How to Cut Down on Travel Expenses Using Web 2.0 and Social Media

Social media and web 2.0 have changed the way we work, live, consume and travel. While web 1.0 brought real-world services online, like booking a flight ticket or reserving a hotel, web 2.0 is pushing the envelope by disrupting existing businesses. This article takes a look at how you can use social media and web 2.0 to cut down your travel expenses.

You have to be living under a rock (and a rock without internet connectivity, at that) to not have heard of AirBnB. This massive site raised a large round of funding at a valuation of over $1B. It has millions of users and is giving the hotel industry a real scare.

AirBnB is the democratization of vacation rentals. If you have an unoccupied property, you can list it on AirBnB, set your daily, weekly, or monthly rental price, and wait for the checks to roll in.

It's perfect for property owners as well as travelers. Owners who would've otherwise derived no financial benefits from their unoccupied properties get an additional source of income (in some cases, it can be as much as $10,000/year). Travelers, on the other hand, get to live in a homely environment for pennies on the dollar.

No vacation plan should be complete without browsing through AirBnB listings at least once. You'll get amazing rentals for 1/4th the price of hotel rooms. Check out this 4 bedroom house in Hawaii for just $39/night!

CouchSurfing is more than a means of getting a cheaper room. It is a culture, a philosophy that looks at life as an opportunity to learn and explore.

Basically, it works like this: after you sign up for CouchSurfing, you can connect with any of the millions of members of the site and crash on their couch when you're in their neck of the woods. If AirBnB is home renting done easy, CouchSurfing allows someone to *rent* your couch. Only that there is no fees associated with CouchSurfing at all!

Millions of adventurous travelers have not only seen the world but also made lifelong friends through the thrills of CouchSurfing. Not only do you get free accommodation, but also the chance to explore a different culture from a local's perspective. And the best part is that despite several years in existence, there are scarcely any reports of thefts, loss or damage to life or property through the site. This is really what the internet is all about!

What does a hotel owner do when he sees his rooms unoccupied and no customers in sight? Well, he heads up to LateRooms and offers his rooms for a significantly reduced rate. After all, he'd much better get some cash than see his room go free.

The idea behind LateRooms has been known to seasoned travelers for ages. Not all hotels function at 100% occupancy. LateRooms allows these hotels to sell off these unoccupied rooms for a fraction of the cost.

For the traveler, this means massive savings. A room that would otherwise go for $100 might be had for half the price!

Ever checked into a hotel only to find that the 'pool-side view' is actually overlooking the back of a grocery store, or that your room is right next to the elevator, leading to long nights tossing and turning in bed?

TripKick will solve that problem. TripKick obsessively profiles every hotel room in every prominent hotel and shows you which rooms are worth staying in, which ones worth skipping. It's an invaluable tool for frequent travelers. While it won't probably help cut down on your travel budget, it will definitely make sleepless nights and uninviting views a thing of the past!

What if car rental services like Hertz were democratized? Would you still pay all those extra dollars for a sub-standard car?

This is the idea behind GetAround, which helps you rent cars from people around you. Instead of heading over to the nearest Hertz or Budget outlet, log on to GetAround and hire a car for a day or two from any of the millions of members frequenting the site.

The best part? Not only do you have to pay far less, you also get the chance to rent out cars you've always dreamed of driving: the Cadillacs and the Porsches!