Those of us in the United States can't rely on the ultra-cheap airlines Europeans enjoy. Whether due to airline regulations or other factors, Americans don't get the same one-penny ticket promotions offered by European carriers.
On the other hand, in the Netherlands drivers pay over $10 per gallon for gasoline. Americans have been moaning recently over our gas prices rising to $4 per gallon. Perhaps if we paid the same amount for gas as those in Holland we would start running errands by bicycles, as the Dutch do.
FREE HOME EXCHANGE TRAVEL
If transportation costs are putting a crimp on your summer travel plans, it's easy enough to avoid them. Lately, I have seen multiple references in the travel press to the "Stay-cation". This "brilliant" money-saving idea involves staying home for vacation. Snore.
One commentor, who didn't seem to have a grasp on the concept said a Stay-cation involved jazzing up your home to make it like a resort. Doubtful. If your home doesn't have a pool, installing one in the backyard is unlikely to save your vacation budget. It's more likely that this idea was meant as a way for local residents to explore their own regions' tourism offerings.
Perhaps you've never enjoyed the famous Apple Festival or wax museum which hold visitors to your town in thrall. More likely, you dragged Aunt Mary there when she stayed with you last year, and accompanied your kids' field trip to the other local delights numerous times.
Vacation is time to relax or explore new things. Don't settle for a boring stay-cation when you can do a home exchange for less money than if you had stayed home.
COULD IT BE CHEAPER TO TRAVEL THAN STAY HOME?
In my case, the answer is a resounding "yes!" I went to BestPlaces.net and compared the cost of living in my hometown to that of Philadelphia, PA. I found that it's about half as expensive to live in Philadelphia as in New York City. And those figures are skewed because New York City is comprised of four relatively inexpensive areas in addition to the island of Manhattan.
BestPlaces.net looks at expenses short-term home exchangers won't have such as health insurance and housing. But in the areas of food and entertainment I can easily save money by spending a week or two in Philadelphia than by staying in Manhattan. Even with transportation expenses, those of us in many large cities can actually save money by spending time in a less expensive rural area, a smaller city, or for those of us near an international border, another country. I'll get more specific about cheap domestic travel in a future column.
STAY AWAY FROM THE "STAYCATION"
Unless you are vacationing in an area which is much more pricey than your hometown, you can easily save money by going on a home exchange vacation. Even if your destination is over-priced, with home exchange it need not be. The main cost of domestic travel, for most people, is lodging. For home exchangers, this expense does not exist. Instead of a staycation, enjoy a home exchange vacation this year. It could even save you money.
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