Has this ever happened to you? You sit down at your computer to search for hotels for your trip, but you can't find anything in the price range that you expected to pay. All of a sudden, your excitement turns into dread and frustration at how much this is all costing you. 

If you know that feeling, this article is for you. I know I've been there myself many times. But the more I research, the more options I realize are out there that I never would have thought to even look for! Here, all in one place, are some free and lower cost options that you may not be familiar with, so you don't have to spend hours to find what works for your budget!

(Just click on each icon to go directly to any website I reference.)

CouchSurfing

Couchsurfing is a free stay at a local's home, but please make sure to show gratitude to your host! You could make them dinner, give them a bottle of wine, or even just give them a thoughtful thank-you card. Also if you use this service, consider offering up a couch in your own place in order to give back to the sharing community.

Home Exchanges: 

If you own a home and live in a desirable location, consider signing up for a home exchange through one of these websites. While membership costs about $100-$150 annually, that could be the cost of just one night in a hotel. The more you exchange, the more money you save, making this service ideal for someone who travels frequently or for longer periods of time.

With home exchanges you decide on the terms. For example, you can include car use, saving you the cost of a rental. You can also decide if the exchanges are simultaneous or not. It's all up to you and your new swap-mate to decide. 

Housesitting:

When people travel, they need someone to take care of their pets. (Thank you Lil, Chad, Bryan, Greg...) That's where housesitting comes in. If you sign up as a sitter, you can score a free place to stay while taking care of someone's furry friends. There is a annual membership fee of about $20-$30, depending on which website you use.  

Work Exchange:

If you are willing to do a bit of work while you are away, you should look into a few options. WWOOFing is working on organic farms, while Help Exchange and Work Away can be anything from babysitting to helping out a small business. These exchanges vary widely in hours and work, so you really need to explore the websites in order to find what works best for you. These are great for longer stays.

Renting:

AirBnB varies in accommodations and prices. You are renting directly from the owner, be it just one room or an entire home. Don’t be afraid to negotiate price a bit. You have leverage if you plan to stay for more than three days or if they don't have many bookings on their calendar.

With Homestay, you rent a room from a local. The host is always present during the stay, so you have your own local expert to show you around or offer you tips.

Apartment and house rentals can be less expensive than hotels, especially with longer stays. Often times you have your own kitchen and washer/dryer, which can save you even more money. You can generally negotiate your price when renting directly from an owner. Some homes are part of a large rental company, so make sure to read reviews about communication and upkeep. 

Hostels:

Lastly, I need to include hostels on this list. I know what you are thinking. Hostels are for college-age backpackers only. Well, things are changing. Yes, there are still the typical hostels with bunk-beds and bed-bugs, but there are also hostels with individually locked rooms, in-suite bathrooms, and fancier accommodations. You may not be able to distinguish some from a hotel that would cost triple the price. This article is a couple years old, but has some good examples of "luxury" hostels. Hostel World is a great search engine that also lists affordable B&Bs and hotels. Make sure to read the hostel ratings carefully for the type of experience you are looking for, so you aren't disappointed when you arrive. For example, "fun" means loud. For me, loud is never fun when I'm trying to sleep! 

No matter which service you use, you will want to create a detailed profile with pictures to show that you are a wonderful person and that any host will be lucky to have you. The friendlier you are, the more likely you will be able to find what you are looking for, get a great price for it, and maybe even make a new friend. 

Saving money on your accommodations can help you travel more, extend your trip, and in many of these cases, provide you with a more authentic, local experience that you just can't get in a traditional hotel.

I know you're busy, and even with all of these services explained and linked in one place, you don't want to have to click each one and go to each website to research the costs. I get it! So I went ahead and I did that legwork for you. Here is a free PDF with all membership fees and other costs listed on a cheat sheet, so you can weigh all of your options on one page.