How Egland Cost Me Only $30 on Acommodation

I somehow have only paid for one hostel for one night in one month. Couchsurfing and Trusted House Sitters are my best friends... and I guess Sydney is alright too. I arrived in England September 25th, and stayed with my sister on her big green couch until the 28th. For all of you that are unaware, my sister is an elementary school teacher and is living with her boyfriend is Cheshunt.. a small town just north of London. While I was there I ventured into London in the day time while Syd & Mike were at work. Last time I was there I was 6, so obviously didn’t remember anything. I walked around both days and got hella lost.. like walking in circles lost. At one point I walked past Trafalgar Square and had no idea that I was there so walked to Buckingham palace and then google searched where Trafalgar Square was, walked back, and was like “waaaaiiiiittttt.” London was pretty and it was great weather but it just felt like I was back in Toronto just everyone had British accents and the CN tower transformed into Big Ben. After that I headed to my first house sit in Sharnbrook. I got picked up at the train station in Bedford by one of the owners of the house. And arrived to the house a little late so I didn’t see a whole lot. They run a B&B so I got to stay in one of the guest rooms! They let me pick which room I wanted to stay in before I arrived so I obviously pick the big and more expensive room, cause I wasn’t paying 💁🏻 It had two rooms, one had wardrobes, a beautiful vanity to get ready, and a sink with face wash supplies and the other room had the bed and tv in it! The rest of their house was equally as stunning! It was built in the 1800’s so it had that beautiful charm to it, with a thatched roof and old wooden beams, but they had also renovated it so it had a HUGE kitchen and living area. While there I had to look after two dogs and three horses! The dogs were great, and I mostly walked them off leash and they were very well behaved and came back when called... unless they saw a cat or squirrel and then it would take a little longer :p The horses were also pretty good. The one was a big bully and picked on the youngest one which was quite sad but it’s not like I’m going to step in between a fight with two horses 🙅🏻 I stayed there until October 11, and had a great time. It wasn’t a very exciting town so I didn’t really do anything but it was nice to relax, especially after working like crazy in Toronto this year. Oh! Also, found out a couple days after I left that the place is haunted! Got a weird feeling when in there and assumed it was haunted! Good thing I found that out after I left! After Sharnbrook I went to York. I stayed my first night there at The Fort Boutique Hostel. You walk into a restaurant and go to the bar to check in which was a little strange. I got brought to my room and when I walked in there was a shirtless older looking man fast asleep in one of the beds (I got a co-ed 8 person dorm.. it’s not like I got a private all girls room and there was this man :p). It was a little off putting but whatever, I dealt with it. Because it was thanksgiving back home I didn’t want to do anything except watch the rest of Orange is the New Black and eat McDonald’s so that is exactly what I did. Eventually an older woman checked into the room and the man woke up. Found out he was working there as a bricklayer and was from Manchester. He had lived in the North of France for a couple years as a chef and also lived in Scotland for 14 years and other than that I did not understand a word he said!! The next day I walked about 15 minutes to the next place I was staying. I was staying with a couple that I met through Couchsurfing. The first thing I noticed about their house was the smell... the bad smell .. and then the smell of B.O, and then the dirty kitchen, and then the dirty floor and then the unmade bed that I was supposed to sleep on 😂 You’re probably like “Jordan why would you even stay there?!?” And you know what?!? I don’t know!!! It was free, and I had a separate room and they were really nice and made great vegan food .. but I couldn’t help but think how horrified my mom would have been if she saw where I was staying! But I mean, thanks to them I now only message people on Couchsurfing that have photos of their places! I have another Couchsurf coming up in Edinburgh, and one in Belgium so hopefully it gets better! I stayed at their place until October 14. I just can’t get over that I’ve only payed for one place in over a month! It’s saving me so much money that I’m spending all my money on food.. so I have to calm down on that, like there is no need for a bag of M&Ms every week!

#hostel #Backpacking #England #Travel #Travelcheap #London #York #Leeds