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It’s no secret that vacations can be expensive. Between flights, hotel rooms, and spending money while you’re there, it’s easy to rack up a bill worth several thousand dollars. However, there are ways to cut costs and still have a great vacation. In this blog post, we’ll outline 8 unique ways how to spend your vacation “to the last penny.” So without further ado, let’s get started!
1. House Swap
One of the best ways to save money while on vacation is through a house swap, also known as home swapping. This happens when you trade houses with someone overseas for an agreed-upon length of time so that each family can get a change of scenery and enjoy each other’s homes while avoiding the cost of hotels or rentals. While this method may seem unusual, it’s actually quite popular in certain circles. There are many sites where you can list your home or search for a house that matches your needs across the world, including LoveHomeSwap.com, HomeExchange.com, and Airbnb.
2. Camping
Love the great outdoors? Why not enjoy it on your next vacation? Camping offers a number of advantages over staying at a hotel. For one, you’re typically surrounded by nature and can enjoy the simple thrill of stargazing at night. What’s more, you’ll save big bucks on accommodations since campsites are typically cheap or free and all you need to bring is your tent, sleeping bag, and other camping gear. Plus, it’s a great way to reduce your carbon footprint while traveling!
3. Vacation Rental or Home Exchange
When you can’t find someone to swap houses with for free, there are several rental websites that offer vacation homes at affordable prices. These include Booking.com, Airbnb.com, Homestay.com, and Flipkey.com rent.com to name a few. Furthermore, you can make money renting out your own property through sites like Outpost.com or HomeAway.com if it’s available for rent on one of these platforms.
4. Stay at One Place
Nothing gives you more bang for your buck than staying at one place for the duration of your vacation. This is especially true when you’re in a popular tourist destination like Paris, Rome, New York City, or Venice. The website GoEuro.com has a feature that lets you compare prices and travel times between different destinations so that you aren’t making too many side trips during your trip — and neither are you racking up additional transportation costs!
5. Cook at Home
Eating out for every meal while you’re on vacation can be a costly mistake. And while it may be tempting to hit new restaurants each night, doing so will greatly increase your expenses over the course of your trip. A much smarter idea is to have breakfast and dinner at your rental or hotel and pack your own lunch. This is easy to do if you’ve got a refrigerator in your room, but if not, it’s still possible with items that don’t require refrigeration like canned tuna, hard-boiled eggs, crackers, fruit (cut up ahead of time), and sandwiches made with tortillas or pita bread.
6. Visit National Parks
If you’re a nature lover, there’s no better way to save money while seeing the sights than by visiting national parks. From the Grand Canyon to Bryce Canyon and Death Valley — not to mention many others — all of America’s national park sites are free (though entrance fees may apply). You can read more about America’s national parks at the National Park Service website.
7. Hit the Slopes
If you’re vacationing in ski destinations like Aspen, Vail, Breckenridge, Whistler Blackcomb, or Stowe, there’s no better way to save money than by skiing or snowboarding down the slopes as much as possible. Furthermore, even if you’re on a tight budget, winter vacations are often more affordable than summer getaways since airfare and hotel prices tend to rise during the warmer months.
8. Play Online Casino
If you want to enjoy an elegant vacation without emptying your wallet, visit one of the many gambling platforms like Fight Club Online Casino and play slot machines. Many casino websites offer free trials so you can sample their games before betting real money — and if you decide to deposit funds at a later date, they’ll often match your first initial deposit with a generous bonus!
So if you are looking for unique ways to spend a vacation, definitely check out these ideas. They may not be traditional, but they will give you many new and exciting experiences with your friends and family.
