Sticker shock can apply to travelers as well as car buyers.
Pricing that three-night stay in Tokyo, New York or London might leave you open-mouthed in disbelief. Do I really want to pay $400/night for a place to sleep?
Good budget travelers find ways around those hefty tabs. But some situations will put your frugality skills to the test.
What if you very much need to be located in a particular section of a large city, and that locale is prime real estate? Suppose you have a family (or several families) traveling in your party. Suddenly, you're multiplying that outrageous nightly room rate by two or more.
In Europe, travelers often have discovered bed and breakfast stays can soften the budgetary blows. European families often rent out spare rooms and provide a hot breakfast for travelers, who also receive healthy helpings of local advice from natives of the neighborhood.
This option might require sacrificing a little bit of privacy or perhaps using a rest room that's down the hall. But it also requires being comfortable in a place that is someone else's home rather than a sterile hotel environment.
Another variation that's getting attention is the home swap. Web sites such as HomeExchange.com advertise that members can travel with no more hotel bills by swapping homes with someone. A membership fee of $100 USD puts you into their database of willing home traders for unlimited usage in a year.
The point is there are ways to "say no" to outrageous hotel rates if you're willing to explore some alternatives.
Still with me?
If so, click "next" and consider a step beyond the bed and breakfast route.
