When choosing to travel for a short or long period of time, accommodation is easily your biggest expense. Luckily after trying many different methods myself, I’ve come up with a list of my top choices and websites to book your trip, no matter the budget!
My first choice is my favorite, and one not many people from back home are familiar with.
WWOOFING
This term stands for World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms, but the term is now often used for any work and accommodation exchange program. This is such an amazing opportunity if you want to emerge yourself in the culture around you and really get to know the locals! In most cases, you will work 2-5 hours a day in exchange for free accommodation and sometimes food as well. The work has never been very strenuous and has allowed me to stay in so many beautiful places in my travels. Most of which I would have never been able to afford or would have dreamt about without this program! I’ve also met the most kind and genuine souls who offer their homes or private accommodations for this work. My favorite was working at the Paradise Cove Resort in the Whitsunday Islands, Australia. I stayed in a gorgeous luxury resort where I walked barefoot everyday and met so many amazing people from all over the world! Also note, these options are available everywhere in the world, making your dream destination so much more fun and affordable!
My favorite two sites to look for hosts:
This site is the first and only site I used for quite some time. It’s only $20 for a 2 year membership and allows you to find and contact hosts that are looking for helpers. It doesn’t have quite as many hosts as the latter website, but great for those just getting started on this program!
$50 for a one year membership, but right now their offering an extra 6 months for free when you sign up. This site has a greater volume of hosts and other travelers to connect with. Work can range from teaching in SE Asia or helping on a farm in New Zealand! Laurent and I just connected with a couple that we’ll be helping for a month on this site, and they have an oceanfront property and sailboat! The options are endless!
Hostelworld
If you’re on a low budget for your trip and enjoy meeting other travelers, this is a great option for you! Hostels are extremely popular for young travelers and I’ve met some of my closest travel friends staying at them! It’s a dormitory style accommodation with rooms ranging from 4-12 people per room, or you can opt for a private room as well. You’ll have shared common areas like the kitchen, lounge/game rooms, and showers. Most hostels have travelers that work for accommodation, having the hostel thoroughly cleaned multiple times a day. You’ll also be offered discount tours, bars, live music, and a plethora of unique and likeminded people while you’re there.
*You can visit hostelworld on their website or download the app directly to your mobile device!
I’m sure most of you are familiar with Airbnb, and it’s for a great reason! There are options for any budget ranging from private rooms, entire houses/apartments, glamping sites, and some of the most unique spots you can find! This is also a great option for long term stays for couples or groups. During our COVID lockdown, we found a gorgeous property that was almost $9000/month, but because there were 13 of us we only had to pay $500USD/month. An option we would have never had under different circumstances!
You can get $60 off your first trip with Airbnb with this link! https://www.airbnb.com/c/rebeccah5277
Last but not least, my favorite site for booking hotels is Agoda.com. They’ve consistently showed me the cheapest rates for booking rooms and have a price match guarantee if you find a cheaper rate! This seems to be the hidden gem of travel booking sites, but it totally deserves recognition!
There are so many options out there, especially with today’s technology, but that means you’ll be able to find the best rate at your budget to enjoy your short or long-term travel journey!!
Against The Grain Travel 
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