This post is sponsored by Tours4Fun.com.

One of the most popular articles I wrote was the one that detailed the price difference between hostels and hotels. Hostels were the primary way I was able to make friends and travel around the world without spending every cent I had.
How Much Can You Save Staying In Hostels? The REAL Numbers

I wanted to update that post now that we have Airbnb, Roomorama and other websites that connect owners with renters who can take a room, whole apartment or house as opposed to staying in a hotel or hostel.

There are so many housing options when you pull of a list for a particular city or locale. To narrow the choices I used the criteria below:

The cities selected were the ones I traveled to on my round the world trip.

Time period selected was January 17-24, 2012. I tried to pick a time that did not have any major events as far as I could tell.

Accommodations for 1 person.

Some Observations:
Don’t Automatically Pick the Hotel
The cheapest Airbnb prices on average are slightly less than the cheapest hotel pricing. Really consider Airbnb or another service that allows you to rent an studio, apartment or house. My own experience with Airbnb was great. We saved money and it felt like “home” to a certain extent. Being in a residential neighborhood certainly made the travel experience very different from being on the hostel/hotel strip. In some way I would say staying in a residence enhanced the trip.

Know Your Location
With Airbnb check to make sure that the housing is near the city or locale you want to be. If you want to in the center of Paris, someone may advertise housing that is 30 minutes away. With that said, if you are budget conscious, look for the housing options that are close but not in the middle of the action. For instance, if you’re coming to New York City, look for housing in Hoboken or Weehawken across the Hudson or in Brooklyn, Queens or the Bronx. You may have to commute, but you could save a significant amount.

Visit Before You Visit
Google Maps can be your best friend. If you use the Street View (where available) you can see exactly where your accommodations will be. Does the neighborhood look sketchy? Paved street or dirt road? Will you have a problem climbing the stairs? You can visit virtually before you get there. It can also help you find the place if you remember some landmarks by viewing it remotely, especially if the signs are in a foreign language or you arrive at night.

Know What Amenities You Want
Whatever type of accommodation you are looking for the Internet allows you to make sure you get what you want. The sites used above allow you to enter things like kitchen, wi-fi, laundry, etc. so that you can better pick the housing suited for you.

Use Reviews But Look Deeper
The more reviews the better, but also look for people who may be whiny or nitpicky. They may have a legitimate gripe or they could be the one guest that complains about everything. Take these with a grain of salt. I hate to not use the places that don’t have any reviews but you don’t want to take a chance with shoddy accommodations. Let someone else be the guinea pig.

What have been your experiences with hostels or a service like Airbnb? Have you sworn off hotels forever or did something convince you hotels are the only way to go? Let us know in the comments below.

Tours4Fun is your one stop shop for guided tours in the USA and round the world. Please support NoDebtWorldTravel.com by visiting our sponsor.

Hostel vs Hotel vs Airbnb Price Comparison – How to Choose Any Hotel, Hostel, Apartment or House to Rent is a post from: NoDebtWorldTravel

I was recently approached by the Learning Annex to record two sessions on travel. I jumped at the chance to record some great information on video.

The sessions are currently $2.99 and about 15 minutes each. Less than the cost of a Starbucks drink could potentially save you hundreds of dollars more.

Book the Cheapest Airline Ticket

Here I talk about the easy steps you can take to buy the cheapest airline ticket possible. Changing airports, the best time to book your flight for the best price and to get to your destination on time, etc.

Fun and Cheap Alternatives to Hotels

We discuss house and apartment rentals, Airbnb, hostels, and websites like couchsurfing that allow you to sleep on someone’s couch or spare bedroom for free.

So for a few minutes, sit back and relax and watch these fine videos to learn how to save some money when you’re getting ready to take off on your next trip.

Check Out My Learning Annex Classes on Saving Money When Traveling is a post from: NoDebtWorldTravel

Travel news and deals of interest to YOU from around the Web compiled and edited by NoDebtWorldTravel.com and sponsored by Tours4Fun.com.

If you know any great travel stories or tips we all should read, please send it to me and I will put an acknowledgment of your contribution in the posting.

How The Iran Hikers Could Have Avoided Their Hellish Holiday
Ummmm hire a guide? GPS? Common sense? Just glad it is over for them.

Travel Video of the Week
Hitchhiker Travels 5,000 Miles, Meets 930 People, Across US

Time lapsed video of the many many people this hitchhiker met along the way. For more information about his trip check out his interview.

