Long term travel is expensive, and probably the biggest expense of the lot is accommodation. Unfortunately, unlike transportation costs, which you can control by limiting the amount you move around, you pretty much need accommodation every single night of your journey. Therefore, the longer the travel experience, the greater the cost.

Accommodation cost obviously vary greatly, both between different countries, and between different standards of accommodation within each country. I have stayed in a huge variety, from $4.00 per night tea houses in Nepal, to $400 a night hotels in Europe, but in general I try to keep my nightly expenditure to under $40.00, and will usually spend lots more time in countries where you can get something reasonable for that amount (or hopefully less!!).

So, I though I would reflect on a few of my favourites. You will probably see from the photos, it is often more about the location than the comfort for me, although there is nothing better than landing a soft comfy bed and a powerful shower.!

Here are my first 2 examples, one each from, Thailand, Nepal. I will do two more ( Bali and Vietnam) next week.

Thailand

  Lanta Riviera Resort – $35.00 per night (800baht)

We hadn’t organised any accommodation In Ko Lanta, figuring we would work it out when we got there, however, we took a deal on the ferry from Ko Phi Phi that we were sure was going to be a disaster. You just don’t get a good deal from a tout in that situation. Especially when they are prepared to pick you up at the dock, and drive you the 15km or so to the resort. However, under the assurance that if we didn’t like it we didn’t have to stay, or pay for the transport, we (and about 1/2 the others on the ferry), took the free ride, and had a look. We were very happy with the beachfront property, large, air conditioned concrete bungalows, tropical gardens,  swimming pool and restaurant of the resort. Definately our best value in Thailand. Check them out at http://www.lantarivieraresort.com

$35.00 per night

Ko Lanta, Thailand

Nepal 

Pokhara Village Resort – $20.00 per night

After finding accommodation either very unpleasant, or very expensive in Kathmandu, we were very concerned as to what we may end up with when we arrived at the departure point for our Himalayan trek, Pokhara. The Kathmandu travel agent who organised us a guide and porter, and bus transfer to Pokhara, assured us he owned a very nice hotel in Pokhara, only to cost us $20.00 per night. When we arrived in Pokhara, we were escorted to a different hotel (Pokhara Village Resort), as the original one was full? Anyhow, after a call to our Kathmandu Agent, he assured us he owned this one as well? We were allocated the converted store room on the roof, that turned out to have the most magnificent views of Pokhara lake, as well as the Annapurna Range, we genuinely could not complain! The room was OK, by Nepalese standards, they had a generator for when the power failed, and there was a trickle of hot water from the shower. The room was spacious and airconditioned (completely unnecessary).We stayed at 10 days in total, either side of our trek. The don’t have a website

Pokhara Village Resort

Our View, for $20.00 per night!

I would love travelers to support these hotels, as they were both small, family run operations. These types of hotels are often such a better experience than a multinational chain (although with a little less comfort!), that they help create a lasting memory. Next week I will add another post, part 2 to this, and include a couple of other little gems we have found on our travels!