Friday, March 6, 2009

Vacations You Can Buy For Cheap

By Alexandra Vrugt

People know when they start to get that feeling that they need a break. From the trendy fashionistas to the everyday no-frills frugal fashionista, regardless of who you are...when you're ready to run away from the daily grind, then a vacation is definitely in order. But price is a big consideration for people, especially in this economy crisis. Imagine saving money on a vacation for you and your family.

Check out these ways that you can buy for cheap, just about any vacation:

1. Try a website like Priceline.com or Hotwire.com where you can either choose your own pricing for hotels, flights, and car rentals, or you can exercise flexibility with regard to the hotel name and save a ton of money. These websites can offer discounts as high as 70% off of the regular rate!

2. Swap houses! This is a popular way to save on vacation costs. There are plenty of people in some really cool and exotic places that are willing to switch homes for a period of time. You may only have to pay a portion of the utilities to cover your stay. Imagine being able to buy for cheap a Paris vacation home or London flat! Craigslist.org is a great place to look for people that are willing to make a swap. Do your best to investigate the area of the vacation home and get plenty of pictures from the owners. Of course, make sure to always check references and never leave anything of considerable value in your home. Even though you want to save, you always want to be safe.

3. Go in for a quick time-share presentation. Where else can you get a luxury hotel stay, dinner or a trip to the theatre for just sitting and listening to somebody talk for a couple of hours? Most people listen to people gab all day at the job and they don't have anything to show for it! If you do decide to check out one of these "meetings", always remember that you DON'T have to buy anything. However, if you decide to consider buying, truth is that time sharing is another way to save on future vacations.

4. Vacation clubs and rewards programs are fabulous! With reward programs, people can take advantage of all types of possible opportunities for saving. Cost-conscious vacation shoppers can earn points or money toward future travel perks such as free hotel stays, upgrades on flights or car rentals, or other freebies just buy signing up for a FREE rewards program. Another option for saving is the tried-and-true vacation club. With these clubs, you can tuck away a few dollars every pay period to save for a vacation. That way, it's not a big financial hit and you can use your money during the time of year when you can get the best possible vacation deal!

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