Traveling for a few weeks at a time lets you discover new places and people – long-term travel gives you the time you need to truly get to know them. That said, it’s not always as easy as booking your flight or train and living in a new city for a couple of months. There are things to think about, such as money, work, and (most importantly) accommodation. You might have found yourself hotel-hopping in the past or staying in hostels and sharing bathrooms with ten other people at once.
Room renting is a new way for long-term travelers to find places to stay. If you settle down in a city for months at a time, renting a room gives you the comfort, control (and often, the companionship) you need.
What’s Classed as “Long-Term Travel”?
There’s no clear definition of “long-term travel,” but Insurte sees long-term travel as a trip that lasts over 90 days. (Although it could also be between 30 days and a year.) Whereas Worldpackers believes long-term travel lasts over 3 to 6 months, and can even extend up to 2 years.
One thing’s for sure: a quick two-week getaway won’t count as long-term travel.
The Pros of Room Sharing in Long-Term Travel
Cost Savings
The average cost of a hotel in the US is approximately $174 per night, with some of the most expensive US cities being Boston (at $320 per night), followed by Jersey City ($310) and New York City ($284). Hotels come in at about $523 for two weeks, depending on factors such as location and hostel quality. If you’re traveling long-term and wish to stay in one place for a few months or more, these costs can soon add up.
Renting a room in an apartment can help you save on accommodation expenses. Furthermore, most rooms also include utilities like electricity, internet, and water in the rent. In a hotel, you may have to pay an extra fee for Wi-Fi or the TV.
Making Friends
If you choose to rent a room with others rather than fork out for a hotel, you’re likely to connect with others. In hotels, you may meet one or two people, but you’re unlikely to strike up long-term friendships with them – you’re left to your devices.
Contrast that with sharing a home with someone else for a short time, where you’re living with another human. Since you’re spending a lot of time with someone else, this means you have more of a chance to build a lasting friendship. Solo travelers will benefit the most from this, especially if they want to explore a new city, like NYC or Los Angeles, through the eyes of a local. They can offer advice on the best places to eat or those gems tucked away from tourists. Staying in a hotel simply can’t match this level of community.
Flexibility and Freedom
One of the big downsides of hotels is that they have strict check-in and check-out times. Furthermore, not all hotels will allow you to stay for extended periods of time; you’ll have to check the hotel’s policies. They may also ask for extra fees or deposits. But if you choose to rent a room instead, you’ll have much more flexibility, meaning you’ll be able to stay for months at a time and come and go as you please.
Platforms like Spare Room offer a range of listings with flexible lease terms. Since Spare Room was first founded in 2004 in the UK, it has, since then, helped over 13 million people find rooms for rent – and that’s not counting its US expansion. With Spare Room, you can filter search results to find the perfect place to stay.
More Space and Privacy
Hotels and hostels are great for short-term stays, but after you’ve been there a while, the novelty will soon start to wear off. You don’t have a lot of privacy, and they’re noisier, which might make it harder for you to feel comfortable, especially if you’re making a city your new home for a few months at a time.
Renting a room in a house or apartment means you get more privacy. You can choose what you need, from a large bedroom with an en-suite bathroom, to a less-crowded apartment with only one other, introverted roommate. You also still get the benefits of shared spaces, like a kitchen. You won’t have to go out to eat or order takeout to a tiny hotel room; you can cook your own meals on your terms. You can also choose to socialize or return to your own space when you need time alone. This offers you the balance and space you wouldn’t usually get with hotels and hostels.
Conclusion
Long-term travel is the dream. Extended stays in a place you love, working remotely (or not at all), discovering new places and people, and learning about whole other cultures are just some of the things that make long-term traveling much better than short trips away.
But it’s the logistics of traveling long-term that can make it feel impossible – including the accommodation aspect of extended stays. However, you don’t have to put up with hotel hopping and old hostels. Consider renting a room in a shared house, and enjoy the flexibility, affordability, and comfort that come with it. Until you start to look for your next adventure, that is.
References
- Expedia. (6/10/2025). Hotel Price Index 2025. Expedia.com.
- Insurte. (N.D). What is Considered Long Term Travel? insurte.com.
- TravelB4Settle. (4/18/24). 10 advantages of long term travel. www.worldpackers.com.