I’ve let many opportunities in life pass me by because I felt like I couldn’t afford to do something. I’ve seen many people do the same thing, most recently about SXSW. This compels me to offer unsolicited advice: Don’t make the same mistake. While this post deals specifically with SXSW, many of these concepts could apply to any of the countless conferences and workshops that happen all over the world, or even just a pleasure trip. Take a look, and let me know what you think. What did I leave out? Hope to see you at SXSWi 2010!

Biggest tip #1: Start early!

Biggest tip #2: Be creative!

Where to lay your head:

• Stay with someone who lives in Austin.
• Find a rental on Craigslist, consider splitting a house with a group of friends.
• Stay in a hostel. Hostelling International Austin seems to have good reviews and is a 5 minute drive to the Convention Center. Beds from: $19.00 a night.
• Check out Couch Surfing or a similar service. A quick search shows about 350 definitely available couches in Austin.
• If you decide on a hotel, get a cheap one and split it if possible. If you going to SXSW hinges on being willing to sleep on a couch or in a double bed for a couple days, definitely choose the double bed. Using SXSW’s tool, you can qualify for some discounts.
• Rent an RV?
• Some suggest staying a little farther away will save big. Since Austin has a good bus system, shouldn’t be too much of an inconvenience.