Try a Private Jet, at Public Prices
Ever wanted to ride in style like a boss? You can within reason. With a combination of persistence, the Internet and some luck, you can get a private jet for prices closes to what to you pay in business class. If you’re really in luck you can get a ticket for coach prices.

More singles cabins slated for cruise line
Yeah for single cruises, who I’ve talked about before getting the short end of the stick. Single cruisers = money left on the table. The cruise lines are looking to collect all that money.

How New Generation of Young Global Jet-Setters Rack Up Frequent-Flier Miles
I had no concept of frequent flyer miles or even international travel when I was coming out of college. Those fortunate enough to get involved early get great benefits and a world view that serves them well in their business and personal lives.

How to Avoid Food Sickness While Traveling
This talks about food poisioning when you travel but that doesn’t mean it does not happen at home. I got e-coli poisisong at a hotel banquet in New Jersey. Laid me out for two days. Abroad I got sick my last time in Egypt. Running a fever and becoming the “King of the Bathroom Throne” is no fun at all. And even with all the precautions, you can never really completely avoid it. Being a vegetarian does not exclude you from trouble. In fact fruits and vegetables can be an easier way to transmit food borne disease.

Can complaining too much get you booted from a frequent flier program?
In a world – YES. Airlines can decide you are not worth the trouble if you complain all the time and they have to pay some type of compensation to you. They’d rather drop your business than dealing with you anymore.

How to travel the world without paying a penny
I bought the book reference in the article and will post a review about it. In the meantime, the idea seems completely valid.

8 Legit Ways to Travel for Free on Your RTW
Again, perfectly valid ways to travel for free or for very little money. Many times it requires thinking outside of the box, because you’ve probably never heard of other people using these ideas.

No Vacancy? No Problem! Find a Great Hotel Room When Everything Is Booked
Isn’t that the worst feeling? You can’t get the hotel room you want, there are no vacancies so you are forced to travel even more to get a hotel room. Or pay through the nose for a room. Or get a room in a substandard hotel. There are ways around it. The first thing is to call the hotel DIRECTLY as opposed to calling the national/international number for booking.

Beginner’s Guide to Gaining Points in Frequent Flyer Programs
If you keep hearing about frequent flyer miles but don’t know where to get started, this is a great primer on what to do to begin.

Which airlines were voted the World’s Best by passengers
The only US based carrier in the top 10 is Virgin America and only one more US carrier in the top 20. What do US based carriers need to do to break into this list?

The problem with staying in hostels
It doesn’t end the way you think it does….

Tours4Fun is your one stop shop for guided tours in the USA and round the world. Please support NoDebtWorldTravel.com by visiting our sponsor.

Best Travel News and Deals – September 27, 2011 – Fly a Private Jet at Coach Prices, More Single Cabins on Cruise Ships, How to Travel Long Term on the Cheap, Get a Hotel When Everything is Booked is a post from: NoDebtWorldTravel

Travel news and deals of interest to YOU from around the Web compiled and edited by NoDebtWorldTravel.com and sponsored by Tours4Fun.com.

Hotels.com did its survey of hotel room rates from around the world:

The Hotel Price Index

You can go through the website or download the study as a PDF file.

Of course I am a big advocate of hostels as opposed to hotels, but for some of you, mention the word hostel and you break out in the shakes. If you’re going to spend money on a full hotel this might get you to perhaps reconsider the destination. I’m not going to Hamilton, Bermuda anytime soon unless I can get cheap accomodations. $447 average per night for a hotel room. That’s two car payments!

What are some alternatives to hotels?

Hostels
Yes, hostels. Some of you will never consider it, but they are great economical offerings for travelers of every age and size and budget. Hostels can accommodate large groups of 20 or more, singles, couples and families. When I was in Hawaii on the Big Island, the hostel I stayed at had a husband, wife, baby toddler and grandma in their own suite. My hostel in Barcelona took in at least 20 teenagers and their chaperones in large dorm rooms.

One of the best things about hostels is the sense of community. There is usually a common area for eating and lists of things to see and do around town. Since hostels are budget oriented, many of those things to do and places to eat are inexpensive to free. If you came alone, you can easily make friends. Try doing that at a hotel. The only interaction you may have with someone are the few seconds you are trapped in the elevator together.

