How to save money while visiting London – Part 4

London is a must see for every travel enthusiast out there, but if you don’t watch yourself a vacation to London could very easily break your bank. So how can you visit the home of Big Ben without spending hundreds of Ben Franklins? Well, to save money you need to first take into account what you spend the most money on. For vacationers in London, the most money is usually spent on accommodation, food, and attractions.

Accommodation:

London offers a plethora of places to stay. Some are better than others, but with that also comes a higher cost. Hotels in London are expensive, and not just the five star ones. Any hotel near the tourist attractions will easily cost over 150 American dollars a night. The plus side of staying in one of the expensive hotels is that you can probably walk to wherever you want to go, but it would still be cheaper to stay in a hotel outside of London and take the tube or bus (perhaps a double decker) to your destination. Hotels outside the heart of London are much cheaper, and they usually also include a continental breakfast.

However hotels are not the only place to stay in London. Young tourists often stay at hostels. Although they lack privacy, they are much cheaper than staying in a hotel. But hostels are not for everybody, and I, myself, could never bring myself to stay in one.

An alternative to both hotels and hostels is living in another person’s house. Home exchange programs are gaining popularity. In a home exchange, you trade homes with a person who wants to visit your hometown and lives where you would like to travel. This also offers a full kitchen, so you could cook your own meals and save tons of money on food. It also allows you to feel more like a Londoner than a tourist as you completely immerse yourself in their culture. The only downfall I could see with a home exchange is that you won’t have easy access to tour guides and help with tourist attractions or any questions about London.

If you are not comfortable living in another person’s house, or having a stranger live in your house, check out the bed and breakfasts that London offers. This way you’ll still get immersed in London culture, and you’ll also have a Londoner there to answer questions for you. An added bonus with the bed and breakfasts is that you will also have some meals covered a day. Perhaps you could also discuss arrangements with the family to cook other meals and save money as well.

Food:

Another big expense on