Hostels have long been the dirty word in the hotel and travel industry, but times are certainly changing for the better as the public realise more and more that hostels and youth hostels are a viable means of accommodation when they travel around the globe.

Despite their low price and somewhat bad reputation, many hostels are of a high standard and have great facilities for people of all ages and backgrounds to enjoy.

The budget travel sector, such as backpackers, gap year travelers and also families wanting multi-location holidays, has boomed in the last few years and is driven to a large extent by word-of-mouth recommendation.

With competition in the industry hotting up and with millions of customers each and every year choosing cheaper, cost-effective accommodation, the standard and reputation of these places are ever-increasing.

The major hostel booking companies also have ratings systems which, not only helps customers to choose the right accommodation, but also helps to push hostel owners to do more to satisfy their customers as their ratings directly affect how much business they will receive from these booking sites.

The most popular hostel destinations are: London, Sydney, Rome, Amsterdam and New York and no matter where in the world you are travelling to, you will find a selection of great accommodation to suit both your taste and your budget.

Despite the arrival of budget hotel chains such as Travellodge, Ibis and Jurys Inns, backpackers still prefer to stay in hostels due to factors such as atmosphere, fun and the social experience of meeting other backpackers.

The hostel industry, once considered a cottage industry has now grown rapidly with the entry of new players opening deluxe hostel chains including The Generator Hostel in London

see http://www.hostelbookers.com

Most industry insiders are predicting that this year more people will be jetting off on city breaks, inter-railing round Europe and generally heading off traveling in greater numbers than ever before. And they’re spoilt for choice when it comes to the sheer range of excellent accommodation options out there.

Hostels

The number of backpackers hostels and independent youth hostels has surged in response to increased demand for cheap accommodation, as a result of a radical overhaul from the travel industry in the last five years, or so.

The package holiday for so long a staple of summer holidays has become chronically unfashionable, as people increasingly looked to move away from the uniformity that they promoted. And the conventional high street travel agent is feeling the pinch, as people increasingly found they could cut out the middle man and make their own arrangements online.

In light of this, people had to find some form of affordable accommodation on their holidays. And the answer came increasingly from the ranks of the independent youth hostels and backpackers hostels.

Hardly a new concept youth hostels have been around for years now the necessary tweaks really started to be made back in the late 90s. In retrospect, it’s hard to see which came first, the great accommodation or the booking sites that drive them. It goes without saying that there couldn’t be one without the other.

But with the internet, and a series of sites who allowed their customers to ‘rate’ hostels came a greater awareness of what travelers actually wanted and needed. Now well-stocked kitchens or cool communal areas boasting libraries filled with travel guides and DVDs, prove the rule rather than the exception.

And just as the hostels have gained in popularity (and quality), so too has the rest of the budget accommodation sector begun to take notice of the numbers of people, and offering an ever-improving service for less than you’d think.

Cheap hotels

The cheap hotel market, so long, seemingly, a slightly complacent force reluctant to really compete on price and relying on their hotel status, has started to really square up to its competitors. Increasingly, owners of small hotels are setting aside a quota of rooms online for the budget traveler, safe in the knowledge that they will be snapped up.

What’s more many small hotels have realized that they can turn their size into a significant advantage. Global travelers are increasingly looking for a sense of uniqueness, of individuality. It’s this desire that has inspired the rise of the boutique hotel, a concept which the cheaper end of the hotel market has embraced.

And there are times when even the most ardent backpacker or roving student traveler wants freshly pressed sheets, a hot shower to themselves and a good night’s sleep. Oh, and perhaps a mini bar

Bed & Breakfasts

Bed & breakfasts and guesthouses have also experienced a real resurgence in popularity in recent years. Both generally define themselves as ‘homey’ and comfortable with an emphasis on personal service rather than luxury. And their renewed popularity has come as a result of these values being increasingly in demand by footsore travelers.