How Much Can You Save Staying In Hostels? The REAL Numbers

More Inside Views of Hostels

Renting Apartments and Houses
The recent Airbnb fiasco aside, I had a very good experience renting an apartment in Vancouver and the vast majority of Airbnb users have had positive experiences. Apartment dwellers and home owners rent out their spare bedrooms, rooms, couches and apartments for travelers. Sites like Airbnb, FRBO (For Rent by Owner), Homeaway and iStopOver act like a middleman, linking places for rent with travelers who want to rent. These websites take a cut of the rental fee, but even with that the costs are much lower than a hotel room. Added with the ability to get a kitchen, bath, etc. your experience can be much better than a hotel.

Another advantage: You get to “live” in a residential area, which is entirely different that staying in a part of town that is tourist oriented or part of a whole section of hotels. You can shop at the market or take the kids to the playground the families in the neighborhood go to. Some owners actually include use of the car for renters, so you can get transportation as part of the deal.

Airbnb Review: It’s Not a Scam and It Can Save You A Ton of Money

While I know some of you need to live in the lap of luxury I look at it like this: If things go well on your trip, you should be only in your room to sleep, shower and get dressed. Why spend all that money on a room you will never see? No one goes away on vacation and says, “Wow I wish I spent more time in my hotel room.” Never. And if you did hear that, I want to see that hotel room myself.

Tours4Fun is your one stop shop for guided tours in the USA and round the world. Please support NoDebtWorldTravel.com by visiting our sponsor.

Alternatives to Hotels? Try These Different aka Cheaper Options is a post from: NoDebtWorldTravel

This post is sponsored by Tours4Fun.com.

I was headed out to the yearly travel blogger conference in Vancouver. I booked late and was deciding between hostels when Chelle from Browngirlsfly put out a message on Twitter:

I had never tried Airbnb but I was intrigued. As an avowed hostel advocate, I loved the low cost and easy way to meet peiople. But you can’t talk intelligently about accomodations without trying all the options, so I hooked up with Chelle for Airbnb.

For those of you who don’t know, Airbnb allows homeowners and apartment dwellers the opportunity to rent their whole place, a bed or couch in their home. Some owners will be with you in the same living space. If that makes you uncomfortable you could compare it to staying in a hostel.

Others will provide you separate apartments with your own kitchen and bathroom. That’s what we had in Vancouver.

Since our conference was in downtown Vancouver we wanted the usual things:

Clean, Safe, Cheaper than a Hotel – those are a given

We actually spent most of our time when planning discussing how far the potential apartments or house would be from public transportation and the convention centre in Vancouver. That should be a big consideration. If you’re getting a hige house for $50 per person, but it’s an hour from where you want to be, you might want to rethink that.

Our Airbnb Vancouver place

The one we picked looked like it was pretty far from everything but we are booking at the last minute and needed some place besides the streets of Vancouver to sleep at night.

It turned out better than we expected.

Chelle did all the booking and I just showed up. What a great way to travel!

We ended up spending only about $55 per night per person for 4 days.

Some tips:

Ask about amenities around the house or apartment
If you have a kitchen, ask about a supermarket nearby. Need to wash? Is there a dry cleaners nearby. Essentially you want everything you would get if you were living. Because, really you are.

Get a great owner
Kristina was a great owner. She met me at the house when she said she was going be there. Point for her. And folks we did not have to pay for WiFi. We used Kristina’s Internet hotspot as part of the package. With some hotels still charging per day for Internet, that can save you alot.

Ask for WiFi or whatever else you’re going to need to enjoy your time in someone else’s home.

Kristina lived in the apartment upstairs, while we had a separate two-bed apartment with kitchen, bath and its own entrance. Great for a 4 day stay.

When you’re leaving, leave it as clean possible. Why? Because you are literally in someone’s house. Also hosts and hostees can leave reviews for each other. So if you’re a slob who leaves dishes in the sink, you’re well within you right to do so. But if other owners catch wind of it, it may be harder to book you next Airbnb place. And owners, if you don’t give renters clean, well appointed places, you won’t have anyone willing to give you money. Courtesy goes a long way in this relationship and helps both parties.

My verdict on Airbnb – Great experience for me, but I can see it being a nightmare if you get the wrong person. You can’t tell a person’s personality from a photograph but if the reviews are legit you can get a pretty good feel of who they. This is especially important if you are staying in the same apartment or house as them. You can rent a bedroom and strangers sleeping the next room over. But really how is that any different than a hostel. This is just nicer surroundings.

Here is a great post with many more tips on how to get the best Airbnb experience possible.

Tours4Fun is your one stop shop for guided tours in the USA and round the world. Please support NoDebtWorldTravel.com by visiting our sponsor.

