Hotels and Hostels
It can be so difficult to find a hotel to suit your budget in places you don’t know. Sites like TripAdvisor help, but in out of the way places if there are only a couple of reviews, they don’t reveal the whole picture, so you are non the wiser.
As a general guide, if you pay peanuts, you might get a motel run by monkeys, but careful research can reveal hidden gems at great prices. Look for hotels under renovation and new openings if you want a top hotel at a low price. Accept that everything won’t be perfect and they often exceed your expectations.
Other ways to save are to pre-pay, but beware these rate are usually non-refundable. Booking direct with the establishment isn’t always the cheapest, so be a wise monkey yourself and check a couple of travel web sites as well as the hotels own.