Otago, now sitting second in the championship in the ITM Cup, has four games left and will want to keep up momentum after its exciting 39-13 win over Tasman at Forsyth Barr Stadium on Sunday.
Its next two games are in the North Island, Hawkes Bay in Napier on Saturday, followed by a match against Manawatu, in Palmerston North, the following Tuesday.
The side will remain in the North Island between the games, staying at the Napier Boys' High School hostel for a couple of nights when in Napier and them rooming in the hostel at Palmerston North Boys' High School for the match against Manawatu.
Tours are mostly a thing of the past, with the advent of professional rugby leading to games all being played in the weekend, and teams flying in and out of cities.
But the ITM Cup has midweek matches, and with two games in four days in the North Island, it makes more sense to stay in the area.
Also with the union facing tough financial times and almost going into liquidation earlier this year, the union is having to look at cutting costs in all departments.
Accommodation for the top team is one option and staying in a hostel is one way to save on costs.
The trip north luckily co-incided with the school holidays so the hostels are available.
New Zealand Rugby Union rules stipulate teams must travel the day before a game, so they cannot fly up on the day of a match.
The team will bus over to Palmerston North on Sunday, the cost picked up by the New Zealand Rugby Union.
Earlier in the year when Otago played Bay of Plenty at Rotorua, its accommodation was at a backpackers hostel.
Team manager Grant Hubbard said it had been spelt out to players early on about what to expect this year and the players had happily agreed.
He said players had no issues staying at hostels or backpackers, and enjoyed mucking in for each other.
Two players, halfback Brad Weber and loose forward Gareth Evans, should not have any problems finding their way round the school in Napier, as they are both former pupils.
Hubbard said the attitude from the team was one of hand up rather than hand out, and it was a return to basics.
After the trip north the side will play its final two games at Forsyth Barr Stadium.
It has won its three games in the stadium so far this year but will find it tough going to keep that unbeaten record intact by the end of the season.
Otago will take on championship sides Wellington, on October 6, and Auckland, five days later, on October 11.
