Got the travel bug? Aside from getting tickets, travelers worry about their accommodation and the cost to stay in a place. In the past, travelers had no other choice but to stay in a hotel or motel. Decades ago, looking for other options aside from hotels and motels had been difficult but thanks to the booming travel industry, alternatives began to proliferate.

Bed-and-Breakfast

Bed-and-breakfast (BNB) places have been around for a long time but because more people are now opting for a homey ambience than staying in a plush five-star hotels, BNBs are good alternative to expensive hotels. In Britain and Ireland, these places are well-developed. They are also readily available in some parts of the U.S. and Mexico. Rates range from $14 to $50 for single occupancy.

Chalets And Apartments

Interchange, an agency in New York, lists chalets and even apartments that travelers can rent during their holidays. According to New York Times, the rates for a single person can go from $10 daily to $50. These self-catering accommodations are becoming more popular, and if you and a group of friends or family want to stay in an apartment during your holiday, it is best to take a look at Interchange.

Home Swapping

If you remember the movie starring Kate Winslet and Cameron Diaz called "The Holiday", it is basically it. The booklet, "Your Place and Mine" also explains how this arrangement works. While it is relatively risky for travelers to do such an arrangement with people they do not know, there are websites that can accommodate such requests. What one only has to do is search for "home swap" or "home exchange."

Couch Surfing

For travelers who do not plan to stay in one location for a long time, couch surfing is a great alternative and most of the time it is free. In the website with the same name, there are hosts in 100,000 cities and if you're feeling generous, you can also open your home to other couch surfers.