The travel industry has exploded and transformed in recent years, thanks largely to the unprecedented growth of the internet and the availability of increasing cheap flights. Intense competition between airlines and tour operators mean that prices have been driven down exponentially, and a tsunami of travel websites makes booking a holiday tailored to your individual requirements just a few clicks away.

Whether you are after a cruise to the Caribbean, a ski holiday in the Swiss or Italian Alps, a weekend break in Paris or a romantic week in Venice or Zagreb, it is a simple matter to find the deals on offer and book your treat from the comfort of your own home.

Renting is becoming more popular due to the flexibility it affords to explore foreign parts at your own pace. Whereas hotels effectively limit your freedom both in terms of physical space and set meal times, not to mention a constant awareness of fellow guests who might not appreciate the charms of your kids as much as you do, renting a villa or apartment is like a home away from home.

Explore an historic city like Paris at your own pace. There’s simply not enough time to hang about till breakfast is served and get back for dinner. Prepare your own picnic and set off to tick off at least the basic list: Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Notre Dame, Arc de Triomphe, Pompidou Centre- the list goes on and on of what there is to see in Paris. Eat out at zillions of small cafes and restaurants, carry the kids home on your back if necessary without incurring the disdain of a concierge, and have a long lie in next morning. Paris is a city that needs more than just a few days to see. Renting a place is a cheap way to lower your costs while getting to see everything this city has to over. It’s cheaper than a long term hotel stay!

Don’t stay in big hotels. Sure they are nice and offer a lot of luxury but the money really doesn’t help the local population. Travel is about broadening your horizons and expanding your mind but also about learning and helping the local population live better. If you go anywhere, whether it’s France or Thailand or Australia, and stay in a big corporate hotel, most of that money will be sent back to the corporation headquarters and the local economy will only see a fraction of that money. However, if you stay at a local guesthouse or bed and breakfast that money will go help the people right in the area. The owners will be locals who put that money right back into the local economy which will help the local people much more than if you see only a little money from a faceless corporation. If you really want to help the people you are visiting, don’t stay at a big hotel. Stay at a local guesthouse and you will do much more good. Moreover, you will get a much more personal experience. You won’t be bothered by a tourist desk- you’ll be welcomed by the owners as part of the family. They will be able to tell you all the local things to do, good restaurants, and might even act as tour guides. All in all you get a much more personal experience than you would if you had been going to a big hotel. Go local the next time you travel- it will help people more and you’ll have a better experience.

If you are traveling on a budget and don’t want to be spending an obscene amount of your travel money on where you stay, it is possible to find cheap accommodations. The trick is to avoid paying standard hotel rates or even in avoiding hotels altogether. If you are willing to look, cheap accommodations are out there.

If you are spending a week or two in a traditional resort, it is worth your time to look into packaged flight and hotel deals. Also, if you are booking your hotel, it is possible to pay a lot less for the same room. Don’t expect prices for a hotel room to be standard. A price on one site can be totally different on a different site. So always check the hotel’s site first for any deals, and then check hotel comparison sites. This will ensure that you get the cheapest price available for that room.

If you are traveling to more than one place, or are just looking for a comfortable place to sleep at night, you can save even more money. Hostels are not just for students anymore, and they are incredibly cheap alternatives to hotels. They are in virtually every city in the world, and many are clean, friendly, and include amenities like laundry and food.

Other options are camping, or doing a home-stay, house swap or couchsurf. For doing a home-stay, you can ask the tourist center for any families that have registered. A couchsurf can be found by going to couchsurfing.com. These are both great ways of meeting people and learning more about the local culture. A house swap lets you trade houses with someone in another country. As long as you’re willing to take on the risk of having a stranger in your house, you can’t beat the price …at free. You can register through Craigslist or through an agency.