Would you like to go to Australia but wondering if you can afford it?
As much as you’d like to go, no one wants to rob a bank to get there. Yes, travelling to Australia is expensive, yet I’m here to tell you that it doesn’t need to be. There is somewhere to stay for any budget.
Here are a few ideas for Sleeping Cheap in Sydney, affordable accommodation in one of Australia’s loveliest and most expensive cities.
Finding the right place to sleep at the right price:
There are a lot of different options, be sure to see what suits you with wherever you are at:
Backpackers are still a great spot when travelling solo:
Backpackers are great if you want to hang out and meet fellow travellers… yet there is also the odd occasion they are also the most affordable option. Hang onto your seat belt though, as even the price of the backpackers in Sydney can make a credit card wince. It can be anywhere from $20-$40 for a shared room at around $90 for a private one. Visit hostel world’s website which has great selection of all affordable accommodation on offer.
Find a Couch to kip on:
Couch surfing: If you are social and up for meeting a few like-minded locals for then this is the option for you. While there are fewer people offering a spot in popular cities like Sydney – however it’s always worth trying as you may get lucky and find yourself a comfy sofa to sleep on for free. It’s advisable to set up a decent profile, and send a personalised request rather than a generic one. If you do join the community my advice is also to host others and you’ll and meet people willing to return the favour. The only cost here is social credit and time, and good vibes.
There is such a thing as a free lunch:
Work exchange: Either via wwoof (work on organic farm), Workaway (who I use) or helpx: while there is a nominal membership fee, it’s worth it. You simply exchange your time for place to sleep and 3 meals a day. The hours and type of work can vary; it is normally 5 hours a day, 5 days a week and the work can be anything from gardening, to babysitting, painting or cleaning. There are less options to do a work exchange in the city they do exist, do keep in mind this is also a great way to experience rural Australia, and work on one of the many farms and get a full outback experience. I would recommend this option if you are travelling for a longer time and would like to keep the costs down.
Looking after someone else’s house
House-sitting: Is another great option if are flexible on time and place. Especially popular around Christmas holidays when everyone is going away, and while you might need to care for some animals in comparison to paying $100 a night for a hotel it’s a pretty good deal.
Do note that for both work exchange or house sitting you will have commitments on your time, however if you’d like to travel for longer on the cheap they are both great options.
A local homely experience that costs less than a Hotel.
AirBnB*: This is my favourite option. There is a good selection of places, you’ll meet locals, it cheaper than a hotel and you can choose a place whose taste, style and budget suits you. I tend to make sure the host is like me, so I’ll feel more at home and likely to get a better nights sleep than if it’s a party house or a big family.
It’s a personal thing but some people are more comfortable around other people. As an introvert, I really like and need my quiet time, yet also travel for long periods of time so am always looking to save money on accommodation – as it is usually the biggest cost in places like Australia.
Average nights stay is $100 a day for something decent, so if you are travelling alone for a month or more – it’s a friggen a lot of dosh. I for one would much rather spend that money elsewhere or travel for longer.
So to mix it up and spread out my budget, I’ll normally do a few weeks of a work exchange or house sitting and then use Airbnb when visiting a town or city, this means I can travel for longer and enjoy the sightseeing without any time restraints.
Hotels are still an Option in Sydney too:
Hotels: For the most part, hotels are an expensive luxury in Sydney; however there are times you might want to treat yourself for a night or two. If this is the case I’d recommend the ‘Urban Newtown’, which I sadly discovered on my very last night in Australia. It’s a funky little neighbourhood, where you’ll find some of the best creative handmade stores, health food shops and Restaurants, such as the Golden Lotus.
Cars that are made for Driving and Sleeping
The perfect double whammy that serves more than one purpose:
Australia Travel tip hire a van: If you are travelling around Australia, you like most are going to be doing more than 5 days in Sydney. If this is the case and you’d like the freedom to roam and a place to stay I recommend that you rent a van you can sleep in. You now have both transport and accommodation at half the price of a hotel room. A few companies you can find a wide range of cars and vans from are Wicked Campers, Jucy or Hippiecamper.
They come kitted out so you have a mini kitchen, a place to eat, sit and live the surfers dream life. You can park and sleep in caravan parks for a small fee, this gives you access to electricity and water. There are beaches and parks where it is legal and others where it isn’t best to check while travelling, you can find some further advice here on gallivanting oz or about Sydney in particular on Travel wheels.
For those that prefer real Camping in a National Park
Camping: Australia is still one of the countries where you can park your tent in the oddest places. To search for a camping spot, go to Environment NSW site or check out where to stay in the National Parks.
For more information on free or affordable camping you find a place to camp on findacamp.com.au or more information on the free camping website.
If you aren’t travelling with a tent or equipment, but would like to spend a few nights camping in the Blue Mountains, you can always rent the gear you need via: Sydney Camping hire.
Enough thinking about sleeping cheap, its time to go:
Now you can be a koala and try to find a spot in a tree – a creative but uncomfortable option.
I hope these ideas show that you can find a place to that suits your budget and help you to both enjoy your time in Sydney while saving you some money to extend your stay or travel even further down the road to your next destination.
Don’t ever put off travelling – make the most of what you do have, the people you meet and enjoy!
Featured image: Photo by Keith Zhu on Unsplash Keith Zhu
All other photos by me….