The Internet has changed travel. Though not always for the better, (one just needs to see how many people are checking Facebook in a hostel to agree), it has allowed people to share, connect, and collaborate in ways that haven’t been possible – even just a few years ago.
And for budget travelers and culture enthusiasts, this change has been terrific. There are now so many more ways to travel on a budget as well as to get the most out of your destination and learn the hidden secrets of the places you are visiting. It has allowed travelers to save money and connect with locals easier, allowing us to get off the tourist travel and see the local pace of life better!
With hundreds of start ups coming and going in the new travel sharing economy, here are some top-notch sites and services (some old, some new) that you can use to travel cheap and connect with locals:
Hospitality Networks
Hospitality networks have been around for decades but were really popularized with the creation of Couchsurfing. Founded in 2004, this old standby really took advantage of the web. It connects travelers with locals who are willing to give them a free place to stay (couch, room, floor, etc.) and get a local perspective on a destination. It’s meant to be used as a form of cultural exchange and is used by travelers of all ages (and families too!). It popularized hospitality networks and, with 7 million members, is now the biggest. Not only that, it is a value resource to meet up with locals (you will find a lot of group meet-ups on the website) even if you don’t plan on staying with someone.
Similar services include:
For cyclists, check out the website Warm Showers, which is a free hospitality exchange for cyclists.
Apartment Rentals
Hotels are expensive and maybe hostels aren’t your thing, so what’s the next best choice? Renting someone’s apartment (or a room in it)! On apartment sharing/rental websites, you can rent a room, couch, or whole apartment at much cheaper rates than a hotel room. Plus, you’ll have a local host to show you around and a kitchen to prepare meals. It’s the best middle ground between hostels (and Couchsurfing) and hotels. I think Airbnb offers the most robust inventory for finding a spot in someone’s house, and I prefer them the most, though it’s important to always check all the rental sites, because, unlike hotel sites where properties appear over multiple websites, listings are at the owner’s discretion and some owners list their property on only one site.
Similar services include:
Camp in My Garden
Camp in My Garden is a UK-based website started in April 2011 that is slowly expanding around the world. Its simple premise: connect campers to people who let them camp in their backyards for a small fee. You have to bring your own camping gear, but most properties will let you use their facilities (no peeing behind a bush!). Locations are found predominantly in the UK and Europe, but the site is gaining traction around the world.
Got an RV that needs parking? Check out RV with Me, which finds cheap parking and overnight solutions for RV owners!
Eat With Locals
This relatively new website allows you to eat home cooked meal with locals. Eatwith lets locals post listings for dinner parties and specialty meals that people can sign up for. There is a fee (everyone sets their own price) and you can pick from a variety of meals (depending on what the person wants to cook). The dinner parties are small and a chance to do something different, pick a local’s brain, and make a new friend.
Similar services include:
Get a cheaper taxi!
Need a ride? Check out Lyft and get locals to pick you and drop you off where you need to go. It’s about 30% cheaper than a taxi, though rates are “suggested” donations and the companies take a commission. I prefer it to Uber since they don’t have as high surge pricing (i.e., increased rates during busy times), it’s not a car rental service, and it’s less formal – the drivers are more inclined to interact with you and share what’s going on the area! The downside is that Lyft is only based in the US right now while Uber is global.
Share Someone’s Car
Need a car for a few hours? Rent someone else’s. Getaround allows you to rent people’s unused cars by the hour. Renters and owners are vetted by the company, which also insures both parties in case an accident happens. It’s a good, cheap alternative to more traditional car rental services. Rates start at $7 per hour. The downside to this website is that it is only available in a handful of US cities. A more established service is ZipCar, though they are based mostly in US cities.
Another alternative is FlightCar. FlightCar lets people parking at airports rent their vehicles to other travelers. All cars are insured up to a million dollars, and users are verified and checked out ahead of time. If you are a traveler, this option lets you make some extra money for future travel.
Similar services include:
- CarHopper (Mostly Florida)
- Drivy (Mostly France)
- RV Share (For motorhomes and RVs)
- Trailer Made (For trailers and camper vans)
Share a ride!
A growing trend is to share rides with people. I used this when I was in Switzerland (it’s super common in Europe these days) instead of taking the train. I shared a ride with a father dropping off his son to college and joined for part of the way. Drivers are vetted and verified and it’s a much better way to get out of stuffy trains and buses, meet interesting characters, and take a mini-road trip. It’s one of my preferred methods of travel. The biggest player in this space is BlaBlaCar, which is huge around Europe and a couple other parts of the world. If you’re traveling, definitely look them (or a similar service) up. It will save you a ton of money and you’ll have a much more interesting time!
Some other good ridesharing companies:
- Ridester (US-based)
- RidePost (mostly US-based)
- Liftshare (based in the UK)
- Gumtree (UK/Australia/NZ)
- Kangaride (Canada)
- Roadmate (NZ)
- Share Your Ride (Global)
Rent Anything You Need
Need a tent for the day? A bike? A ladder? Skis? A beach chair for a few hours? Rent it from people who aren’t using theirs. Instead of buying new products, temporarily rent people’s unused stuff at a lower rate. It’s cheaper than buying something you may only need once or twice on the road and creates less waste. Websites that facilitate this service allow you to travel a lot lighter.
Some renting services include:
Get a Personal Tour Guide
Want to take a tour with a local expert? Connect with local guides and hire them for unique experiences through the website Vayable. A rating system for the guides allows you to know in advance if the guide or tour is worth your time. I enjoy this site because it allows you to experience niche, offbeat, and interesting tours that bigger tour companies might not run (like a street art tour in Los Angeles). Plus, the groups tend to be very small, making for a more intimate experience.
Similar services include:
- Rent-a Guide
- Adventure.com
- Adventure Local
- Trip4Real (Slightly higher end)
The rise of “the sharing economy” has made it so much easier for people (especially travelers) around the world to connect with each other. People can now advertise and promote their local services and knowledge that allow travelers better access to destinations, people, and services in a way that saves a lot of money and creates a more unique and intimate travel experience.
The post Sharing Economy appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.
January 25, 2016 at 08:52PM
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by IHholiday Travel trip
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