Post: #1

Ok so here are details you're away for a month and you're flying solo what do you go for?

Staying in a hostel
Rent a private apartment
Hotels
Some other option such as couchsurfing

It's ok to say what you'd like to do but still base it on reality i.e I'd prefer to be staying in hotels but it's just too expensive so I go for hostels.

For me for a month it's usually a choice between hostels and private apartments. Private apartments give better logistics but the flip side is that to get a decent rate you have to commit for a month so if you don't like it you're stuck.

In the hostel it's way easier to make friends, it's not hard to check into a hostel and be out with a big group of ten people the same night. If you're going the private apartment route you must either really enjoy your own company or be great at meeting people.

Post: #2

I would go private apartment or hotel.

Or even Apartment Hotels. I dig those.

Hotels give you flexibility and services which are nice. Apartments give you savings and less hassle.

If I know a city well and I am not mobile, apartments for sure.

I never did the hostal thing, even as a kid.

"If you're going the private apartment route you must either really enjoy your own company or be great at meeting people."

Yahtzee.

There is no one I would rather hang out with than myself.

Or myself and a fly girl/girls.

Post: #3

I am not much for hostels either, but some of them or more like shitty hotels with a bar. I think I like the game plan that Neil Skywalker has, he basically stays in a hostel for a couple of days to get to know a few people while he searches for a cheap hotel or apartment.

Post: #4

Quote:"If you're going the private apartment route you must either really enjoy your own company or be great at meeting people."

Yahtzee.

There is no one I would rather hang out with than myself.

Or myself and a fly girl/girls.

Pay attention young Jedi apprentices.

Post: #5

Actually while we're on it I could use some pointers on renting private apartments on trips. I've never done that. Mr. Mason refers to savings but I would have guessed this would be an expensive option.

Post: #6

Always hostels, I enjoy them. Plenty of people around, good fun, always someone up for doing whatever you might want to do, good vibe usually.

Post: #7

Ugg the savings on a private apartment are over a hotel. Usually most short term private apartments marketed at gringos aren't that cheap. There is usually a trade-off if you're willing to spend a little more you cut out all the hassle but if you want something cheaper you have to put in some legwork.

As an example I'm in a private apartment here in Lima which is about $1200 for the month. It's very nice; wifi, flat screen, en-suite, walk in closet, security etc. A room of a similar level of quality in a hotel I imagine would cost about $100 per night and that would be a lot smaller, maybe you could get a monthly deal at a hotel, I'm not sure.

Alternatively I could stay in a dorm at a hostel for $10 a night which is $300 for the month, that is quite a big difference I'm spending 4 times what I'd pay at the hostel and I'd have the flexibility to leave whenever I wanted. I could potentially see a lot more of the country in that one month as opposed to just hanging out in Lima. If I only had a one month vacation I'd definitely go for the hostel, I could easily travel to 6 or 7 spots in Peru meet a load of people and have a more exciting trip, I'm not on a time limit which is why I'm happy to have the apartment at the moment.

If you have a few people to share then private apartments start to become a better deal, mine is only a one bedroom but there were similar priced places that would sleep 2 or 3 people so then it becomes more affordable for people on backpacker budgets.

Post: #8

A month? Private apartment, no question. If I had to live in a hostel for a month, I'd probably kill myself. I never do a hostel for more than 3-4 days, and even then sometimes I'll do a hotel. I just feel like I've really outgrown the whole backpacker thing. I'd rather meet and hang out with one cool local than 10 British/American/Aussie backpackers.

Jalouse: That's pretty pricey for an apartment there. It must be a sick place. My friend and I got a decked out apartment in the nicest part of Buenos Aires for like $900 a month. And that was two bedrooms.

