Editing Lodging

= With friends =
Talk to friends in the area and see if they and their housemates are willing to let you stay with them. Couchsurfing, air mattresses, and guest rooms are all options.

= With airbnb =
Airbnb has cheap accommodations. Same-night prices are about ~$65/night. Prices can be as low $30/night when booking weeks ahead of time, even in expensive locales like the Bay.

Booking airbnbs ahead of time is a good idea. The closer you book to the check-in date, the fewer options there will be and the more expensive they will be.

Getting the cheapest airbnb will often be a significant quality of life downgrade compared to getting the second or third cheapest. The cheapest airbnb probably frequently fails to pass muster by other travelers and is much more likely to have unexpected problems, from a disturbing smell to places to get injured.

"Entire home" airbnbs are more comfortable than single-room airbnbs. However, some of these listings are misleading and are actually the basement to another home.

Pay attention to the distance from other transportation options and nearby friends, which will be a significant factor in the overall [[Total Cost of Ownership]].

You can negotiate expensive airbnbs using the "Message Host" button. The host can send you a "special offer" after negotiation, or lower the prices for your chosen date. An airbnb was negotiated from $1330 for 4 nights to $870 for 7 days. This works best if you're looking at an expensive property that's unlikely to be booked by anyone else.

= With hotels =
Hotels have enhanced privacy and some have free breakfast. The following methods work especially well during the busiest months of the year.

[https://www.agoda.com/ Agoda] seems to have the best deals on actual hotels. Use the map mode to be close to specific results.

Skyscanner searches most hotel search sites. Some of the sites it uses, such as Super and Trip.com, are not legitimate. Agoda can price match prices from Super, however.

[https://www.hotwire.com/ Hotwire] allegedly works by "telling you the approximate location (within a clearly defined region), the price, the hotel star rating, the customer satisfaction rating, and amenities (like free parking or free breakfast). Then you can save 20% (or even up to 40%+) on the official rate, in exchange for not finding out the name of the hotel until after you pay."