Traveling on a budget is challenging, as costs for transport, accommodation, and constantly eating out can add up. To save money, many travelers book what might be considered dodgy-looking places for very cheap, if it means saving a good chunk of change.
That’s what TikToker Lara (@lara_atw) says she usually does whenever she travels. On a recent trip to Mumbai, India, however, this “hack” backfired. In a TikTok video that got over 1.1 million views, she shows the poor conditions of her apartment rental and the surrounding area.
“POV: you always book the cheapest location… but this time it was too cheap,” she wrote in the video’s on-screen caption.
Lara first opens the door to the balcony, which is filled with what looks like junk and old furniture. The view also shows old buildings and other makeshift housing in poor condition.
She then moves inside, showing a dirty pillow with a large yellow stain beneath its white casing and dirty floors. She moves back to the balcony, filming more trash bags on the other side.
Clearly these accommodations left a lot to be desired.
Lara did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Lara was likely staying in one of India’s extremely impoverished areas, often referred to as “slums.” Slums aren’t exclusive to India; countries like Kenya, Brazil, and the Philippines also have informal housing in poor areas, especially on the periphery of big cities.
These types of neighborhoods exist in more developed countries as well, such as Los Angeles or Paris, France.
In India, it is reported that slums are directly connected to British colonialism. In Mumbai, for example, Irish-English merchant Gerald Aungier caused the city’s population to grow sixfold between 1661 and 1675 by inviting traders and artisans to move there for better opportunities.
While the more prominent traders built houses inside the British fort, locals were forced to live outside the city walls.
According to data from the Borgen Project, around 6.5 million people, or 55% of Mumbai’s total population, live in slums.
“Genuinely how much was this, 1€/night?” one user asked.
Lara responded, “14€ per night.”
“I prefer to sleep at my car,” another wrote.
“This looks like a Call of Duty map,” a third joked.
Platforms like Booking.com or Airbnb have tools that allow you to sort by price, as well as amenities and reviews. When you book accommodation, it’s important to check other guests’ reviews and make sure there are no red flags.
Additionally, it’s a good idea to search the address you’re thinking of booking. The infrastructure around the accommodation can help you understand whether it’s safe, clean, and somewhere you’d want to spend time.
It’s also worth being cautious with listings that have very few photos, no recent reviews, or only tightly cropped images of the inside. If a place is unusually cheap compared to everything else in the area, there’s typically a good reason for that.
While Lara’s budget of 14€ (around $16) is low, there are plenty of listings on Booking.com that look like a significant step up from the place she was staying at.
@lara_atw #mumbai #travel #backpacker #lowbudget #comedy ♬ House featuring John Cale – Charli xcx & John Cale
Wow, I sure hope she was up-to-date on her tetanus and vaccination shots before she arrived.