Post: #9

(07-21-2011 07:26 PM)Entropy4 Wrote:  A month? Private apartment, no question. If I had to live in a hostel for a month, I'd probably kill myself. I never do a hostel for more than 3-4 days, and even then sometimes I'll do a hotel. I just feel like I've really outgrown the whole backpacker thing. I'd rather meet and hang out with one cool local than 10 British/American/Aussie backpackers.

Jalouse: That's pretty pricey for an apartment there. It must be a sick place. My friend and I got a decked out apartment in the nicest part of Buenos Aires for like $900 a month. And that was two bedrooms.

My apartment is cool but not amazing, it's mid range in the gringo apartments I've seen here. A lot of the more expensive places have more bedrooms which is overkill for me.

The ideal situation would be if I had a couple of other guys with the same budget, then I'd be looking at some seriously plush places.

I've rented short term in BA too, $900 for a great place is a good deal, I'm guessing you didn't get this through the standard short term gringo rental companies?

What do you do if you want to travel around? Do you still stay in Hotels? I find for budget hotels they're quite a bit more expensive than the backpackers and usual not great quality. If I want something decent it's closer to $100 a night so then my accommodation costs are at $3000 a month. This is why staying at a backpackers is still the best option when moving around and on a long trip.

Post: #10

(07-23-2011 12:08 PM)Jalouse Wrote:  What do you do if you want to travel around? Do you still stay in Hotels? I find for budget hotels they're quite a bit more expensive than the backpackers and usual not great quality. If I want something decent it's closer to $100 a night so then my accommodation costs are at $3000 a month. This is why staying at a backpackers is still the best option when moving around and on a long trip.

I actually wrote a post about this on my blog the other day: http://www.practicalpickup.com/three-modes-of-travel

Generally, if I'm staying anywhere for at least 1-2 weeks, I get an apartment. If I'm staying for a week or less, I'll do either hostel or hotel depending on a number of factors (cost, length of stay, if I want to meet people, if I already know people, if I'm traveling solo or not, etc.). I'd say I go 50/50 on them. Although when I stay at hostels, I *ALWAYS* get a private room, preferably with my own bathroom. My days of sharing bunk beds with 12 drunk Irish kids are over.

Post: #11

Hostels- Great way to meet people from different cultures, cheap, and perfect for the youngsters here on a budget. I don't regret my hosteling in Europe, but won't do it again. The "hostel dwellers" did it for me. Entropy4 said it though, ALWAYS get a private room. Don't do like I did and have to constantly drop 99 quid at a hotel for a place to fuck.

Hotels- There's some psychology with girls and hotel rooms. IME unless the girl is completely dtf it is hard to get her back to your room, which only serves 4 purposes: sleep, shit, shower, fuck. I've lost many a bang due to this.

Apartments- "Next level shit". The only way I'll go from now on, if staying for a week or more. IMO, it's far easier to coax a chick back due to having more than a bedroom. Cooking something, watching t.v., feeding a pet camel, ect. are excuses to bring her back, w/out her thinking you're taking her straight to the bed. Plus cooking for yourself is usually cheaper and healthier. Eating out for months on end sux.

Having an apartment also lets you work on social game. Hosting parties is a good way to meet women. It also makes you look more permanent. Escalating in the kitchen is easy. It's the source of food and alcohol. Hostels and hotels don't provide this angle. Just don't let a crazy bitch move in. They become like herpes, and never go away.

My biggest reason for apartments is class of girl. It's hard to game a upper-middle chick while staying in a hostel. I'm looking to step away from the lower-class passport hunters, and lower-middle class crazy party ho's. Their easy targets, and have lost my interest. Renting a nice apartment raises status among other things, and demonstrates higher financial stability, than say, staying in a budget hotel. If a chick asks how much the apartment cost though, just say your company pays the tab. Or tell her it's on your dime, and you're there looking for business investments. This shows potential long term commitment in her country, which should hopefully lead to a bang.

Post: #12

(07-21-2011 10:17 AM)Jalouse Wrote:  Ok so here are details you're away for a month and you're flying solo what do you go for?

