Planning out my vacation to England was one of the more stressful experiences I've had this year. You see, I'm used to having cheap discount vacations. I usually go to pretty inexpensive destinations such as Charleston, Memphis, or New Orleans. None of these are hard places to find cheap accommodations. Although there are luxury hotels in most large metropolitan cities, it doesn't take a lot of effort to find the cut rate ones. If you're willing to stay in fleabag motel room for a few nights, you can plan your trip very cheaply.
Finding cheap hotels in London is another matter entirely. It is barely overstating the case to say that there are no cheap London hotels. If you are willing to stay in a really bad part of the city, living in a dirty room with unwashed sheets, you might be able to find something inexpensive. If, however, you have any standards at all, you are probably going to be out of luck. I spent months looking for a cheap hotel in London, and I couldn't find anything. My wife had wanted to go to a London bed and breakfast, but it was becoming clear that that was out of the question. I knew that it would be a challenge to even find cheap hotels in London that we could afford!
There is one thing I forgot when I was first looking for cheap hotels in London: student hostels. London hostels are an extremely popular destination for young adults all over Europe. You see, because the public transportation is so good there and the countries are so close together, travel is an extremely popular pastime among the young in Europe. You don't have to be rich to do it either. London hostels can be well within the reach of almost any traveler. Nevertheless, there are a few things that you have to keep in mind.
Hostels may be cheaper than the best cheap hotels in London, but they do have some disadvantages. One of the biggest ones is rampant theft. In many hostels, you don't even have a separate room. You basically have a bunk in a shared boarding room with many other people. Some hostels are better than others, but none of them have a very good record when it comes to theft. As a matter of fact, they often recommend that you take your valuables with you or check them into a secure storage box. If you're willing to take the necessary precautions, however, this can be the best way to travel!
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