Like the cheap hotel market they have responded well to a shift in the market, and the recent rise of boutique hotels by radically improving their service.

Apartments

Hovering somewhere between the service provided by a backpackers hostel (with a kitchen and lounge area as a general rule) and a hotel (you don’t have to share your accommodation with anyone else) renting an apartment has become a viable alternative to the usual cheap hotelB&Bhostel options. The hotels sector has even responded to the demand for apartment-style accommodation with the growth of aparthotels.

The apartment concept can be a winning one, particularly for those traveling in groups or those looking to stay in a town or city for more than a few days. Groups can really fill out an apartment and make it somewhere that they’ll genuinely look forward to coming back to at the end of a long day’s sightseeing, whilst long-stayers can settle in and spread out more than they could in a cheap hotel or hostel.

All in all, things have rarely looked as rosy for travelers with a budget.

Cheap Hotels in UK: Classes of Accommodations

Hotels and Guest Houses

You will find a significant difference in both price and facilities between hotels and guest houses in the UK. Hotels usually offer breakfasts, lunches, teas, dinners, a licensed bar and a range of services and facilities to suit individuals, families and often business groups. Country house hotels will often add recreational facilities in their grounds such as golf, tennis, swimming, health spas, gyms and attended play areas for children. Top league international hotels in London and major cities offer comprehensive amenities and services for business and holiday guests, and a choice of first class and luxury accommodation. Guest houses may not have bars or offer lunch or teas, but will have television and sitting lounges.

In England and Wales, the AA, RAC (the largest UK motoring organisations) and the English Tourist Council have come together to provide an overall star for hotels and diamond rating for guest accommodations, including bed and breakfast. Hotels have between one and five stars; guest accommodations between one and five diamonds. In Scotland and Northern Ireland, all tourist accommodations are also graded regularly to provide a clear indication of the level of facilities you can expect.

Bed and Breakfast

Bed and breakfast accommodation, advertised by the famous ‘B&B vacancies’ sign, is mostly in private homes and the emphasis is on bedrooms rather than on facilities such as a bar or restaurant. They are often the least expensive form of guest accommodation although prices vary between those in the most popular holiday locations and those offering stopovers ‘en route’.

Thousands of bed and breakfasts have been visited anonymously by tourist officers to be inspected for a diamond rating of between one and five stars. This is intended as a guide to the quality of accommodation and food on offer.

As private homes, including farmhouses and working farms, B&Bs tend to offer a very personal welcome, and an insight into British ways of life in different parts of the country. Breakfast is intended to fill you and will often include bacon, eggs, fried bread, tomatoes, even fried potatoes and local additions such as black pudding. Or you can enjoy a ‘continental’ breakfast: cereal, bread, toast, tea, coffee and juice.

Hostels

There are many hostels located all over England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Hostels vary in style and amenities but they offer bedrooms with between two and six beds for young people, families and groups. They usually provide substantial breakfasts and dinners at low prices and have communal kitchen facilities if you prefer to cater for yourself.

The main hostel organisations are the Youth Hostel Association (YHA), the Scottish Youth Hostel Association (SYHA) and Hostelling International Northern Ireland (HINI). You do not have to be a ‘youth’ to stay because there is no upper age limit (in Scotland the lower age limit is 5). But you do have to be a member of the YHA or SYHA, which involves paying a small annual membership fee. There are also a variety of independent hostels offering accommodation. Staying in hostels is traditionally popular with people pursuing backpacking, walking, cycling or generally exploring outdoor pursuits. But there are also hostels in many towns and cities, which enable members to enjoy good basic accommodation on a low budget.

Cheap Hotels Can Make That Vacation More Affordable Than You Think

The key to enjoying an affordable vacation is to finding inexpensive hotels to stay in. This is because accommodation costs are a significant chunk of the total vacation expenditure and by staying in a cheap hotel vacationers can afford to experience more of what a holiday destination has to offer.

