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Whatever the situation, it is quite possible that your travel plans dont work out and you are left trying to find emergency last minute accommodation. Howe, as one famous travel guide suggested: don’t panic! Find a coffee shop, sit down and give yourself some valuable thinking time.
natural reaction might be to run around like a maniac trying to find a place to stay immediately, but if you sit down, do some Internet searching and make some calm phone calls then a lot of effort can be saved.
- Top tips for finding cheap last minute accommodation
Tell as many people as you can that you are looking for somewhere to stay, starting from the staff in that coffee shop! Word of mouth could be just what you need and undoubtedly the locals will soon point you in the right direction.
Good places to start your search are areas where there are big venues such as stadiums, concert arenas or festival grounds; you may find lots of cheap last minute accommodation there. Another option is to look for barns, cottages, guest houses, pubs and B&Bs, that provide short term lodging.
Likewise, student areas will often have spare rooms in houses, university halls of residence or cheap hostels, especially if it is a holiday period.
- How to avoid only finding fully booked accommodation
Try to travel during off-peak times. This is when you will find the best rates and the highest number of empty rooms, particularly if you are in an area that basis its income on seasonal attractions such as the seaside.
If you are travelling a long way, then overnight sleeper train journeys will often give you a bed for 12 hours or more meaning you save on the costs and efforts of a finding last minute accommodation.
Always have a book of hostels, hotels and campsites to carry with you. You can never predict when Internet access wont be available and this means its easier to make enquiries en route.
The key, however, to avoiding desperate situations is to always have a backup plan before you leave home. Plan well and research the area you are due to visit in advance. If you do this, hopefully youll never be stranded again!
