If you have had enough of the staycation and want to actually travel somewhere away from home, then lodging will be an expense that you will have to deal with one way or another. Fortunately, there are a lot of choices and opportunities, if you think a little bit out of the box. Here are some great frugal tips for saving money on your vacation stay.
For the large family or group
If you have more than four people traveling, then you are in for some issues. As part of a family of five, I know first hand. This is because most vacation packages, specials and even rooms are meant for a family of four. Many times, you aren’t even allowed to stay together in one room if you have four people who are age two and over.
While you could opt for a hotel suite, if they are available, they don’t often come cheap. A better solution may be to rent out a house for your stay. You can find homes available for rent through a vacation rental site, but I prefer Craigslist. I found a bunch of beautiful homes in a vacation area for $700 to $1000 per week. These homes sleep seven to ten people. The cheapest hotel package for a family of five (we are talking Motel 6 or Comfort Inn) cost $200 a night or $1400 for the week and did not include a kitchen, washer and dryer or private beach.
For the adventurous
My husband tells tales of sleeping in the car in the parking lot of local supermarkets when he was a kid on vacation. I wouldn’t advocate now, but there are still ways to save quite a bit on lodging when you are adventurous. How about camping at a campsite for one or more nights? It will be an added part of your vacation.
For young couples without children, a stay at a local hostel may be just the thing they need when on vacation.
Home swapping is a way to get the comforts of home without paying a thing. But you do need to let someone else stay in your home during the same time, so it isn’t for everyone.
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