Families planning a vacation need to keep their eyes open for the best hotel deals on offer. The Internet is a great resource for finding cheap hotels that offer good food and lodging. One can compare services offered across hotels for a given rate; this knowledge helps while negotiating for accommodation. Hotels can also be compared for nearness from the airports, railway stations, and tourist attractions. It is important to look up hotels on more than one site that list comparisons. This is because not all hotels in an area may be listed on a site. Hotels also list discount deals and vacation deals on their own websites, subscribing to hotel newsletters is another option that helps to keep abreast of rate changes.

Staying in a cheap hotel is a great idea not only for budget vacationers but also for those who may not have budget constraints. Cheap accommodation does not necessarily mean having to rough it out.

A little research will enable one to come up with hotels that provide good accommodation at surprisingly cheap rates. However, there are several things that need to be considered while searching for cheap hotels. Most hotels have the cheaper rooms taken up fairly quickly, so its important to book in advance. Also, hotel rates during the off-season are low; so families can plan their vacations accordingly. If the cheaper rooms have been taken up when one first enquires, there is no harm in checking again after some time. Also, if the hotel tariffs have fallen after one has made a reservation, some hotels will in fact offer accommodation at the revised rates.

Even if a hotels rates appear slightly on the higher side, very often they are negotiable. In fact, vacationers should keep in mind that good bargaining skills can help them get some pretty amazing accommodation deals. In order to be able to bargain skillfully, one needs to first of all communicate with the right person in the hotel, for example the sales manager. Also, it pays to be informed about the facilities that can be had for the rate a hotel is charging and to know the times of the year when the hotel is in demand from business travelers and vacationers.

AAA cards can earn their members discounts of up to 10% on their hotel stay. Points earned on credit cards can also be redeemed by vacationers to contribute to lodging expenses, many hotels that offer cheap rates accept AAA cards and redeem credit card points. Thus, a little planning and careful research in selecting a hotel can enable families on vacation to enjoy the sights and sounds of their chosen destination to a far greater extent.

Las Vegas. This city of neon lights, over-the top entertainment and non-stop thrills make the city one of the top holiday destinations in the world. The hotels in Vegas rival the top establishments in the world, offering the most amazing variety around. Yes, the city no doubt has some of the most gorgeous, ultra-luxurious suites and rooms in the world, but if you’re on a budget, Las Vegas is equally accommodating. In fact, what many don’t realize is that Las Vegas has some of the best rooms around at the lowest prices imaginable- and the hotels are all vying for your business badly. So next time you are in this City of Pleasures and are on a tight budget, think twice about booking the lousy motel on the outskirts of time and check out our super savers tips below:

Timing is everything. Avoid busiest times of the year: holidays, spring and summer vacations, and large vacations.

If you can, before you decide on a hotel, ask about pricing on “extras”: extra beds, cribs, rollaways and extra occupants and about any extra charges for local phone calls, cable TV, and Internet connections.

Compare all factors before making your final decision.

Ask your hotel for free funbooks, which often include two for one dinners and shows and discounted drinks.

Ask for everyone about discounts, special offers, freebies, comps. These are available at most Las Vegas hotels and casinos, but you need to ask for them.

Join the MGM Mirage Players Club and or “The One Club” to accrue credits for comped food, beverages and rooms.

Buy your own water and drinks at outside discount stores. Bring along a small ice cooler to keep your water and drinks cold and a hot pot to brew coffee or tea. This could save you 10 or more a day in refrigerator rental fees.

Use the free monorail system that goes between the hotels and casinos and the free public bus system. Ask for a schedule at your hotel or casino.

If you rent a car, ask your hotel and the casinos about free parking. Most hotels and casino’s offer free parking as a perk if you ask, because they want to give you a good reason to stay.

