Met a traveler in Lisbon who swore by only booking hostels after 10pm for same-day discounts, but I think that's a great way to end up sleeping in a park.

He told me, 'Just show up at the front desk after 10, they'll always have a cheap bed,' but my one attempt at that in Porto left me paying triple for a last-minute hotel at 11:30pm when everything was full.

4 comments

4 Comments

sarahpark2mo ago

Oh man, that's playing with fire. I got stuck in Prague once trying the same thing, convinced I'd find a deal. Ended up on a bench in the train station until 5am because even the sketchy places were sold out. Some traveler tips are just ways to make a bad story later. Never again.

wilson.olivia2mo ago

Yeah, I read a blog post once that called that "travel roulette." The writer said it works maybe 60% of the time in big cities, but that other 40% is pure panic. They argued the stress and lost sleep just isn't worth the small amount you might save. After hearing stories like yours, I'm totally with them. I'd rather pay a bit more to know I have a real bed waiting.

jason_stone592mo ago

Yikes, Sarah, that sounds awful. @wilson.olivia, what's the worst "roulette" story you've heard?

stella_scott966d ago

Ughh that is brutal. But wait, were you solo traveling or with someone? I always wonder if that "roll the dice" thing works better when you're with a buddy so at least you're not alone in some sketchy station. Did you at least meet any interesting characters on that bench or was it just pure misery the whole time?