We all know that word-of-mouth is one of the best ways to find decent accommodation. Without it, we can search the internet to our heart’s content, looking for deals. But if all we have to go on is a webpage or advert without any reviews, we could be very (unpleasantly) surprised when the time comes to check in.

Darn Good Digs is a website featuring user-recommended accommodations around the world for under $150US/night.

For example, knowing that I’ll be in India shortly, I searched for local good digs on the site. In so doing, I discovered that the Inn Seventh Heaven has a great vibe, awesome food, I learned a little about the area, and I even read a few tips for booking the less expensive rooms by a user from Australia who has stayed there before.

User nominations are all screened by the website administrators, who research and elaborate on good digs nominations if not enough information is given by the user. Thus, the quality of each review is kept to a high standard and is consistent throughout the Site.

Darn Good Digs has even more reason for you to visit them now: they are having a contest, and are giving away a Brooklyn Industries Travel Bag to make it worth your while.

Contest entry is easy: Simply sign up for their newsletter, or for two entries, nominate your own fav digs for the Site.

Click here to enter the contest, which ends July 27, 2009.

Note: The author has no vested or affiliate interest in Darn Good Digs