It is a truth universally acknowledged that traveling can be expensive. Between booking accommodations, transportation, food, and other costs, going on vacation can leave your wallet feeling much lighter than at the beginning of your trip. However, we put together some tips on how traveling with HomeExchange can help cut down the cost of your vacation and let you travel more while paying less.
Plan your budget-friendly vacationJoin HomeExchange
Let’s get the obvious tip out of the way, shall we? Finding accommodations that fit your budget really can be a pain in the neck, but imagine paying one annual fee and getting to travel the rest of the year without paying a cent for accomodations. That’s where HomeExchange comes in: For $220 a year, members can unlock unlimited travel by arranging a reciprocal exchange or by using GuestPoints to do a non-reciprocal exchange.
Enjoy a home-cooked meal
When you’re traveling, it’s only natural to want to sample the local cuisine, but getting takeout day after day can end up breaking the bank. Whether you’re ordering in (and racking up delivery and service fees) or going out to eat, the price of food can quickly deplete your vacation budget. With HomeExchange, you can choose to eat out some nights, and enjoy a home-cooked meal using your host’s kitchen other nights. If you are in the mood for some dishes native to your destination, try reaching out to your host and asking if they have any recipes that they’d like to share, or maybe try out one of the recipes featured in our HomeExchange cookbook.
Save with HomeExchangeAsk if your guest would be able to care for your pets
If you’ve got a pet that needs to be taken care of, ask if your guests would be willing to walk, feed, and/or play with them! Of course, be prepared to make arrangements for a professional pet sitter if your guests are unable to care do so, but if it turns out that they are willing to do it, you don’t have to worry about hiring a dog walker or cat sitter while you’re away! You'll rest easy knowing that your dog or kitty is well-looked after by a member of our community, and your guest will love the opportunity to cuddle up with your pet.
Look for homes near public transportation
Are you looking for a way to travel sustainably and cheaply? Then perhaps taking the bus or subway can help you out! By opting to take public transportation, you save on gas money, the cost of taking a rideshare like Uber, and you reduce the amount of cars on the road. It can also be a great way to travel like a local and get to know the ins and outs of where you’re vacationing.
Save on luggage fees by using the available washer and dryer
If you’re traveling by plane, you know that the cost of checking luggage can be astronomical. However, if your host’s home has a washer and dryer, you can pack light and only bring a few items of clothing that you can wash and then mix and match for each day of your trip. The added bonus is that you don’t have to worry about lugging a huge suitcase around during your vacation!
Join HomeExchangeAt HomeExchange, we believe that travel should be for everyone and one of the ways we strive to make that a reality is helping offload some of the costs of going on a trip. Hopefully, this list will get you ready to plan your next memorable and budget-friendly vacation.
