Best Accommodation Resources
Where a person stays during their journey can define the entire experience. The resources below are designed to help travelers find the best accommodation resources available.
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Booking Accommodation Resources
Booking .com
Booking.com has an incredible range of lodging options around the world. Their services are available in over 40 languages and are particularly good for countries that are currently developing.
Airbnb
Airbnb allows lodging to go private. The house-share program is designed for stays at any budget, allowing locals to let travelers experience native culture firsthand. I often use this resource for long-term visits
Agoda
Agoda is a brilliant site for hostels and hotels at affordable rates. It’s best deals are found in Southeast Asia and other countries found in Oceania.
Hotellook
Hotellook is a multi-platform comparison app specifically dedicated towards checking hotel prices in an area. The app compares prices across over 80 different booking agencies and provides the lowest prices.
Trusted Housesitters
Trusted Housesitters is an app which works like a work-stay. Many listings are in nice apartments, homes and villas. Registered “hosts” hire verified members to take care of houses and pets while on vacation, giving the sitter a place to stay and hosts a person to keep an eye on things.
Dorms.com
Dorms.com is an online resource for finding dorm rooms while traveling at low prices. The service is very safe and focuses on lodging at the most affordable hostels in an area. I’ve often used this site to find affordable lodging while traveling in groups.
Hostelworld
Advertising itself as an app dedicated to backpackers to help with travel, Hostelworld delivers safe and reliable cost comparisons for hostels around the world.
Hostel Pass
If you’re planning a backpacking tour through Europe, Hostel Pass is your absolute best tool. Users can signup online. The card provides discounts ranging from 5% to 40% on hostels in Europe. Student travelers can gain an additional discount.
RVShare
RVShare is a user-based rental service. When people aren’t using their RV, other member can rent out an RV for local camping trips. It’s an affordable way to get into nature without purchasing a new camper.
Camping Accommodation Resources
Bureau of Land Management
Bureau of Land Management or BLM is a branch of the United States Government which protects specially allocated patches of land around the United States. This is especially useful, since all BLM campsites are free. Hunting around for the campsites take some effort, but they’re perfect for long-term road-trippers. Locations vary, but often visitors can stay for up to thirty days in a single location.
United States Forest Service
The USFS allows for Dispersed Camping (camping outside of an established campsite) for free. This is encouraged, provided camper adhere to the rules found on the USFS website.
Campendium
Campendium is a website filled with free camping information, dump station locations, campsite verification photos and RV Travel Blogs. The website has additional features which allow people to rank and compare camp sites.
FreeCampsites
FreeCampsites.net offers the locations and status of free camping locations throughout the United States and Canada. Aside from supplying useful camping information, the website also has a series of blog articles guiding people on “how to” camp, upgrade RVs and more
Dyrt
Dyrt is an active community dedicated to providing camping, trekking and boondocking information. The website is one of the best to find affordable campsite bookings.
Volunteer Accommodations
WOOFF
Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF) is a worldwide coalition allowing travelers (also called WWOOFers) to work in organic farms, education exchanges and on community projects. The program requires volunteers stay for a set amount of time while receiving free lodging.
The Peace Corps
The Peace Crops is aworldwide, highly recognized volunteer organizations . They operate humanitarian projects in over sixty countries. The organization provides training, assignments and a monthly stipend to make a truly positive impact on the globe. The community experiences make this one of the best travel accommodation resources.
U.S. National Park Volunteer
USNP Volunteer in Parks (VIP) Program is designed to assist in the preservation, and construction of National parks throughout the US. Mostly these positions are scarce. But often, USNP will have a large project, bringing in a influx of volunteers for environmental management.
United Nations Volunteer
The United Nations Volunteers programme is a United Nations peacebuilding program utalizing volunteers worldwide. Members recieve training, assignments and a Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA) which covers basic needs, housing and utilities.
Work-Stay Resources
Workaway
Workaway is a community network which lets members exchange a set number of working hours in exchange for culture exchanges and homestays. Volunteers in this program are called “Workawayers.” For their work, they receive lodging and food by their host.
Workstays
WorkStays helps connect people from different countries with an emphasis on fair exchange. This program is especially handy due to the “traveler” feature, which allows a visitor to make meaningful contributions before moving on.
Worldpackers
Wroldpackers operates through a website and app, connecting an experienced online community and different programs in eco projects, organic farms, hostels, schools, and animal sanctuaries.