I know that we just reached spring, but summer won’t be far behind. And now is a perfect time to start planning your summer vacation. With the economy the way it is, many people will be choosing to stay home this year. That is great for you, because being frugal, you’ll still be able to “afford” a nice summer vacation, and everything will be less crowded.
Here are some tips to help you plan your frugal summer travel.
Try your hand at home sharing. You basically trade homes with another family. Each of you gets free lodging in a new area, and all it costs you is your travel expenses. If you are leery of opening up your home to strangers, trying home sharing with a friend or relative.
Camping continues to be a great bargain when it comes to a summer vacation. Camping is an experience in itself, but you can also use a campground as simply a place to shower and sleep. The cost is a lot less than is a hotel room.
Did you know that most college dorms will rent out their rooms in the summer for a very miniscule fee? Not only may you have practically a whole large furnished room to yourself (and shower facilities), but you also may be able to take advantage of some summer programs that are put on by the college, such as music concerts and nature walks.
Stay with relatives who wont mind hosting your family. Not only will you get a vacation, but you’ll get to visit with your family. Be sure to be willing to return the favor sometime in the future.
Ask friends, work colleagues and family for a reduced rate on a vacation home. Many people you know probably have their own vacation homes. And they may be able to rent the home out to your for a reduced rate or even for free, especially if it is on the off season. By the same token, you may be able to barter for your stay. I did this once, washing and painting a porch deck in return for a week in a cabin.
What are your frugal summer travel ideas?
Mary Ann Romans writes about everything related to saving money in the Frugal Blog, technology in the Computing Blog, and creating a home in the Home Blog. You can read more of her articles by clicking here.
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