Travel Tip: Alternatives to Hotels During Sporting Events [ 1:00 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Fitz-George Avenue. Credit: One Fine Stay

They say necessity is the mother of invention, and when it comes to scoring last-minute accommodations during major events like the Olympics, sometimes it pays to be creative and skip the hotels altogether.

For starters, why stay in a hotel when you can camp out? And by camping, I mean, sleeping in someone else’s backyard. That’s right, a resource called Camp in My Gardenoffers up open spaces where you can stay on the cheap.

The website OneFineStay is all about living like a local in London or New York. You rent out a local’s home while they’re out of town, but not just any home—these are some seriously nice digs.

Apartment-style accommodations are also another option. The Grosevnor House Apartments in London still has availability during the Olympics—it’s not cheap but it’s a great option to stay in an apartment with all the amenities of a hotel.

And there are the old standbys, like AirBnB.com. Whether it’s the Olympics in London this year or the 2014 World Cup in Rio, the idea is that you can rent out a home, a room, or just a couch and avoid the pricey hotel scene altogether.

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