Some of my favorite trips have been to places that didn’t involve any hotels. The Gallatin River Lodge in Montana gave me the chance to sit out on the deck and watch a few deer search for food before a massive summer lightning storm hit. The cabins in California’s mountains—whether it’s near Lake Tahoe, Mammoth Lakes or Big Bear—have given way to many lakeside adventures, shopping trips and bear sightings. Hostels in Amsterdam and Paris gave me the chance to speak with fellow travelers and to head out into the city with people I may not have met otherwise. Hotels can be plush and lovely, but experiences outside of them make for really unique traveling…especially when it comes to group travel.

So, with that in mind, plan your next trip with some of these less conventional accommodations. Your whole clan is sure to have a blast and you’ll open yourselves to a new way to travel.

Cabins

Cabins are, by far, my favorite places to stay. Their rustic décor blended with the surrounding nature provides a stunning environment to relax and enjoy the outdoors. While the great outdoors may not be for everyone, there’s no denying that sitting on the front porch of a tiny wooden cabin overlooking a lake has a certain appeal to it. You don’t need to be out hiking or biking to enjoy the environment near mountain or lakeside cabins.

When it comes to group travel, you can’t go wrong with cabins. Just count up how many people are hitting the road with you and find a cabin big enough to house them all. If everyone chips in, you’ll whittle down the cost and have a place where you can enjoy each other’s company (and, usually, a kitchen in which to craft some tasty group meals!).

Campgrounds

This is another great option for large groups. Whether you prefer the mountains, the dessert or the coast, there are campgrounds galore that would be happy to provide a place for your group to sleep. But it doesn’t have to end there. Get out and explore the area around your campsite. Go rock climbing, hike nearby sand dunes or take a boat out on the lake. There are plenty of ways to get your group active by day—and don’t worry, the older members of your clan can hang back or watch from afar.

By night, get a campfire going. This is one of my absolute favorite ways to bond. You can tell stories (spooky or otherwise!), sing songs or cook hot dogs and s’mores. Plus learning to pitch a tent is a useful skill, right?

Short-Term or Vacation Rentals

Airbnb is all the rage, but it’s not the only way to rent short-term properties. A lot of major cities give you the option of renting an apartment for a week or a month. This is one of the coolest ways to experience a new place; you’re essentially living like a local. Head to the grocery store, grab some supplies and spend the week “living” out of the apartment. Of course you should take some time to explore, but spend an evening or two relaxing at home, just to get a taste.

Vacation rentals are another popular place to stay. While these are more popular in coastal cities or ski towns, they’re definitely worth checking out. You can even ask around and see if anyone you know owns one; they might be able to cut you a deal on the cost and you can squeeze your whole squad in. We tried this a while back in Mexico and had positive experiences even with a group of more than 15 people.

Hostels

Many have an unfavorable image of hostels (maybe because of the movie?!) but they’re actually really interesting options. Though they’re somewhat like hotels, they really focus in on the collective group vibe. You can get private rooms, but the dorms will take you back to college and can sometimes create a massive sleepover type of environment. Giggle the night away with conversations with strangers, and enlist their help to see the city and learn about new cultures, or book a dorm for your whole group and enjoy staying in what is essentially one massive hotel room.

From my experience, hostels are also located in pretty centralized areas so it makes it easy to take public transit or even walk to some pretty stellar sites.

Volunteering

This is probably a lesser-known option, but in many countries, there are places you can volunteer (or sometimes work) to get free room and board. Get your group to give back by considering this option. While you’re visiting, you’ll have some time to explore, but you’ll also be interacting with and helping the locals—something that can make an irreplaceable difference in your overall group travel experience.

Where else have you stayed that isn’t quite so traditional?