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How to find an affordable stay

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We’ve all been there. You decided to go on a trip, found cheap flights and turn to Airbnb or Booking.com to find accommodation. Ouch. A tiny hotel room costs almost as much as your monthly rent. And that cute studio from the superhost? £170 a night. Really?

Here's the good news: lots of locals rent out their homes while they're traveling (just like you)! You can stay at their place for what it actually costs them, sometimes even less. Plus, you get a real home, not a bland hotel room.

But we get it – renting directly from a peer can feel a bit scary. Here's how to do it safely, save money, and maybe make some new friends along the way.

1. Tell about yourself

When you're renting someone's actual home, they'll want to know a bit about you (wouldn't you?). So make it easy for them:

  • Keep your social media profiles up to date
  • Write a friendly bio about yourself
  • Add a recent photo
  • Share what you do for work

On Ciao, we make this super simple – just answer a few questions and we'll create a nice profile for you (doesn’t it look great?).

2. Search

There are lots of places to find affordable stays:

  • Watch your friends Instagrams
  • Check university groups
  • Look in work channels (Slack/Teams)
  • Join travel communities

Ciao connects thousands of professionals and their friends. You can find places through our Telegram app, and if you don't see what you want, set up an alert. We'll ping you when something matches your dates and destination.

3. Chat with your host

Found a place you like? Time to conact your host. Write a friendly message and try to set up a short call – it's the best way to get to know each other.

Tell them about:

  • What do you do for work
  • Who's traveling with you
  • What you're planning to do
  • Any specific needs (like fast internet if you work remotely)

This is also your chance to learn more about the place. Ask questions about:

  • What the neighborhood is like and if it's safe
  • Any special instructions about the apartment (like how the heating works)
  • How to check in and get the keys
  • Their favorite local restaurants or cafes

Make sure you are aligned on dates, price and rules before you commit.

4. Make a deposit

Most hosts ask for a deposit (usually about a week's rent). At Ciao, your host creates a payment link, you pay, and we hold the money safely until you check out. This way you can keep things safe and pay for your stay at arrival. If your host asks you to pay in advance, you can always offer to make a deposit instead – it shows your commitment, and protects both of you with a simple cancellation policy.

5. Move-in

The day has come! Message your host the day before, and take photos of the place when arrive (just in case!).

Once you're settled, let your host know everything's okay and sort out the payment as agreed. If you're staying a while, many hosts are cool with splitting the payment into chunks – just ask!

6. Living like a local

Remember, this is someone's home, not a hotel, so treat your host's place as if it were your own. Keep things tidy and be considerate to neighbors. Respect the rules set by the host, and try to leave their home just like you found it.

7. Heading out

Before you leave, make sure you cleaned up after yourself and put things back where you found them. Handle over the keys or lock up properly, and message your host when you're out.

Your deposit will be returned soon after your stay (it’s within 48 hours on Ciao).

Bonus tip

Looking to save even more? Many hosts offer discounts if you can be flexible with dates. Check out our article on Perfect Matches.