House Swapping

How about traveling to a great destination and having free accommodations? That’s the benefit of a home exchange program, commonly known as “house swapping.” The idea dates back to the mid-1950s, but was popularized during the 1970s. Today, people realize what a cost-saving concept it is, and hundreds of agencies are involved in bringing interested parties together. There is usually a small fee for having your home description and photographs listed.

When you decide you want to take that annual family vacation, log-on to the Web site and select a destination, determine your travel dates, the number of bedrooms and the amenities desired, then see what is available. Contact follows between you and the owners of the houses that meet your needs. Ultimately, you find someone who wants to stay at your home as much as you want to stay at theirs. Very often, automobile swaps are available, too, eliminating the need to rent a car.

Since the program only works as a swap, you have to be comfortable with the idea of having strangers stay in your home, use your silverware and dishes, and sleep in your beds. Naturally, it is prudent to remove articles of particular value before the actual swap takes place.

Just Google “home exchange” or “house swapping” and you’ll find hundreds of sites to investigate. Since home exchange members can be found all over the world, you can literally pick any destination you want, and even take more than one family vacation a year, without incurring the hefty cost of hotel accommodations. 

Doing Disney

If your family votes for Disney World as its vacation choice and you don’t want to opt for house swapping, it is still possible to have that unforgettable getaway without dipping into the kids’ college fund. You have a couple of choices, which include looking for budget accommodations outside of the resort and driving in and parking each day, or considering the Disney World inclusive packages. The packages can run from $2,500 and up to $3,200 for a family of four for a week. They usually include all accommodations, daily park entrance, transportation, and some meals.

Visiting Disney World lets you share a great vacation with your family, providing unforgettable fun for everyone. Visit the Disney Web site and speak with a travel agent to find the best option for your family. Before you know it, your family can be skipping down the Magic Kingdom’s Main Street, singing M-I-C-K-E-Y-M-O-U-S-E.

Cruising Around

An increasingly popular family vacation choice today is a cruise. Like Disney vacations, this, too, can be done on a budget. Several cruise lines have quad or family staterooms and excellent day-camp-type programs for children in various age groups, as well as special teen activities, so you can all decide just how much “togetherness” you want.

For example, your family of four may be able to take a 7-day Western Caribbean cruise through Carnival this June for about $2,500 for the week. Ports of call include Ocho Rios, Jamaica, Cayman Islands, and Cozumel, Mexico, with another three days at sea. You won’t need to search for activities, as this ship is equipped with three swimming pools, giant waterslide, 9-hole miniature golf course, Internet cafe, ice-cream parlor, games, prizes, spa and fitness facilities, karaoke and more, all for your family to experience.

There are many cruise opportunities out there, and you’ll do yourselves a favor by consulting a professional travel agent. Agents can see all the offerings at a glance and constantly receive e-mails and flyers from the cruise lines about special offers and discounts. Furthermore, taking advantage of familiarization and inspection trips enables travel agents to give you the benefit of their first-hand knowledge of many different ships, as well as their impressions and recommendations.

There is no substitute for a family vacation when it comes to sharing good times and memorable experiences. With careful planning, research and professional help, you can save money while having a great time!

Linda Aubel is a freelance writer. Linda has many years of experience in the travel industry.