Okay, so I’ve been planning this backpacking trip through Southeast Asia, and obviously, I’m on a super tight budget. Accommodation can eat up a huge chunk of your funds, so I knew I needed to get really good at finding cheap places to stay. I spent a whole weekend diving into this, and here’s what I did.
Started with the Obvious: Google Search
My first step, like most people I guess, was just a basic Google search. I typed in stuff like “cheapest hostels in Bangkok” and “budget accommodation Southeast Asia.” This gave me a bunch of articles and blog posts listing different websites and general tips. It was a good starting point, but a bit overwhelming.
Narrowing Down the Search Engines
From those initial searches, I started to see some names popping up again and again. I made a list of potential search engines to try:
- Booking
- Hostelworld
- Agoda
- Airbnb (yeah, I know, not always the cheapest, but sometimes you find gems)
The Deep Dive: Testing Each One
This is where I spent most of my time. I picked a few cities I knew I wanted to visit (Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Hanoi) and started plugging them into each search engine. I played around with the filters a lot – things like price range, guest rating, and amenities (free breakfast is a must for me!).
Booking: I found Booking had a huge selection, which was both good and bad. It took a while to sift through everything, but the map view was helpful for seeing where things were located in relation to each other.
Hostelworld: As the name suggests, this one was great for hostels. It had really detailed reviews from other travelers, which I found super useful for getting a feel for the vibe of a place. I also liked that it showed the overall rating as a percentage – somehow that felt more trustworthy than just a star rating.
Agoda: I noticed Agoda seemed to have more options in Asia specifically, which makes sense. They also had some “secret deals” that popped up, which were pretty tempting. It’s worth checking out, especially if you’re focusing on that part of the world.
Airbnb: Like I thought, Airbnb was hit or miss. I did find a couple of really cheap private rooms, but you have to be careful about extra fees and the location. Sometimes being a bit further out to save money isn’t worth it in the long run.
My Strategy: Combining and Comparing
After spending hours on this, I realized the best approach was to use a combination of these sites. I’d usually start with Hostelworld to get a sense of the hostel scene, then cross-reference with Booking to see if there were any better deals or different options. I’d also keep Agoda in the mix, especially for those “secret deals.” And occasionally, I’d peek at Airbnb just in case.
Keeping Track of My Finds
To avoid going crazy, I started a simple spreadsheet to keep track of the places I liked, their prices, and any notes about them (like “great reviews for the rooftop bar” or “close to the night market”). This made it way easier to compare and make decisions later.
It was a lot of work, but I feel way more confident about finding affordable places to stay on my trip. My biggest takeaway? Don’t rely on just one search engine! Do your research, compare prices, and read those reviews!
