If you’re feeling creative, there are lots of ways to feel comfortable and cozy while sleeping during your travels abroad – all without staying at a single hotel.
We’ve explored a few options to give your next morning coffee abroad a new view:
Sleep in a Swag
Swag (n): traveling with ones personal belongings in a bundle.
The term swag (often called a bedroll) comes from our friends in Australia and New Zealand. Essentially, a swag is a padded sleeping bag that allows you to sleep outside under the stars, safely and comfortably. Whether your travel plans take you exploring the Australian outback or hiking the grounds of a National Park, a swag is the closest you’ll get to sleeping face-to-face with nature.
Source: Taree Off Road
2. Camping (or Glamping, if you must)
Camping (n): the activity of spending a vacation living in a camp, tent or camper.
For nights where you crave the outdoors and really want to crank up the fun, you can’t beat a classic night out camping in a tent. Depending on your travel style or occasion, get creative with your tent choice: from a two-person zip-up tent, to full on Glamping tents, fitted with a queen size bed and shower, the sky’s the limit (literally). As a bonus, a lot of places around the world let you camp for free, which means a few extra bucks can go towards all the marshmallows and hot dogs.
Source: Sepaq
3. Couchsurfing
Couch-surf (v): stay temporarily in other people’s homes, typically making use of improvised sleeping arrangements.
You can easily sleep a night or two in any country around the world for free. The catch? You’ll be sleeping on someone’s couch, floor or spare pillow. ‘Hosts’ open up their homes to couchsurfers who need a place to crash for the night. You’ll meet new friends, get the inside scoop on the city you’re in, and perhaps even make a new travel partner along the way.
Source: Lifestyle Mirror
4. Hostels & Guesthouses
Hostel (n): an establishment that provides inexpensive food and lodging for a specific group of people, such as students, workers or travelers.
From private personal suites to rooms lined with bunk beds and hammocks, hostel life is a helpful and affordable travel option for those who simply just need a bed to crash on for the night. Sites such as HostelBookers and HostelWorld are great places to start your search.
Source: Wombat’s Hostel
5. Rent out a room in someone’s home
Bed and breakfast (n): a guesthouse offering sleeping accommodations and a morning meal.
For a more ‘homey’ feel while abroad, you can stay in someone’s humble abode that is already equipped with all the fixings. Websites like Airbnb and FlipKey are perfect places to find your temporary home. From renting out a bedroom in a Chicago sky rise to living in a treehouse in the Japanese countryside, there are plenty of accommodation options that trump hotel life.
Source: Nakagin Capsule Tower (Japan)
6. Pet Sit Around the World
House-sit (v): live in and look after a house while its owner is away.
Animal lovers unite! MindMyHouse and Dogvacay are websites designed for people who need a pet sitter while they are away on travels. These animal lovers are found all over the globe. For a day, to a week, to a month, you can cat-sit in Tokyo or feed chickens on a farm in the countryside of Ireland.
Source: the Telegraph
We want to hear from you! Tell us where you’ve sleep while traveling overseas.