tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5569414599779352185.post1213720171905736501..comments2024-03-13T23:05:53.575-07:00Comments on Hope Engaged: How to Pay for Travel, Part 5: AccommodationsKatie Cookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01246255931160856214noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5569414599779352185.post-6935475998360725472014-04-04T06:46:04.119-07:002014-04-04T06:46:04.119-07:00To those of you who feel uneasy about using Couchs...To those of you who feel uneasy about using Couchsurfing - don't! You see it has a nifty little feature people rarely mention: There's a setting for "up for coffee" which means you meet in the city and not at a strangers house. I don't live in a place that's big enough to accommodate people for sleeping but I use it as a way to meet people where I'm travelling to. You get the best "free" guides this way, get to see things you otherwise wouldn't and meet some really cool people in the process. Couchsurfing has profiles so you can find someone you might have something in common with and you email back and forth before meeting + people verify each other which weeds out the nasties!<br /><br />I've also tried staying 2 nights at a German girl's house and she and her roommate was just the nicest people. I got my own key and they invited me to the roommates birthday party at this swanky club - a place I would've never gone because i'm not a swanky club sort of a person but it was really nice to see something new I otherwise never would have experienced.<br /><br />I love Airbnb. We used it to book an apartment in Rome for our honeymoon (which was paid for by extra money from our wedding presents - we didn't need housestuff being 30 so we requested that all gifts was either food or drink for the reception - there was enough money left over for a beautiful weeding cake and a week in Rome - we live in Denmark so not so expensive as travelling from the States.)<br /><br />We had a 1 bedroom apartment with a HUGE balcony overlooking green fields and even a cow whilst still walking distance to the Vatican an it all cost less than a hotel would have.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5569414599779352185.post-47366787830702919162014-02-24T16:54:32.873-08:002014-02-24T16:54:32.873-08:00This is so incredibly helpful! I've been to Eu...This is so incredibly helpful! I've been to Europe a few times, but I'm always looking for tips. I'm so glad you included hostels and Couchsurfing--I've used both abroad! I'm so interested in this Air BnB, though. Going to check it out now!Jenna Griffin | Gold & Bloomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08812692836303604680noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5569414599779352185.post-77346053095440760502014-02-22T00:24:58.605-08:002014-02-22T00:24:58.605-08:00This is a great list! I LOVE Air BnB and have stru...This is a great list! I LOVE Air BnB and have struck gold each time I've used it! Your photos are sooo beautiful, girl! Elena Alicehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15685353322770187159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5569414599779352185.post-88410777139452504812014-02-21T15:46:42.863-08:002014-02-21T15:46:42.863-08:00this is great! i had no idea about rick steve! we ...this is great! i had no idea about rick steve! we try and go as cheap as possible with being as nice as possible. we've found most of our deals on agoda and haven't been disappointed yet!Chelsea @ Lost in Travelshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03340277403271465452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5569414599779352185.post-53081022315732694502014-02-21T11:39:03.174-08:002014-02-21T11:39:03.174-08:00This is a great resource! My husband and I are ho...This is a great resource! My husband and I are hoping to take an overseas trip eventually - I'll have to remember to come back to your blog when we are ready to start planning a trip! :-)Calliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04177545285954715021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5569414599779352185.post-86550976879371994012014-02-20T15:21:42.038-08:002014-02-20T15:21:42.038-08:00This is great! We booked our accomidations throug...This is great! We booked our accomidations through AirBnB for our trip to the east coast and for 14 nights it will be less than $700! :-) Yes, we're thrilled about that!Susannahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10888956203263380230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5569414599779352185.post-77868005770898903772014-02-20T14:51:26.559-08:002014-02-20T14:51:26.559-08:00These are such amazing tips! We definitely used Ri...These are such amazing tips! We definitely used Rick Steve's recommendations while in Italy! He is the best! We nearly did AirBnB, but I'd heard some mixed reviews so I wasn't as sure. It's encouraging to hear such positive review from you! Also, it cracks me up that your family slept in a car in Pisa. Makes for great stories later! :)Rachhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08626006700069576675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5569414599779352185.post-70657469278581378132014-02-19T13:05:49.050-08:002014-02-19T13:05:49.050-08:00Great tips!.I love Air B and B- its the best. Great tips!.I love Air B and B- its the best. Erika Lee @ A Tiny Rockethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09816629751516005385noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5569414599779352185.post-75344422248633356932014-02-19T08:59:12.455-08:002014-02-19T08:59:12.455-08:00That White Linen Guest House you mentioned... wow!...That White Linen Guest House you mentioned... wow! What a great suggestion! Nataliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00534598705184827031noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5569414599779352185.post-80170590139646594762014-02-18T19:43:40.853-08:002014-02-18T19:43:40.853-08:00your photographs are so absolutely stunning - do y...your photographs are so absolutely stunning - do you do photography professionally? and i definitely agree about rick steves -- he's the man that helped me all around europe when i studied abroad - i owe him all kinds of thank yous!Jennifer Prodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14451413567714849703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5569414599779352185.post-73088714747888368232014-02-18T17:29:15.368-08:002014-02-18T17:29:15.368-08:00Thanks for these tips! I'll definitely be tuck...Thanks for these tips! I'll definitely be tucking them away for a later date!! I've never heard of Rick Steve, but he sounds worth looking into! And I just love that you slept in the car...that is awesome!Allisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00217225673648347364noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5569414599779352185.post-85827668128575084872014-02-18T16:00:14.634-08:002014-02-18T16:00:14.634-08:00These are great tips! We know a few people who hav...These are great tips! We know a few people who have done couch surfing and loved it. Air Bnb sounds really cool too though! Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01796030186984738212noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5569414599779352185.post-49294695797833006162014-02-18T14:06:54.394-08:002014-02-18T14:06:54.394-08:00Such great tips! I'm not sure I would trust co...Such great tips! I'm not sure I would trust couch surfing, I've heard a lot of "success stories" but it seems a little sketchy to me. :) that is so hilarious about the rental can! So smart for your parents... And look at the great memory you all made from it! :)Angelahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16949788813395469120noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5569414599779352185.post-62933898784649036502014-02-18T13:49:46.229-08:002014-02-18T13:49:46.229-08:00My husband and I LOVE Rick Steves. We will never g...My husband and I LOVE Rick Steves. We will never go to Europe without him. I really love this series, and hope to be able to travel more like you and your husband do. You guys are great! Meegan Drakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17448857461930089988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5569414599779352185.post-27776692623179991442014-02-18T13:32:26.083-08:002014-02-18T13:32:26.083-08:00I am LOVING this series!! It's making me so wa...I am LOVING this series!! It's making me so want to get out there and see the world :) Amanda G. https://www.blogger.com/profile/01762654219694127523noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5569414599779352185.post-18261494422757818602014-02-18T13:02:42.704-08:002014-02-18T13:02:42.704-08:00This is such good advice! Now I just want to go so...This is such good advice! Now I just want to go somewhere!Jenny Fishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05583952965259634847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5569414599779352185.post-79632136144799991692014-02-18T11:40:58.834-08:002014-02-18T11:40:58.834-08:00When we lived in Europe, I always thought about co...When we lived in Europe, I always thought about couch surfing but was too chicken to ever actually do it. Hostels ended up being my "go-to" for lodging purposes. :)Alyxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01894357457181031723noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5569414599779352185.post-55349119126588716172014-02-18T11:23:02.152-08:002014-02-18T11:23:02.152-08:00I never thought about taking a little gift from my...I never thought about taking a little gift from my hometown but I'm going to now! My husband and I are headed to Hawaii in March and I used AirBnb & VRBO to book places. We are staying at local people's houses who have an added on studio. The price varied from $59 to around I think $120 a night which is super cheap in Hawaii. <br /><br />I think another thing to look for, depending on vacation, is what the rental place comes with. For example, in HI, all 3 places we are staying have free parking for 1 car ($20 / night savings). Some also offer free snorkeling gear and bicycles to run around! That is a HUGE savings! <br /><br />Thanks for sharing these wonderful tips! <br />Beka @ Sunshine to the Square Inchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00174774989199314006noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5569414599779352185.post-69914801693371096912014-02-18T10:20:38.684-08:002014-02-18T10:20:38.684-08:00My family has sure stayed in some interesting acco...My family has sure stayed in some interesting accommodations over the years--with 9 of us they had to be thrifty and that occasionally meant guesthouses where the bathroom consisted of a spigot about a foot an a half off of the floor and a bucket under the spigot...so to take showers you scooped up the (one temperature, cold) water and dumped it on yourself....oh, SE Asia I love you so...but I'm not sure I'll ever be totally in love with showers like that...<br />Angel and I have used AirBnB here in the US and loved our experience with it!Rachelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07894832851934334471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5569414599779352185.post-43075070438200007652014-02-18T08:49:16.018-08:002014-02-18T08:49:16.018-08:00What great options! As much as I like Airbnb, I pr...What great options! As much as I like Airbnb, I prefer sticking with the larger hotel chains so that I can get points and free nights. If the hotel is not available, I love the small bed and breakfasts for the quaint, home-like charm.<br />http://liveitinerantly.com/Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04953214506719119690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5569414599779352185.post-79312481611500852432014-02-18T07:59:30.070-08:002014-02-18T07:59:30.070-08:00Such awesome resources Katie!! Thanks for sharing!...Such awesome resources Katie!! Thanks for sharing!Chantelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05887712904925756046noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5569414599779352185.post-20647886050001794652014-02-18T07:55:40.973-08:002014-02-18T07:55:40.973-08:00these are all great! I love Air B&B!these are all great! I love Air B&B!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07177081269343759076noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5569414599779352185.post-69360624361267564992014-02-18T06:46:53.264-08:002014-02-18T06:46:53.264-08:00LOVE Agoda and am excited about these other option...LOVE Agoda and am excited about these other options! Thanks Katie :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07519373118439396954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5569414599779352185.post-72933700622624845912014-02-18T06:26:45.954-08:002014-02-18T06:26:45.954-08:00Wow your advice is incredible, never even thought ...Wow your advice is incredible, never even thought of half the options your have mentioned. I think I would love to put people up in my own home as well. Sounds like a great way to make friends. I'm loving these travel tips, thank you for sharing Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5569414599779352185.post-2780620387296665402014-02-18T05:04:46.399-08:002014-02-18T05:04:46.399-08:00Such gorgeous pictures!Such gorgeous pictures!The Girl who Loved to Writehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11069853342158261301noreply@blogger.com