrustedHouseSitters, which can help you connect with people.
Although in the beginning, you may feel a little bit nervous, as it’s not a usual travel place, unlike hotels.
In the end, you’re going into someone’s personal space. So you’ve to be respectful and attentive. In return, you’re living for free in different houses, without paying for any accommodation.
On TrustPilot, TrustedHouseSitters has better reviews than Booking.com.
6. Camping and Glamping Sites
I myself love and have experienced listening to birds’ sounds, feeling cold winds touching my body, and then waking up. So, if you’re like me, you may want to try camping and glamping.
It’s an excellent Airbnb alternative, which lets you save money plus also allows you to spend time with nature. If you’re living in a busy or Urban city, trust me, camping may blow your mind.
You can look for a traditional campground if your budget is tight, and if you don’t care about budget, you can also get luxurious campsites.
Make sure to make some minimal efforts when booking a campaign site, such as reading reviews and researching a specific place.
7. Rent like a champion
For many sports lovers, college football is an exciting sport, and they love watching it. In 2006, it started as a student housing company, which was totally different from what we see today.
So if you’re into sports, you can look for Rent like a champion. And find a perfect place to stay near a sports venue.
Currently, they have more than 1000 weekend home rentals near the University of Notre Dame.
You don’t have to worry about the hustle and bustle of transportation; you can enjoy sports weekends by taking advantage of Rent like a champion.
8. Farm Stay
Farm Stay is another great Airbnb alternative if you like to enjoy the countryside and have real interactions. In this, you’ll stay in rural areas, which are usually much cheaper than urban places.
You’ll experience the simple life of farmers and can also help local farmers. Besides this, you’ll get a cute bed and breakfast in the hills or working farms.
For farm stay, you can use websites like FarmStayUS, TripAdvisor, etc. Moreover, you can do simple activities like Milk a cow, Ride a horse, harvest food, collect eggs, etc.
Trust me, you’ll wake up to fresh air and birdsong.
9. Capsule Hotels
At first, you may find it a little bit unusual to stay in a capsule hotel, which is a little bit cheaper option if you compare it to Airbnb. But the thing is you’re getting a new experience.
Capsule Hotels are tiny but efficient and offer a quiet place and a relaxing environment, and you’d love it after a busy day.
Being a US citizen, if you travel to Japan, South Korea, or China, you can find many nice and clean, plus affordable capsule hotels.
However, when you’re booking a capsule hotel, make sure to pay attention to things like location and what the hotel offers. Especially if you’re a solo traveler, you can prefer staying in a capsule hotel.
10. Extended Stay Hotels
If you have planned for a longer trip, then you can extend the hotel to be like a home but away from home.
Although they are hotels, they feel like apartments, and you will really appreciate having a kitchenette during long travels.
Some extended hotels also offer perks like loyalty discounts and last-minute deals, which is really good if you want to stay for a long time.
You can use websites like Travelocity, which is owned by the American Expedia Group.
Besides this, Extended Stay America is also a good choice; it offers cheap weekly hotels and flexible booking options, and it even includes pet-friendly hotels with fully equipped kitchens and free Wi-Fi; it’s quite like a home.
11. Guesthouse and Bed and Breakfast
Another way you can feel a special connection with locals and learn about their culture is by staying in a guesthouse or having a bed and breakfast.
In this, you’ll get home-cooked foods and a personal host, and it would be a kinda experience as you have got a new family.
Therefore, a guesthouse or bed and breakfast can give you an awesome experience and make your trip more enjoyable. You can share stories with each other and eat breakfast together. You won’t get to try these things from a guidebook.
You can use websites like Expedia, RubyHome, and Zillow to find a guesthouse, as well as websites like Kayak and Bed & Breakfast.Guide to finding a bed and breakfast.
To find the best guesthouse or bed and breakfast, make sure to use review websites and find the best suitable option for yourself.
12. Short-term rental on Craigslist
I know using Craigslist for short-term rental homes might seem a little different. But you can actually find many great options if you use it carefully.
You can talk directly to the host and get a good deal. However, as it is not a dedicated platform for booking rooms, make sure to spot a trustworthy offer and make a safe transaction.
These rental homes on Craigslist might be a good choice if you’re traveling with family or friends.
13. Camp in My Garden
If you want a totally unique and new experience, you can look for Camp in My Garden, now known as Campspace, which is a really fun option.