Staying in a hostel
Rent a private apartment
Hotels
Some other option such as couchsurfing

It's ok to say what you'd like to do but still base it on reality i.e I'd prefer to be staying in hotels but it's just too expensive so I go for hostels.

For me for a month it's usually a choice between hostels and private apartments. Private apartments give better logistics but the flip side is that to get a decent rate you have to commit for a month so if you don't like it you're stuck.

In the hostel it's way easier to make friends, it's not hard to check into a hostel and be out with a big group of ten people the same night. If you're going the private apartment route you must either really enjoy your own company or be great at meeting people.

I,m still mixed about this, sometimes its better to go out with some friends/people so you can fall back to them if you get rejected, but nowadays i think its better to fly solo. Its a money thing also, if you go out with some dudes you drink way more and spent more this way. I.m running out of cash fast and rather spend my money on my own place so that i dont have any holdbacks( is this a word) in my mind about taking a girl back to my place. im always worried and stressed even before i go out if i dont have a place to go after. It woukld be just my luck to meet a snl and have no place to go.
You cant bring a girl to a hostel and have a good bang there. i screwed up a few times with this _ a very funny story with a naked deaf girl in my dorm in the Manila/phillipines -

If you fly solo you have two options in meeting girls , either man up and go for it or chicken out and make excuses to yourself after a few rejections. i tend to chicken out less and less now.

Post: #13

(07-23-2011 12:08 PM)Jalouse Wrote:  

(07-21-2011 07:26 PM)Entropy4 Wrote:  A month? Private apartment, no question. If I had to live in a hostel for a month, I'd probably kill myself. I never do a hostel for more than 3-4 days, and even then sometimes I'll do a hotel. I just feel like I've really outgrown the whole backpacker thing. I'd rather meet and hang out with one cool local than 10 British/American/Aussie backpackers.

Jalouse: That's pretty pricey for an apartment there. It must be a sick place. My friend and I got a decked out apartment in the nicest part of Buenos Aires for like $900 a month. And that was two bedrooms.

My apartment is cool but not amazing, it's mid range in the gringo apartments I've seen here. A lot of the more expensive places have more bedrooms which is overkill for me.

The ideal situation would be if I had a couple of other guys with the same budget, then I'd be looking at some seriously plush places.

I've rented short term in BA too, $900 for a great place is a good deal, I'm guessing you didn't get this through the standard short term gringo rental companies?

What do you do if you want to travel around? Do you still stay in Hotels? I find for budget hotels they're quite a bit more expensive than the backpackers and usual not great quality. If I want something decent it's closer to $100 a night so then my accommodation costs are at $3000 a month. This is why staying at a backpackers is still the best option when moving around and on a long trip.

I´m shocked by these prices. 1200 follars for an one bedroom apartment in Lima, a third world country. My friend in the philippines rents a massive villa with 4 bedrooms with 4 bathrooms for 400 dollars a month.
i stayed 5 weeks with for free

Post: #14

Neil as I think I said somewhere above there is a trade-off on private apartments if you put more time and effort into looking you can get something cheaper but if you don't want to waste time and have something nice then you end up paying more.

For one month rentals you're not in the traditional rental market which is why you pay much more than local prices, if you commit longer then you can get something much cheaper.

I agree with some of your solo points above, I've been going out solo here. Two nights where I was a bit of a loser and I didn't talk to anyone, three nights where I pulled.

Post: #15

the best overall, to me is to make a local connection (use a dating site or whatever) and have them scope out non-gringo pads for you. hopefully you speak some of the local language and you can negotiate over email. with the help of a local i went from a nice place to an equally nice place (larger, better location, but with a roommate) for half as much.

you can use it as a line on CCupid. i'm in bogota, but depending on where you go, and how helpful the culture is there (in colombia it's very accomodating- escobar backlash i think) you can have someone at least look for you. they want to help, i'm just upset i didn't think of it earlier.