California Dreamin' - A Room with a View

I love quirky hotels. They're usually cheaper than the whether-you're-in- Poughkeepsie-or-Punxsutawney-the-rooms-all-look-the-same hotels, and they're always more intriguing.

Last August, I wrote about ways to find inexpensive motels when you're traveling major interstates (Click here for that article.), but for this trip, David and I are considering some alternative accommodation sites.

Darn Good Digs is a great place to start because they list only the best locally or independently owned accommodations around the world that cost less than $150—usually much less. There's no snobbery here as the site lists hotels and B&Bs as well as hostels. The only qualification that matters is that the accommodation be extraordinary. Much as we would love to stay in a Darn Good Digs-suggested property, there's only one listing on their site for California, and it's nowhere close to our travel route.

We're also checking AirBnB. It's an interesting site which is fun to read even if you don't plan to use the service. You can,”Rent nightly from real people in 6975 cities in 157 countries,” and, as the site says, “Travel like a human.”

The site allows private individuals or commercial companies to list their extra space whether it be a spare room, a treehouse, a castle, or a complete apartment. There are reviews, e-mail addresses so you can contact the owners, and a secure on-line transaction system, all of which help you feel more confident about making a reservation. We have corresponded with two AirBnB hosts, but have yet to make a final decision.

Practicalities -
Former NY Times Frugal Travel writer, Matt Gross, rented from AirBnB in San Francisco.  To read the article, click here.