Some call me a globetrotter, I go where the wind takes me, and sometimes, it takes me to some pretty interesting places. From the southern coast of India to the eastern reaches of Siberia, I have seen it all, tasted it all and slept in places you’ve seen only in discovery channel specials. So, as far as inexpensive hotels go, consider me your new guru. Now, keep in mind that inexpensive does not always translate to dirty, dark and dangerous. In fact, some of the most fun I’ve had on my travels have been in places that cost as little as a meal.

But don’t think that inexpensive hotels are located in only the more desolate regions of our planet, in fact you can find inexpensive hotels in the biggest, most high-fashion cities in the world. Take, for example, cities like Milan, New York, Paris, Barcelona, shop around, walk around, ask around, and trust me, you will find inexpensive hotels.

So, what is it that makes a hotel inexpensive? Hotels are not always cheap, and you won’t find a cheap room at the Four Seasons, trust me on that one. However, when new hotels are opening in cities, the rates will often be lower because all the bugs (not literally) and kinks that have not yet been worked out. In a way, being one of the first guests in a hotel helps the hotel, so be aware that your stay might not be picture perfect, and the ice machine might not be working yet. Also, try looking for seasonal deals. When you travel during the off-season, hotels will drop their rates in an effort to bring in more guests. Hotels that normally have higher rates will suddenly become inexpensive. Hotels are tricky because what works in one city might not be the same in another.

I still didn’t answer the question of how I find inexpensive hotels. While I am big fan of planning ahead, there are times when life doesn’t go as planned. For those of us who are more conservative in our trips, take a look around different web sites that offer hotel deals. A lot of times, the deals available online can not be found when talking to face to face with the concierge as a walk in guest. Also, if you travel a lot, you might want to think about joining AAA. AAA gives you discounts at lots of different hotels, helping make those rooms a little more inexpensive. Hotels like Best Western and Holiday Inn acknowledge AAA cards. If you arrived in a city and don’t know where to go, ask someone. People are lot more friendly, and knowledgeable than you might think! My trick is going to train stations and asking around there. Taxi cab drivers always knows the where the inexpensive hotels are, or they know someone who has a brother who owns a hotel, and he will, “get you a good rate.”

Planning ahead or spur of the moment, don’t settle for an overpriced room. Remember, you don’t always get what you pay for, nice inexpensive hotels may be harder to find, but they are as real as the chair you are sitting on.