After that, though, I never make reservations. Anything I see online can usually be found for half the price, if not less. It’s part of the excitement, in fact, looking for rooms, wandering around the city. It’s only really messed me up once – in Cambridge, England, I stayed in a way-too-expensive B&B a mile out of town because it was the week students moved back in (so their parents took up all the rooms). Other than that, though, I like having the choice to give my money to people who are welcoming/kind/honest.

Needless to say, I stay in places that are as cheap as possible, so when it’s time to go home, I reserve a nice hotel and get a good night’s sleep, shower off, and generally treat myself to some luxury as a final “thank you for doing this trip for yourself.”