A few months ago, we talked about the usefulness of vacation rentals as lodging alternatives , offering many of the same amenities as hotels at closer-to-hostel prices. While the two biggest names in homestays are VRBO and HomeAway (the former now owned by the latter), a small grass-roots community has sprung up across the pond....

When spending months abroad, it's important to remain flexible in considering lodging options. While hostels are a fairly typical way to stay someplace cheaply, and get the advantage of meeting fellow travelers, sometimes it might be nice to have a place of your own. One alternative to hotels are sites like HomeAway which are vacation...