Free Vacationsby Mary Ann Romans | More from this Blogger 01 Jun 2009 11:51 AM Just because you don't have the budget for it doesn't mean that you can't have one! Here are some ways to snag some great free vacations. Explore the city I just got a list of all of the fun and free things that we could do nearby in Philadelphia! There are historic sites, museums, music concerts, walking tours and more that are absolutely free. I also found out that one famous theater opens its doors free to the public for the final dress rehearsal before the show. The rehearsal is just like the normal show, complete with costumes, lights, props and uninterrupted performance. Contact the local tourism bureau for your nearest large city or see if they have a website to learn more. Enter contests If you absolutely dream of a vacation to Disney or a trip to the Caribbean then get those fingers typing and writing to enter every vacation contest that you can find. I know at least three families who have gone on a free vacation this way. This requires a little bit of work, but dreaming while you enter can be a lot of fun. Plus someone has got to win, right? Just don't enter anything that requires money or other commitment. Home exchange Consider taking part in a home exchange. You can exchange with a stranger using a service just for this purpose or stick to switching homes with someone you already know for vacation. Now is the time to put all of those 75 friends you have on Facebook to use! Hey, does anyone want to visit Philly or Lancaster? I'm about an hour away from either. Heh heh. Provide a service A sneaky way to get a free vacation is to provide a service and then get paid for it. There are three ways that you can get a free vacation using this method. The first is when traveling by car. There are services that hire drivers to drive their clients cars to vacation spots. Gas is paid for and all you have to do it get there. You may need to fly back or arrange to drive back the other way. Businesses will often hire people to fly with packages because it is actually cheaper for them to send someone on a plane than to try and get the package to its destination by carrier. You'll need to be flexible enough to leave right away if called, but you'll get a free flight out of the deal. House sitting can be a way to get a free place to stay. You get to live in the house for a period of time and may even get paid to stay there. While there are a lot of private clients, real estate developers often hire people to move into a neighborhood while they are selling new units. You can read more blog posts by Mary Ann Romans here! or subscribe to this blog using the subscription box on the right. Favorite Deal Websites: Related Articles: Frugal Night (or Day) at the Movies Getting Your Home Ready for Summer Vacation Tips for Saving Money at the Circus Tips for Saving Money at the Circus 2 Tips for Saving Money at the Circus 3 36 Money Making Ideas for Kids and Teens Planning Your Frugal Summer Travel Learn more about Mary Ann Romans  Mary Ann Romans is a freelance writer and mother of three children. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, the kids and a 16-pound cat. Relevantfrugal tags User Comments londonlois (12) 02 Jun 2009 03:27 AMHi Mary Ann Great article - and thanks for suggesting home exchange as a way to have a very cheap vacation. If you can't arrange the swap you want with someone you know, don't be put off arranging a swap through a reputable home exchange site (one that charges a small fee as this gives peace of mind that you are dealing only with other members who are genuinely committed to arranging exchanges). Although other members will be strangers when you are first in contact, remember you will be a 'stranger' to them too until they get to know you. Arranging an exchange usually takes a few weeks, sometimes months, and during this time you will be getting to know and trust each other so that by the time the exchange takes place you should feel very comfortable having them stay in your home and care for it while you enjoy their home. Check out listings all over the world at href="http://www.homebase-hols.com">Home Base Holidays (London). Discuss this article
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