Travel: A Different Way to Travel

Budget-conscious travelers are always looking for ways to trim vacation bills, particularly at a time when hotel prices are steep and rising. The average price of a hotel room is about $194 a night in London and $230 in Paris, according to Smith Travel Research. And, even in the vacation-friendly United States, it's still $96. So, why not look for alternatives?

List your home on an exchange site

First, you pay a small fee to join a service, then you send emails to the owners of houses you're interested in, or they email you, and then you cut a deal. If you both decide things are going well, you switch houses.

The big house-swap sites give you the most listings. You may be better off with a smaller site that narrows the field and introduces you to people like you. Teachers, for example, are likely to find swappers with similar vacation dates during the summer.

Be flexible on dates and destinations because popular spots might not be available when you want them. Swaps are planned months or even a year or so in advance. Give yourself at least three months - and plenty of false starts - to find a swap. And if you're not getting serious bites, the problem may not be your house but the area you're trying to swap into. While France and England are home to lots of eager exchangers, Greece, Italy and the Caribbean in season are notoriously hard swaps to come by.

What about a room with a view?

Rooms in modest homes are rarely advertised and are usually found locally by asking around. Rooms in upscale homes are more likely to be advertised at local tourist information offices and on the Internet. This option has become popular worldwide because visitors are able to experience local life from a host's perspective.

On a more formal basis, staying at an established bed and breakfast can be a cozy, intimate home-away-from-home experience. Check to see whether they serve continental or a full-cooked breakfast? Will you have your own bathroom, or will you need to share? Older B&Bs often don't provide rooms with private baths. Can you have breakfast in the room if I want to? Will your whole family be welcome, or do the kids and dog need to stay home?

Choose a home away from home

You could always rent an apartment. Short-stay apartment rentals are an offshoot of the corporate housing industry, traditionally providing apartments for employees who need to work offsite temporarily or who need transitional housing after relocation to another city. While those services usually require a stay of a month or more, there are many short-stay apartments geared to travelers who need a place for a week or less.

Some guests may enjoy the homey feeling of an apartment, saying that it gives them a better chance to experience life as a local resident. Some people use the stays as an opportunity to test drive an area before considering a permanent move. For others, there is the chance to stay in an exclusive building they might not otherwise experience.

Enjoy significant savings

While apartment prices vary, based on time of year, location and other factors, short-stay customers typically save 25 to 50% of the cost of a deluxe hotel room. And while amenities also vary, most apartments offer lots of extras, like fully stocked kitchens. Many apartments even permit pets.

Some services own their apartments, while others act as middlemen to sublet apartments from private owners. Clients can choose from the available inventory, often basing their decisions on the neighbourhood or the size of the apartment.

There are some possible downsides. Some services will demand credit checks or require security deposits - usually a few hundred dollars. At meal time, there is no room service - and you can forget about heading to the bar for a cocktail. Another little quirk: some services do not tell you an apartment's phone number, so you must use your cellphone to receive calls.

Recapture your youth

No matter what your age, you can save on lodging costs by staying at hostels. In more than 70 countries around the world, Hostelling International, the umbrella group for a number of national youth-hostel associations, offers single-sex, dorm-style beds and, at many hostels, rooms for couples and family accommodations. Hostels charge about up to $30 per night.

After paying a modest fee, members have priority if the hostel is full; they're also eligible for discounts around the world, even on rail and bus travel in some countries.

For an older audience, elder hostels work pretty much the same way. The big difference is that they offer learning and activity experiences rather than simply accommodation.

Article submitted by Velma Carroll, Ten Star Financial Services.

Phone: 905.634.8834
Email
Site

printer friendly

Email this article