Airbnb Review: It’s Not a Scam and It Can Save You A Ton of Money is a post from: NoDebtWorldTravel

Travel news and deals of interest to YOU from around the Web compiled and edited by NoDebtWorldTravel.com

If you know any great travel stories or tips we all should read, please send it to me and I will put an acknowledgment of your contribution in the posting.

Volunteers give free tours in cities around the world

I forgot they had this program in Tokyo when I was there. Fantastic idea wherever you go so do a quick search whenever you hit a big city. It is pretty nice being in a new place and having a local lead you around, making YOU feel like a local.

Flying Pasties hide your privates from full body scanners

For those of you so concerned about being exposed to the TSA agent behind the counter, you can now cover up. But when they can’t see anything, don’t you think that would just bring more attention to yourself and your privates?

And always remember you can ask to skip the full body scanner and get the full body patdown by a TSA employee.

Travel Video of the Week
How To Get Your Seatmate To Shut the Hell Up
I think the title says it all…

Learning a Language From an Expert on the Web

The language barrier scares a lot of people from taking the plunge and traveling to a foreign country. As the Internet has revolutionized everything else, learning a language has become as easy as getting yourself a microphone so you can speak with a native speaker of any language you want to learn, anytime, from anywhere.

Surprise! Fall bargains will abound — and here’s where to find them

It’s never too early to start thinking about your travel plans. Vegas is a great location because of the glut of hotel rooms. $25 per night on weekdays/$55 per night on weekends if you can find the right deal on The Strip. Continue to watch the euro vs. the dollar and frankly the euro vs the currency of your home country.

World’s Scariest Airports

Some of the takeoffs and landings from these airports would turn even the calmest flier among us into white-knuckled, seat gripping scaredy cats. Why you would put an airport in the middle of mountains is beyond me, other than there really was no other place to put it.

How to Volunteer Your Way Around the World

There are always ways to travel around the world. Volunteering you can help others and get your fill of new people and new experiences. Win/win situation.

Getting Married with Your Sights on Long Term Travel? Check out the Honey Fund

If you’re getting married to someone else who shares your love of travel, the Honey Fund will help you save up the funds for the trip. The typical wedding registry has gifts from a particular vendor. The Honey Fund allows you to collect cold hard cash for your honeymoon or extended travel.

Who needs another toaster anyway?

The Worst U.S. Airlines for Canceled Flights – May 2010

This makes sense. Hawaiian Airlines, which flies mostly in Hawaii (surprise!) had the least cancellations. One thing that would be helpful would be to know if the cancellations were caused by weather, mechanical issues or some other reason.

How New Yorkers Can Spot a Tourist

As a New Yorker I had to drop this in. Just one tip for visitors to the NYC – Nothing annoys us more than a group of 6 tourists who walk side by side down a city block…and then move with the speed of cold molasses. A New York City sidewalk should be thought of as like a highway. Keep to the right for slow strolling, picture taking and examining your map.

Travel Deals and News – August 3, 2010 – Free Tours Around the World, Learning Language from the Internet, Scariest Airports is a post from: NoDebtWorldTravel

The other thing I realized: No matter how much you know, someone else knows nothing. Don’t assume everyone knows what you know.

Help a New Solo Traveler on her trip to Spain is a post from: NoDebtWorldTravel

American Airlines to Charge $8 For Blankets

As the travel industry becomes become more ala carte, you’re going to see more things like this.

Which feels worse? Getting charged $8 charged to your credit card (because many flight attendants don’t take cash) or just having another fee added to your ticket?

They cost the same but the $8 in air feels more like robbery. Just add all the fees you want to the ticket the first time so I don’t have to reminded of it afterward. Why don’t the airlines understand this?

Redefining Hostels: Not Just for Young Travelers

Families, couples, everyone is welcome at hostels. Some people have asked about the age requirement and there are some hostels that won’t take anyone over 30 years old. The great thing is that there are very few of those and there are plenty of options if you’re an ‘old fogey’ at 31 years old.

Check out my previous posts on hostels – the cost of hostels and what hostels are really like.

The backpacker’s secrets for travelling Australia on a shoestring

Australia is a long way off from where ever you are in the world and getting there and being able to save is of top concern for travelers.

Travel Video of the Week
Interview with a Pickpocket at the Running of the Bulls Festival in Pamplona – from www.consumertraveler.com

What I find so interesting is the justification of the ‘former’ pickpocket. He says the only entity hurt is the bank because everything else is insured. Do you ask someone as you lift their wallet if their cash and valuables are insured?

Note – he says the easiest targets are drunk men, and the best pickpockets are women. So if a woman approaches you after you’ve had a few drinks, you should be at red alert.

