05 Apr Air B&B: the thriftier way to vacay

When planning a vacation, budgeting for the hotel or motel stay is one of the biggest expenses. This year, why not give Air B&B a try? Air B&B has been around for a few years now; it is simply a space sharing site. People who have multiple homes or are out of town a lot can list their home, apartment, or townhouse on Air B&B to rent to travelers. Now that you know what it is, how exactly does it work? And, what are the benefits?

Air B&B: easy to use, even easier on the wallet.

The site itself, airbnb, is pretty user friendly. You simply create an account and start checking out the spaces. Once you know where you want to go, search for that city and see what’s available. There are a ton of filters such as price range, pet policy, number of people, etc. that you can input. Then, the site will show you places that meet your needs. Easy peasy. See a place you like? Add it to your favorites list.

The biggest benefit of choosing Air B&B over a hotel is definitely the price. Some places rent for as little as $50 a night. You’re going to spend twice that on a hotel. In addition to saving a lot of cash on lodging, you can also, if you make use of the kitchen, save yourself a lot of money on food. Eating out three times a day adds up fast; especially if you have a large group. Save your money for the important things; things that will make memories.

Space.

Aside from the financial benefits, you also have more space to spread out. Having just traveled myself, it was really nice to have a kitchen table for all six of us to sit around. We cooked together, ate meals together, and played cards together. But, when you need that precious alone time, you have the space to get away.

Good luck doing that in a hotel.

Location, Location, Location.

I know, it’s cliche, but it’s also true. Hotels are typically on the outskirts with easy access to the highway, which makes sense. But, what if, when you travel, you want to immerse yourself? That’s pretty difficult when you’re miles away from the heart of town. Since Air B&B are personal residences, they are often right in the middle of the action. On my last trip, we were within walking distance of a grocery store, a pizza shop (and, when you’re in Pittsburgh, you need pizza within walking distance), and a mile from downtown. Staying where the locals actually live allows you to find the best restaurants, the best bars, the best shops, the best everything.

So, next time you’re planning a vacation, give it a shot. You might be surprised what you can find when you have an open mind.

For more information on saving money on vacation, check out our wallet friendly vacation blog!