| Let\'s say your budget really only allows for you to | | | | only sleeping and showering there. |
| stay in cheap hotels. Does that mean you should stay | | | | You\'ll most likely have to climb stairs to your room |
| home until you can afford more luxurious digs? NO.... | | | | and carry your own bags, though some places do |
| At least we don\'t think so. | | | | have very small... and \"atmospheric\" elevators.... You |
| We prefer to look at these options as inexpensive... | | | | know, those little old rickety cages... the ones that |
| not cheap. Makes it sound a whole lot better doesn\'t | | | | might even make you want to take the stairs. |
| it? If you want to be a frugal traveler, no matter | | | | Keep in mind that some very cute little places are |
| what your budget, these little places can be a great | | | | forced to stick with only one or two stars because |
| option. | | | | they don\'t have elevators and a reception desk... |
| If you plan to be out and about seeing that new | | | | those are definitely NOT cheap hotels... they are |
| country you\'re visiting, you\'re not going to be | | | | travel BARGAINS. |
| spending all that much time in your room. You just | | | | Bargain hotels may have just a simple bed and the |
| need a nice clean bed to sleep in. Well, you need a | | | | chairs could be mismatched. The light bulbs may be a |
| little more than that. | | | | little dim, the carpets and wallpaper may be dated, |
| So how to you find budget accommodations? You | | | | and perhaps even faded. You\'ll probably find a small |
| can search the Internet, but while inexpensive hotels | | | | TV, but you may not have a phone. The closet is |
| may be on the Internet, it could be hard to find their | | | | apt to be a small, free-standing one, or maybe an old |
| listing. They are more apt to be independent and | | | | armoire. |
| show up far, far down on a search page. We\'ve | | | | Most will have ensuite facilities with showers and |
| found that it\'s easy to find these little gems when | | | | toilets in the room. In the U.S., almost all cheap hotels |
| we travel by stopping and checking them out when | | | | come this way. In Europe and other continents, these |
| we need a room. | | | | facilities may have been fitted into a corner of the |
| So what can you expect from cheap hotels? You will | | | | room. You do need to check though... because there |
| probably be staying in an older place. New buildings | | | | are still some cheap hotels that have the toilet and |
| with a spiffy lobby, an elevator, and a reception desk | | | | shower down the hall. |
| staffed for 24 hours do not fall into the cheap | | | | This is the minimum you should have to settle for. |
| category. | | | | Sure there are worse almost everywhere in the |
| Look for small family run hotels. They may look a | | | | world.... We\'ve even stayed in some of them in our |
| little shabby from the outside, but they could be very | | | | younger days, but keep in mind, bargains come in all |
| nice inside. Don\'t judge them until you\'ve walked | | | | kinds of packages, and you should be able to find a |
| through the door. Look at the room to see if you | | | | nice cheap hotel that you can live with... at least for a |
| can live with it for 24 hours or 48 or however long | | | | day or two. |
| you\'re going to be there... but remember... you\'re | | | | |