I don't have a hotel and none are available: how can I improvise?

When traveling, booking a hotel room is undoubtedly the most classic, reliable and secure accommodation solution. This is precisely why many hotels around the world are fully booked at strategic times of the year. If you arrive at your destination without having booked accommodation in advance, don't panic: follow the guide to discover other options than hotels and start your trip with peace of mind..

What accommodation to choose when traveling, apart from a hotel room?

When you think "hotel"we think "comfort"and "all inclusive". First of all, this ignores the fact that not all hotels are created equal, and that you often have to book an expensive room in a palace to enjoy luxury service. It also ignores the fact that other types of accommodation are available to tourists and others.tourdumondistes"on the road.

If you're not a camping enthusiast, didn't bring your tent with you, or hadn't planned a road trip in a converted van, the first place to look is for nearby youth hostels. Contrary to what their name suggests, they welcome all travelers, with no age limit.

Then check out websites and apps such as Booking, Airbnb and their competitors.These offer the possibility of reserving an entire apartment, a room in a guesthouse or a room in a guesthouse. This gives you access to a wide choice of accommodation, at prices just as variable as hotel rooms.

You can also visit Couchsurfing to make contact with locals. offering home-stay accommodation to tourists for a night or several days. Thanks to this option, which some tourists find unsafe, you can experience a true cultural immersion, which will certainly be more enriching than a stay in a luxury hotel. With HelpX, you can even stay for free with local peoplefor a few gardening, pet-sitting or cooking services.

How to improvise on a trip without a hotel or accommodation solution?

In the most extreme situations - you arrive at your destination in the middle of the night, you don't know anyone there, etc. -You can always take refuge in places where you can spend a night free of charge, until you find a hotel or other accommodation for the nights ahead.

Around the world, many airports and railway stations are open 24 hours a day and allow travelers without hotels or other accommodation to rest for a few hours or a whole night, despite their rough comfort. Bonus features, these public places usually provide access to toilets, water and even foodbut they also expose you to the risk of theft.

You can also choose to sleep on the bus or in the metro, although again, this is a temporary and generally unsafe solution. If you're traveling with several people, make sure there's always one person awake to keep an eye on things and let the others know when you've reached the terminus.

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