Extended stay hotels are
gaining in popularity, and with good reason. The weekly
rates are often so low that it's worth reserving for
a week, even if you won't actually be staying that long.
Free local calls, voice mail and computer data ports
are the norm, saving you money on Internet cafes and
phone charges. (Tip: No laptop? Most libraries have
free Web connections available.)
The included kitchens, complete with dishes and utensils, allow you to keep leftovers and do your own cooking, saving you money on food. Some extended stay hotels off sleeper sofas in addition to beds, allowing more people to comfortably share a room. A similar idea is serviced apartments... that is, furnished apartments with cleaning service. Try these links for more information:
Timeshare rentals vary
widely in price, but can be quite economical. Many timeshare
resorts offer lodging that can comfortably sleep 6 people
or more, yet weekly rates can be found for $800. (Add
up what 3 hotel rooms would cost for a week.) And remember,
the fact that they're "resorts" often means lots of
things to do. Look here for more:
If you already own a timeshare, you may want to temporarily exchange it for more vacation variety. There are two methods for doing this. The first is to join an exchange network. These act like banks, where you "deposit" your week for trading. They handle the exchange for you, but also have fees. Read all details before joining:
The second method is to work directly with other timeshare owners. This is called Direct Exchange. You don't have to deposit your week with a third party and risk losing it, but of course, there's no middleman to confirm things. There are also little or no third-party fees:
Don't rule out Mom & Pop accommodations as a possibility.
They can be tough to track down on the Web, but you
can let your mouse do the walking in the yellow pages:
Home exchanges can be the ideal
money-saving technique, but they're not for everyone.
We recommend you take the time to get to know the family
you'll be swapping residences with for safety's sake.
You can find home exchange services here:
House sitting sounds like
a dream come true. Just take care of the pets and plants,
make sure the house is safe and you're literally home
free. unfortunately, house sitting positions are few
and far between. Here's some places to check:
Hostels are a great no-frills
way to save money and meet interesting people from around
the globe. Many hostels offer private rooms, which we
recommend over shared rooms. Read these articles to
decide if the hostel experience is for you:
Many educational institutions,
domestic and foreign, make dorm rooms available for
rent when school's out. If you'll be near a university
during summer travel, you may want to call and see if
they have guest rentals available.
