Accommodation Booking Resources
Websites that help you find any travel
accommodation, anywhere, at any budget.
Finding decent accommodation is an important part of every international trip planning.
Obviously, backpackers, adventurers, vacationers, medical tourists, and business travelers have very different goals and priorities. However, they have one thing in common: they all need a place to stay during their trip abroad.
The global travel industry offers a wide range of options for budget, mid-range, and luxury travelers.
As a traveler, you’ll need to find the right kind of accommodation that will suit your distinctive needs, preferences, taste, style, and budgets.
Here’s an overview of the main types of accommodations that can be considered before traveling and the websites you can use to book them.
Hotel Comparison Sites
Comparison sites aggregate data from different booking platforms in real time and offer a quick way to search and compare hotel options.
Hotel Booking Sites
Giant travel websites that help you research what hotels are available in your destination, what amenities they offer, how much they cost as well as more in-depth information about each property.
These platforms offer the most popular way to book a hotel room online. Since they are the largest distribution channel in the global hotel industry, they often offer exclusive discounts, special sales, and last-minute deals.
Hostel Booking Sites
Hostels have always been the preferred choice for cheap accommodation of many young travelers, students, and adventurous backpackers – though today, modern-day hostels appeal to a much more diverse audience.
Quality hostels can offer amazing benefits for a fraction of the price of a hotel stay.
You can choose between sharing a dormitory room with other guests or getting a private room and still enjoying the unique hostel experience, lifestyle and atmosphere.
Airbnb and Similar Platforms
Hotels aren’t always the best fit for traveling families, groups, or even couples.
Some people look for a more authentic local experience, while for others it’s a matter of more living space, greater convenience, and better privacy coupled with superior value for money.
Short-term vacation rental booking sites are global online marketplaces that connect hosts who want to rent out their houses, apartments, or other private properties with guests looking for accommodations in specific locales.
Home Exchange
Members of international home exchange programs, networks, or websites can list their properties and swap homes with each other anywhere in the world for a vacation.
This alternative hospitality model offers a great opportunity for homeowners to travel to another country and live there like a local for a short period, enjoy a unique experience and save money on lodging costs.
Housesitting
International house-sitting community websites match potential house-sitters to home and pet owners.
The house-sitter gets to live in the home for free in exchange for looking after the pets and the home when the owners are away.
Homestays
Global homestay marketplaces connect homeowners who want to rent out unused spare rooms at their homes with professionals, international students, or tourists who want to rent these rooms at wallet-friendly prices on a nightly, weekly, or monthly basis.
Couchsurfing
Couchsurfing social networking services help budget travelers stay temporarily at local people’s homes for free, typically making use of improvised sleeping arrangements (like using the living room sofa).
If you have a free spirit, not much money to spend, and want to see the world for free while connecting with friendly, open-minded locals at your destination, consider exploring this option (which is definitely not for everyone).