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Hotels are often cold, lifeless places to return to after a day in a foreign land. If you're on a business trip, you might relish the chance to unwind and buffer yourself from the business day. But, a traveler likes to meet people, experience the culture and get a taste of the place that they're visiting. And, a hotel makes it entirely too easy to miss out on this experience.

If you're not naturally outgoing, staying outside of a hotel is even more important. In a hotel, it's easy to let your inner homebody ruin your trip. You're simply too comfortable. Instead, plan on staying somewhere where you have to interact with others. Good or bad, it will make for a memorable travel experience, where you can say you've lived like a local. I'll admit, I definitely have my days where I just want to hide in my room and ignore the rest of the world. But, my most memorable trips have been ones in the homes of others, getting dragged out to a party or on an impromptu siteseeing tour. Keep on reading for a few alternatives to staying in a traditional hotel.

At the heart of every rushed itinerary, every tiring trip, is the idea that you've got to see everything. After all, what if you never go back? That means you'll never see that statue, the famous museum, or that great little neighborhood that everyone says you should visit. How will you ever do it all?

Although I'm sure you don't need science to tell you, being in the city can be tiring. With all of the distractions, the lights, noise, and crowded streets, our brains get fatigued quickly when exposed to urban environments, even for short amounts of time. So what's the urban traveler to do?