Accommodation is typically the largest single expense on a European trip, and in cities like London, Paris, Zurich, Amsterdam, and the Scandinavian capitals, hotel prices can be staggering. A basic room in central London easily exceeds £200 per night. But expensive cities do not require expensive stays if you know where to look and are flexible about what “accommodation” means.

Hostels Are Not Just for Students

The modern European hostel bears little resemblance to the grungy backpacker dorms of decades past. Chains like Generator, MEININGER, a&o Hostels, and Wombat’s offer clean, well-designed spaces with private rooms, ensuites, and social common areas. A private double room at a quality hostel in Paris or Amsterdam costs €80-120 per night, roughly half the price of a comparable hotel. Dorm beds run €25-45 depending on the city and room size. Many travelers over 30 are surprised to find that hostels have become genuinely pleasant places to stay.

Book directly through the hostel website or Hostelworld for the best prices. Hostels often have flexible cancellation policies and do not require full prepayment. Check reviews carefully, particularly for cleanliness and noise levels.

Apartment Rentals: The Space Advantage

Renting an apartment through Airbnb, Vrbo, or Booking.com gives you a kitchen (saving enormously on meal costs), a washing machine, and more space than any hotel room. In expensive cities, this matters. A decent apartment in an outer Paris arrondissement runs €80-140 per night, and you can cook half your meals for a fraction of restaurant prices. For stays of four nights or more, apartments almost always win on value.

The key is looking at neighborhoods slightly outside the tourist core but connected by good public transit. In London, areas like Brixton, Hackney, or Stratford offer lower prices with excellent Tube connections. In Paris, the 11th, 18th, and 20th arrondissements are significantly cheaper than the central 1st through 6th while being entirely safe and well-connected by Metro. In Amsterdam, neighborhoods like De Pijp, Oost, or Noord offer better value than the Canal Ring.

Booking.com vs Direct: When Each Wins

Booking.com is excellent for comparison shopping and their free cancellation policies provide flexibility. However, many smaller hotels and guesthouses offer 5-10% discounts for booking directly through their own website. The savings are real and add up over a long trip. Use Booking.com to research and compare, then check the property’s own website before finalizing. The Genius loyalty program on Booking.com does offer legitimate 10-15% discounts at participating properties after two stays.

Shoulder Season: The Biggest Savings

Timing your visit is the single most effective way to save on accommodation. London hotel prices drop 30-40% between November and March compared to summer peaks. Amsterdam in November is dramatically cheaper than Amsterdam in April during tulip season. Paris in January or February is far more affordable than June. Even a small shift from July to September can cut prices by 20%. Shoulder season travel (May, September, early October) offers the best balance of pleasant weather and lower prices.

Alternative Accommodation Options

House-sitting: Platforms like TrustedHousesitters connect travelers with homeowners who need someone to watch their home and pets while they travel. Annual membership costs about $129, and then accommodations are free. You stay in real homes in real neighborhoods, often in expensive cities where homeowners travel frequently. Competition for popular listings can be fierce, so build a profile and apply early.

Hospitality exchange: Couchsurfing and its alternatives (BeWelcome, Trustroots) offer free stays with locals. The experience is as much about cultural exchange as free accommodation. It is not for everyone, but for solo travelers comfortable with staying in someone’s home, it provides both savings and genuine local connection.

University dormitories: During summer break (roughly June to September), universities in London, Edinburgh, Amsterdam, Vienna, and many other cities rent out student housing to travelers. Rooms are basic but clean, centrally located (many European universities are in city centers), and priced at €30-60 per night. UniversityRooms.com and the universities’ own websites are the best places to check availability.

The Bottom Line

Expensive European cities become much more affordable when you expand your definition of accommodation beyond central hotels. A combination of hostels with private rooms, outer-neighborhood apartments, shoulder-season timing, and alternative platforms can cut your accommodation budget by 40-60% without any reduction in comfort or safety. The savings are enough to fund an extra week of travel or simply enjoy more of what these magnificent cities have to offer.