Posted by Sudbury Northern Life Reporter Liz Fleming
Thinking the economy is going to put an end to travel for
you and your family for the foreseeable future? Think again.
Travel doesn't have to be expensive to be exciting, educational
and entertaining.
Do Day Trips
Because transportation and accommodation are by far the most
expensive elements of any trip, consider doing day trips.
Regardless of where you live, there are areas nearby that
out-of-towners consider sites to see. Have you explored them?
Go online and search for interesting local conservation areas,
tours and museums you might never have taken the time to enjoy.
Go to a pick-your-own fruit farm, visit an interesting ethnic
neighborhood to sample the cuisine or just pack a picnic lunch
and head for the nearest park or beach. A great getaway doesn't
need to involve getting very far.
Drive, Don't Fly
Gas prices have dropped, so driving trips are considerably more
affordable than air tickets - and they can be even more fun, if
you do a bit of planning. Choose an off-season destination so
you can take advantage of uncrowded beaches and bargain hotel
prices. A "shoulder season" trip to Myrtle Beach or even
Florida needn't be so hot that it's unpleasant, if you stick to
May and June, or September and October - and all the great
tourist attractions will still be there. The only thing missing
might be the lineups. Save on dining costs on the road by
packing food in a cooler to pass around as you drive and choose
hotels/motels that either offer efficiency suites with kitchens
or include a lobby breakfast in the room rate. It's not fancy,
but it's cost-effective.
Book Smart
Airlines are feeling the sting of our roller-coaster economy
too - and they're dropping their fares. If your destination is
too far for driving and you need to book flights, be sure to
take advantage of the sales available by checking out websites
such as Farecompare.com which tracks prices and shows you your
cheapest options.
Challenge Your Accommodations
Who says it's only a holiday if you stay in a hotel? Consider
house-swapping vacations. Here's how it works: Google
house-swapping and you'll come up with a list of sites
such as www.HomeXchangeVacation.com,
www.HomeForExchange.com/Canada and www.homeexchange.com. You
list your house and offer to exchange a period of time there
for the same period of time in someone else's home, in another
part of the world. Ordinarily, no money passes hands - it's
simply a trading of places to stay.
Do As The Turtles Do
Perhaps this is the year to take your accommodations along with
you. Try camping again. Not thrilled by the whole tent thing?
Rent an RV for your holiday week and take to the road. Rental
rates are affordable, even after you consider the cost of
booking into a campground. If you don't drive too far, your gas
costs won't break the bank and you'll be able to save by
cooking your own meals.
