Great Britain Other Types Of Accommodations

Hotel singles in Britain cost about US$140 (£70) per night, doubles US$190 (£95). Smaller guesthouses are often cheaper than hotels. If you make reservations in writing, indicate your night of arrival and the number of nights you plan to stay. The hotel will send you a confirmation and may request payment for the first night’s stay. Some hotels have a 24hr. cancellation policy.

University Dorms

Many colleges and universities open their residence halls to travelers when school is not in session; some do so even during term time. Getting a room may take a couple of phone calls and require advanced planning, but rates tend to be low and many offer free local calls and Internet access. Many dorm accommodations do not include breakfast options. Dorm information is included in the Accommodations section of many larger cities and can usually be found in large university towns like Durham, Cardiff, and Glasgow.

Home Exchanges And Hospitality Clubs

Home exchanges allow travelers various types of homes (houses, apartments, condominiums, villas, even castles in some cases), plus the opportunity to live like a native and to cut down on accommodation fees. For more information, contact HomeExchange.com Inc., P.O. Box 787, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254, USA (☎+1-310-798-3864 or toll-free 800-877-8723; www.homeexchange.com) or Intervac International Home Exchange (☎0845 260 5776; www.intervac.com).

Hospitality clubs link their members with individuals or families abroad who are willing to host travelers for free or for a small fee to promote cultural exchange and general good karma. In exchange, members usually must be willing to host travelers in their own homes; a small fee may also be required. The Hospitality Club (www.hospitalityclub.org) is a good place to start. Servas (www.servas.org) is an established, more formal, peace-based organization and requires a fee and an interview to join. An Internet search will find many similar organizations, some of which cater to special interests (e.g., women, GLBT travelers, or members of certain professions). As always, use common sense when planning to stay with or host someone you do not know.

Long-Term Accommodations

Travelers planning to stay in Britain for extended periods of time may find it most cost-effective to rent an apartment (or “flat” ). Besides the rent itself, prospective tenants usually are also required to front a security deposit (frequently 1 month’s rent) and sometimes the last month’s rent. Rent in London is usually about £400-600 per month, elsewhere in the UK about £200-400 per month. Housepals UK (www.housepals.co.uk) and Gumtree (www.gumtree.co.uk) both have extensive listings of available apartments and rooms for sublet. Many students opt to stay in hostels instead of flats (see Hostels).