You can go camping in private gardens in this place. And it would be cherry on top if you get a nice host, which you’ll get in most cases.
Camp in my garden allows you to camp in spots that aren’t usually a campground. For example, you’ll get a backyard, which is pretty cool.
In this way, you can experience a mix of busy places and peaceful nature while connecting with many strangers and meeting new people.
14. VRBO (Vacation Rentals By Owner)
VRBO was started in 1995, and since then, they’ve grown into a trusted global vacation brand.
Therefore, it’s another top place for travel and a great alternative to Airbnb. They’ve over 3 million properties registered with 220 unique activities.
And if you’re traveling with family, I would suggest VRBO is the best place. Because it’s their motto to build family connections.
Tips for finding alternative
When you are looking for a cheap place to stay, especially Airbnb alternatives, you can be a little bit flexible. It can really help you save money.
For example, you can change your travel dates to save a lot of money. Besides this, you can travel during the off-season.
Staying in a neighborhood outside the city center is also beneficial because you’ll get a cheaper price. And often you won’t have to pay a lot. Besides this, you can also choose smaller, cozy properties.
Here are a few ways you can reduce your travel costs, especially when you’re looking for cheap Airbnb alternatives.
- Flexible Date: You can adjust your traveling date if you’re getting a better deal or an offer on a specific date.
- Stay Outside The City: Hotels outside the city are always affordable as compared to busy cities and tourist hotspots.
- Choose a smaller Space: If you’re a solo traveler, you can choose to stay in a smaller room.
- Cancellation policy: Before booking a hotel room or any other place where you want to stay, make sure they have a cancellation policy. If you get a better deal at the last moment, you can cancel that and rent another one.
- Join a loyalty program: If traveling is your passion and you love it, then you can join a loyalty program to get more discounts. Even though there are ways you can maximize your credit card rewards, especially if you own a travel-related credit card.
- Find Promo Codes: Another way you can save money on traveling is by finding promo codes. They are easy to use, just like a discount code.
- Talk to hosts: I have discussed too many Airbnb alternatives where you can directly talk to the property owner or host. Make sure to negotiate the price.
- Travel Off-peak: You shouldn’t travel during peak season because, at that time, most hotels are already booked as everybody is traveling because it’s the season. Instead, you can travel during off-peak seasons to save more by getting better discounts on hotels and short-term rental properties.
- Consider Shared Space: If you’re a solo traveler and comfortable with a random person, then you can consider a shared space, which is really cheap, probably half the price.
Conclusion
Hope you found this cheap Airbnb alternative guide helpful. And now you have the idea of budget vacation rentals. In my opinion, if you’re traveling within the United States, you can consider house-sitting gigs.
On the other hand, if you’re planning to travel outside the United States and don’t have the right budget, then you can consider renting glamping sites, capsule hotels, etc.
However, make sure to read reviews on websites where you’re booking the space.
What are the best cheap alternatives to Airbnb?
There are many cheaper alternatives to Airbnb, such as hostels, Couchsurfing, Camping, and HomeExchange. You can also use platforms like VRBO.
Hostels are also cheaper alternatives to Airbnb as they generally offer budget-friendly accommodations with shared spaces. If you want to meet other travelers, then Hostels are great places.
Besides this, if you want to interact with local people and want to experience a unique cultural experience, you can consider Couchsurfing.
Can I find pet-friendly Airbnb alternatives?
Yes, you can find pet-friendly alternatives to Airbnb, such as Vrbo; it offers a wide range of vacation rentals, which includes pet-friendly properties, too.
You can use a Vrbo filter to find a pet-friendly place. Besides this, you can also use websites like Booking.com where you can find many pet-friendly apartments and guesthouses.
Another option is to use a dedicated platform when you’re traveling with a pet, such as BringFido. They’ve listed over 500,000 pet-friendly places to stay where you can take your cat and dogs. It’s easy to find pet-friendly apartments or hotels in BringFido in all 50 states and more than 100 countries.
How can I ensure a good experience when using Airbnb alternatives?
If you want to ensure a good experience, make sure to research each option. For example, you can read reviews and get an idea of how other travelers found them.
Besides this, you can communicate clearly with your host. Additionally, you want to make sure the location matches your needs and doesn’t compromise your safety and convenience.
