Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
I think couchsurfing is a great idea. It gives you the chance to truly meet the locals and to
see parts of the city that most tourists never experience. It also gives you the opportunity to
meet people on a deeper level and hopefully you'll make life-long friends. And we can't deny
that it's a great way to save money. It probably isn't smart to rely on couchsurfing as your only
means of accommodation, but it is great option if available.
Short-term Apartment Rentals
I will be the first to say how much I love renting short-term apartments when I travel. Don't
get me wrong, the comradery and excitement of staying in a hostel is great but sometimes it is
nice to have more space and privacy. Luckily, there are hundreds of thousands of short-term
rental apartments in Europe and the number of rental apartments available grows every year.
It is an amazing way to experience living like a local, and in some cases, it can save you money
(especially if you're traveling in a group).
ADVANTAGES TO RENTING AN APARTMENT
Save money.
The cost of renting an apartment can be very reasonable and costs per person
drop considerably when split between two or more people. In fact, the price per person can
often be less than what you might pay at a hostel.
For example, I've seen a listing for an apartment in Paris that was across the street from
Notre Dame and the rent was $830/week. When split between three people, this apartment
only costs each person about $40/night. A hostel bed in Paris will cost anywhere from about
$32 to $40—and that is for the cheapest option in a ten-person room.
If you're traveling as a couple and want privacy, remember that even a private room in a
hostel can cost $80 to $150/night in Western Europe. For that same price, you can rent a qual-
ity studio apartment.
