Suzanne Barlyn
The downside? We don't have maid service, which typically costs extra -- a small inconvenience for the savings.
Consider a Home Exchange Members of home exchange networks can swap homes or even host each other as guests during vacation weeks. Nicole Feist, a New York-based therapist who blogs about home exchange has swapped homes 35 times. She estimates her family has saved at least $50,000 in food and hotel costs to travel for 24 days annually since 1999. Feist's two children have their own rooms, and the accommodations are roomy enough to host grandparents, she says. Potential home exchangers can list their residences and browse for others on sites such as International Home Exchange Network and Home Link International. Dan Rubin, president of IHEN in Daytona Beach, Fla., reports an uptick in activity of home exchanging for European destinations, particularly England, France and Spain, where hotel accommodations can easily cost $300 to $500 per night due to the falling dollar. The downside? Many home exchanges require swapping during the same weeks. So, you need to find a match that suits your schedule and destination. You may have more scheduling flexibility, however, if you own and swap a vacation home. Housesitting and Petsitting Are you willing to work a little in exchange for your keep -- and perhaps even earn a small daily fee for your services? Consider house-sitting or pet-sitting in a vacation destination. You can find opportunities, or list your services, in the Caretaker Gazette.
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