Traveling on a budget? Try swapping homes
By Shelly K. Schwartz
Bankrate.com
You’re hankering for a break from the daily grind and are dreaming of a week away. Your heart says Tuscan wine tour, but your budget screams local resort.
With a little flexibility and a big leap of faith, you might just get in that trip to Chianti country.
Home swapping, a concept that originated in Europe, is catching on fast in the United States as the Internet makes it easier to find other families across the globe that are looking to trade houses for a short vacation. Such arrangements, of course, eliminate the biggest portion of your travel budget — accommodations — making virtually any destination affordable. On an average trip abroad, says Pauline Frommer, author of the “Pauline Frommer’s” travel guide series, home exchanges can save travelers several thousand dollars.
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