A room by the day: how to rent one cheaply for a night or a few days
When a room beats a flat or a hotel
A room by the day helps when you just need sleep and a shower: a night before a train, an interview in another city, a short work trip. It is usually simpler than a whole flat, and sometimes closer to the centre or the station. The downside is privacy: if the room is in the owner's flat, you share the kitchen or bathroom with other people. So ask about the type of room before you pay.
What to put in your request
- dates — check-in and check-out, or the hours;
- area — the city, neighbourhood, near a railway station or another landmark;
- number of guests — one person or two;
- budget per day — or per hour;
- room conditions — private room or in the owner's flat, own bathroom;
- documents for reporting — a bill or invoice for a work trip;
- pets — whether you travel with one.
Example: “I am looking for a room in Sydney, near the railway station, for 2 nights from Friday, for 2 people. Preferably with its own bathroom, no pets. I need a bill for a work trip. Up to $21 a night.”
What to pay attention to
First find out what kind of room it is. Is there a separate entrance, does the door lock, is there a bed and bed linen, is there a shower and hot water? Ask whether the owners and other residents will be at home and whether you can cook. This matters for sleep: is it quiet or noisy, and does anyone walk through your room at night?
Ask what time you can check in and when you must leave, whether you will have a key for the whole period and whether a deposit is needed. If you travel for work, ask about documents at once, because not every owner provides them. If you arrive late, agree in advance who will open the door. A common mistake is taking the cheapest room from photos and finding out on arrival that it is a walk-through room or at the other end of the city. Ask for the exact address once you have decided and check on a map how far it is to where you need to go.
How it works with BlaBlaPrice
Owners reply to your request in the chat: which room, price per day, what is included, photos. The request is checked before it is shown, and BlaBlaPrice shows the best offer by content first. Owners see where they stand among the others, so they often improve their terms. Contacts are hidden until you choose whom to give them to. More: how it works.
If you need more space, see flats by the day. For the most economical option, hostels and dorm beds.