Cheap Hotel In Pattaya Helps You Cut Down The Expenses

Pattaya is one of the major tourist destinations of Asia continent. It is a place that has got all the ingredients of making a holiday a memorable one. So, if you too want to plan your next holidays in Pattaya, you can find out a cheap hotel in Pattaya to cut down the expenses of the entire trip. Although, in most cases, it is difficult to find a cheap accommodation and get the desired location and facilities but if you want to save money you have to let off the luxuries.

But when you try to find out a cheap hotel make sure that you do not compromise on the basic amenities. For example, there is a misconception that a cheap hotel refers to the one, which does not provide proper linen and clean bathrooms. But this is not true. It depends upon the traveler. Heshe has full authority to check the details of a hotel before heshe books one. And this becomes more important when you want to go for a cheap hotel.

Pattaya is a one of the Worlds best beach resorts because of which it attracts millions of tourists every year. For this reason, the tourism department has to take care of every type of tourists. And that is why; here you can find many cheap hotels that offer you good accommodation and the basic facilities. The reason why these hotels offer you their services at cheaper rates is that either they are located in some distant area, far away from the center of the city or they do not offer the luxuries of the five star hotels. And most importantly, at places like Pattaya, the competition is tough between the hotels and hence they try to offer their services at the least possible price and the guest gets benefited.

So, it is not that you have to compromise on the quality of the accommodation that much in a cheap hotel. And this can only be ensured when you choose a cheap ones with much care. You can also find cheap accommodation with the help of those services that offer discounts. You can take advantage of these discounts in off-season. The hotels do not have much customers and that is why they offer you services at less price.

So, if you want to find a good but if you can find cheaper hotel in this city, then take help of the Internet. The Internet has directories for all the hotels in Pattaya and you can find out the cheaper ones. There are details of the specific hotels so that you can sort out the ones that offer you maximum benefits at the least price. Also, you can find out what you will get and what will not be there in a chosen cheap hotel. This prepares to accept the ambience and still enjoy your holiday.

When you plan to go to Pattaya, for sure you are going to spend much time outside your hotel. So, it is no harm to go for a cheap hotel in Pattaya on the condition that it offers the basic services.

No one wants to spend an arm and leg on a hotel room when they can find similar amenities in a cheap hotel. Whether you are planning a business trip or a family vacation, you more than likely want to find a cheap hotel. You do not always have to sacrifice quality just to save a few pounds.

Finding a cheap hotel is not as complicated as you might think. In fact, the Internet can provide you with thousands of discount hotels.. For the most part, you should be able to locate a cheap hotel that fits your budget and needs, no matter where you are traveling. It is possible to save as much as 75%, while still getting excellent service during your stay in the hotel.

It is possible to get the royal treatment from discount hotels. When looking for a hotel, location is often a high priority. In high tourist areas, many of the cheap hotels are located within a few miles of the major points of interest. Many discount hotels are located close to restaurants. Another nice feature of cheap hotels is that they can be found near airports. Whether traveling for business or pleasure, it is often nice to have a hotel near the airport that you will be flying into.

Cheap hotels often offer more than just a bed and a hot shower. Discount hotels often offer amenities such as spa services, gift shops, Hi-speed Internet, swimming pools and fitness centers. Often, discount hotels offer whirlpools and Jacuzzis. Many cheap hotels will offer recreational activities right on the hotel grounds. The different amenities will vary with the different hotels and locations.

Nightlife can be another important aspect of when searching for a hotel. Many cheap hotels will offer nightclubs right on site. This is a nice feature that allows guests to enjoy some adult time before turning in for the night. Often, dance clubs, bars, theaters and more are within walking distance of discount hotels.
Luxurious rooms can be found at many discount hotels. You do not have to stay at the Four Seasons or Waldorf to get excellent service. Many travel agencies will offer discount hotel accommodations in their planned vacation packages.

When it is all said and done, you do not have to compromise quality for affordability. Cheap hotels can be easily found if a traveler simply searches for one. There is no need to spend a ton of money to feel comfortable while traveling. Jump online or contact a travel agent and you, too, can easily find a discounted hotel.