Why You Should Book Airbnbs in Small Towns While Backpacking Europe

Why You Should Book Airbnbs in Small Towns While Backpacking Europe

When I visited Berlin, I spent two nights in a tiny-home hotel in Neustrelitz, Germany, for $140.

A 3D map of Neustrelitz, Germany found in the town square in October 2022.

Joey Hadden/Insider

My hotel was a 20-minute walk from the train station. Sure, it would have been easier to wake up in Berlin. But to my surprise, I enjoyed starting and ending each day with a relaxing walk through a place I’d never heard of, where I spotted the occasional backpacker among mostly locals. I thought it was a peaceful town with charming cobblestone streets. And if I hadn’t been traveling on a budget, I probably never would have visited it. 

Quiet streets in Neustrelitz, Germany.

Joey Hadden/Insider

When I left Germany with stays in Vienna and three Italian cities ahead of me, I was already looking forward to my final accommodation several nights later in Switzerland. 

My last stop in Europe was Zurich, and I slept in a tiny wine-barrel home in a small village named Roggwil for two nights for $400.

The author’s Airbnb in Roggwil, Switzerland.

Joey Hadden/Insider

Roggwil rests in the rolling hills of Switzerland, and to me, it had the most striking scenes of the entire trip. On my final night in Europe, I took an unplanned hike in the area and caught a gorgeous sunset over the village. It was an epic ending to my two-week adventure, and like in Neustrelitz, I couldn’t help thinking if I hadn’t booked that specific Airbnb, I never would have seen it. 

A sunlit field in Roggwil, Switzerland.

Joey Hadden/Insider

I expected nothing more than a place to sleep in these towns, so I was pleasantly surprised to find they felt like hidden gems. Neustrelitz and Rogwill were relaxing counterparts to my travels in Berlin and Zurich.

Next time I backpack through Europe, I’ll find more accommodations in small towns to experience the quiet, slower pace of suburban life while photographing landscapes in less-visited areas of the continent — and save some money.

Source link : https://www.businessinsider.com/book-airbnbs-in-small-towns-while-backpacking-europe-2023-8

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Publish date : 2023-08-30 07:00:00

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