Full-body scanners already in use at Heathrow airport, says BAA

If you don’t go through the scanners, you can’t get on the flight. I’m waiting for the report of the person who refuses and then is not let on a flight. It will happen, or maybe it has already and we just haven’t heard about it already.

Many U.S. adults skip routine vaccinations

Why I mention this? Especially when you go overseas, we assume that we’ve had required shots. Sometimes shots fall through the cracks, especially when it isn’t required by school or work. Get your yellow card that lists all of your vaccinations and keep it with your passport.

FindACrew

I mentioned FindACrew before and wanted to list it again as an alternate to one-way flights or cruises or even a way to work, make money and travel. Love of the open water is a must.

Hotel fees that must die — and how to kill them

If you thought the airlines were the only one guilty of this, you haven’t looked at your last hotel bill closely enough. Classic bait and switch by hotels. Charge low fees and then add on a whole bunch of smaller fees. The one that used to always kill me was the Internet access fee. I remember seeing $11.95 PER DAY for Internet access. I can do without it.

But recently the other fees started to get piled on. Fees for housekeeping and bellhop service? Wasn’t that suppose to be part of the hotel fee?

Look over the bill and challenge these fees if you see them.

Best Travel News and Deals – February 9, 2010 – $8 For Blankets on Flights, Pickpockets in Spain, Stop Hotel Fees, Full Body Scans, Get Travel Shots is a post from: NoDebtWorldTravel

How to Make Cheap Mobile Calls, Even Overseas

Best Travel News and Deals – January 12, 2010 – Cheap Calls, Scams in China, Robbed in the Air, Cut Travel Costs, Family Travel, SEAsia Secrets is a post from: NoDebtWorldTravel

7 Best American Train Trips under $100

Good train travel is the domain of Europe and Asia. Americans deal with Amtrak when we don’t want to fly or for a simple change of pace. But these routes within the continental US prove that US train travel has some flavor. It not just being enclosed on the train while the scenery flies by.

We still need to get on the “bullet train”. I think that would scare the airlines more than anything else. New York to LA in 15 hours at 200MPH, as opposed to its current 5 days (yes I looked), would be really tempting.

Another 101 World Culture Shocks

A list of various customs and oddities from around the world. Like how to recognize Yakuza members on the streets on Tokyo, or the nation that watches more television than the United States (I would have never guessed).

10 Ways to Beat Air Travel Stress During the Holidays

Thanksgiving is over, but you’ve still got Christmas, Hanukah, Kwanzaa and New Year’s still coming up. Get those carry-ons, leave the checked luggage at home and try different airports for best results.

Tightwad in Thailand

A primer for staying and saving while in the Land of a Thousand Smiles. Not like that is difficult by default, but if you want to hang there for an extended period of time, good tips all around.

Passenger Create Big Debate

Whoa take a look at that guy! With the recent debate of whether overweight passengers should have to pay for two seats if they can’t fit in one, this extreme example is what some people have to deal with.

I’m for the two seat fee if the flight is full and you can’t be accommodated in one seat. I’m suppose to sit jammed in a corner of my seat for 6 hours because you can’t fit in your seat? It’s not right.

Eating Live Animals: One Eater’s Experience in Korea

I would try it, but I would be weirded out by something crawling around on my plate. If it’s still crawling, that usually means it needs to cook more, or I need a rolled up newspaper to finish the job.

How To Half The Contents Of Your Backpack

I like to advocate the use of only carry-ons on planes. This gives you an idea of what to take and what to leave behind.

Jessica Watson

For those of you who say you could never travel around the world, compare yourself to 16 year old Australian Jessica, who is sailing around the world, non-stop and unassisted…

By herself!

We hop on a flight and land in the next country, hopefully on an Asian airline so we get a real meal on a plate instead of out of a box.

She’s looking at star charts, watching for storms and continues to blog from the boat. Fantastic story, and just proves that where there is a will there is a way.

Cheeky tourists pitch tents in cemetery

If you need to sleep in a cemetery while traveling, take your a** home! That is all.

How to Travel Cheap & Green: couchsurfing v. hostel

Both have pros and cons. I like the author’s experience with the couchsurfing host who thought people were out to get him and had a dirty bathroom. Come to think about it, same thing can happen in a hostel. Both are great for different reasons.

Best Travel News and Deals – December 1, 2009 – Couchsurfing v. Hostels, American Train Trips, Culture Shocks, Spending Less in Thailand, Packing Less is a post from: NoDebtWorldTravel