| I have done quite a bit of budget travel in Asia in | | | | category of accommodation is available when |
| the last 20 years or so, but only recently have I | | | | home swapping. |
| formed an opinion on the very best way to save | | | | Once you are connected with a potential swap |
| money on accommodations when traveling. It is a | | | | partner specifics of the swap are really totally up |
| save money tip that will not work for every | | | | to the two of you. Sometimes automobiles will be |
| vacation, but it is a method of which every | | | | included. Sometimes the stipulation is that pets |
| traveler should be aware. Here is a hint: hotel | | | | must be cared for during the exchange. As easy |
| costs on your last vacation were most likely the | | | | as communication is today, it's quite easy to |
| second largest expense that you incurred, after | | | | speak to the other party and exchange plenty of |
| airfare. What if there was a way to altogether | | | | photos or even a video walk-thru. All this serves |
| eliminate the portion of your travel budget | | | | to reduce the reluctance one would normally feel |
| allocated for the expense of a hotel, and most | | | | in allowing a complete stranger and their family to |
| likely some dining out expenses as well? | | | | have access to their home. Home swap sites |
| Home swapping involves finding a person in | | | | tend to have some form of rating system or |
| another part of the country (or another part of | | | | least feedback regarding frequent home |
| the world) who is looking to spend a little time in | | | | swappers, and people who have done more than |
| the city in which you have a house, condo or | | | | a few swaps are not at all hard to find if you |
| apartment. It is a way for both parties to save | | | | would like to limit yourself to swappers who have |
| money on hotel costs during their respective | | | | positive feedback. Remember, your swap |
| vacations. Even food expenses can be greatly | | | | partners in the same boat in exchanging with you. |
| reduced because obviously having kitchen space | | | | Taking the time to develop some trust is the |
| available can cut down the cost of eating in | | | | price you would pay for saving quite a bit of |
| restaurants, assuming you don't mind cooking for | | | | money. |
| yourself sometimes on vacation. | | | | Usually a nominal fee is required to sign up for a |
| A quick Internet search will reveal dozens of sites | | | | home swapping site but when you consider just |
| that facilitate this form of barter. I was astounded | | | | how much money you can save on a visit of a |
| at the variety and quality of properties for which | | | | couple weeks or a few months, it's still very, |
| people are looking to swap, just on the home | | | | very good deal. When my wife and I swapped |
| swap site that I joined. Whether it is a small | | | | our place in Bali, Indonesia for a well-located condo |
| apartment in Bali or Paris, a home near the beach | | | | in San Francisco, we saved thousands of dollars |
| on the Gold Coast of Australia, or a ranch house | | | | over what a hotel would have cost us, except |
| in Phoenix, almost any destination and every | | | | that we never could have afforded it! |