Lodging for Strangers

There was a time when people can travel and not worry about a lodging place to spend the night in a foreign land. Some cultures, particularly ancient Semitic cultures, put emphasis on hospitality to strangers. You can read, for example, in the bible the account of Sodom and Gomorrah. The strangers, who were actually angels, were welcomed by Lot. He protected them even to the point of offering his own daughters to the sinful citizens just to prevent any harm to happen to his guests. Medieval period culture also emphasized hospitality to strangers. All peasant homes and even castles are open to traveling strangers for free lodging.

However, today if you are a stranger in a foreign land or even just within a nearby neighborhood, you cannot expect free lodging. You have to have money to avail a decent place to stay. If you are a tourist traveling to a foreign country for the first time, your best option of a decent place to stay is a hotel. Most hotel accommodation amenities are charged on a daily basis. Food and toiletries may already be included in the accommodation package. The best way to assure accommodation, especially during peak seasons, is to make hotel reservations at least two weeks in advance. Some European hotels, particularly in Paris, may not require advance fee for hotel reservation. Four-star hotel accommodation in Paris, France may range from 140 Euro to 255 Euro a day.