If you’re on a travel budget (and let’s face it, who isn’t these days), there are ways to save money on hotels. Don’t stay at one.

More and more travelers are finding cheaper accommodation alternatives through vacation rentals.
There are now websites that can connect you directly with people who rent out their apartments or houses. This is an especially welcomed option for those traveling with children.

How does it all work? First you sign up at a vacation rental website such as Airbnb.com, Rentalo.com, Homeaway.com, or Vacationroost.com, and enter the city of your destination. You can narrow your search according to price, location from the city center, or even by highly rated reviews.

Using Airbnb my family and I stayed in a lovely 2 bedroom apartment in San Francisco for $100 per night. This was well worth the price, considering the amount of money we spent on making our own lunches and dinners. We also relished the fact that we didn’t have to wake up at a certain time to catch the hotel breakfast.

The apartment we booked felt like home and we took full advantage of the space and comforts like a sofa, DVD, fully equipped kitchen, and a separate bedroom for our kids.

Before you click the reserve button, there is an art to picking the right vacation rental for you.

1. Read the reviews of previous guests: Most sites will have a space for guests to leave their input. Knowing what other have to say can give you a better picture than simply looking at photos.

2. Find out about the cancellation policy: Like hotels, vacation rentals might come with particular cancellation penalties. Make sure you know what you might have to pay if you have to cancel your travel plans at the last minute.

3. Research the exact location: It might look like an ideal place, but where exactly is it? If you want to be away from the center, that’s fine. But if you want to be within walking distance of tourist attractions then make sure you book a place that is central.

4. How long can you stay? If it is not listed in the description, find out if there is a minimum stay. Some vacation rentals are weekly and yet there are those that can be rented for only a couple of days.

5. How do you pay? Make sure you use a website that has a secure method of payment. The last thing you want is to lose your valuable travel money. Some websites have ‘safe’ payment policies, which provide travelers with the possibility to recover money if there are any problems.

Wherever you choose to stay it is important to keep in mind that unlike hotels, you might be expected to clean up after yourselves. Some rentals might exclude a cleaning fee, meaning that you might have to ensure that things are spotless before you leave. Treat it like you would your own home.