In a previous article, 5 Ways to Save on Summer Travel Accommodations, I shared some ideas on saving money specifically on your overnight stays when on vacation. Now here are five more ideas that you can use to be frugal. Pick the right option or combination of options that work for you, and you’ll have more cash for a longer vacation, nice dinners out, or at least a few vacation presents for friends and family back home.
Consider a home exchange. You get to stay in a fully equipped home, while another family stays in your home. You can exchange directly with another family or do a swap through an agency. Look for a future article that will discuss this frugal option in more detail.
Stay with friends and family. Chances are you probably have friends and family scattered all over the place. Use that to your advantage and stay with them when you can, or ask if you can use their home while they are away. You can always do something nice to repay their kindness, such as stock their fridge, mow their lawn or do some minor home repair while you are there. I once shared a cabin by the lake free for two weeks in exchange for cleaning and painting an enclosed porch. The work was usually done in the morning or on rainy days and was fun because we were on vacation.
Consider youth hostels if you are in your twenties or younger. Some hostels will allow older guests or adventurous families. The accommodations are sparse and you never know who you might be sharing a room with, but it is so cheap that it is almost free.
For another free option, you can sleep in your car. While this might seem a little harsh, it really isn’t that bad of an option for a night or two. While we have never tried this ourselves, our minivan, with its DVD player, stereo system, and leather seats that lay flat, probably has more accommodations than a cheap motel.
Mary Ann Romans also writes for the Computing Blog here at Families.com where she shares everything from the latest news on technology to cool downloads and fun websites.
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5 Ways to Save on Summer Travel Accommodations