Hostels have a reputation for being party places filled with 20 year old students, grungy shared bathrooms and crowded dorms. But things have changed. Some hostels now rival nice hotels for amenities and cleanliness, and many have private rooms and bathrooms for couples and families.We mostly stay in rental apartments when we travel, as we can get great long term rates and a place to cook (almost a necessity when you travel with two kids under eight!). We've found that hostels are a great alternative to hotels when ...
Like most travelers, we aren't made of unlimited money (wouldn't a trust fund be nice!). We save cash a lot of ways, from traveling during shoulder season, to bargaining and living more like locals.
There are times, though, that it makes sense to splurge a little and tell your inner Ebeneezer Scrooge to get lost.
How do you know when to tell your inner cheapskate to take a flying leap?