Save Money on Spring Breakby Mary Ann Romans | More from this Blogger 12 Mar 2009 11:54 AM Gone are the days, I think, when spring break meant a wild spending spree in some exotic location. Instead, many families are turning to money saving ideas to ensure that they have a great spring break without becoming destitute. There are plenty of ways to enjoy spring break that don't cost much money at all. If you need a few ideas to get started, take a look below. Add your own in the comment section. Stay Local I bet that there are hundreds of free and low cost activities and attractions close to home. Just think, so many people may travel within your region to explore the attractions that are in your backyard. Take a look at all of the fun places you can go within a two-hour drive. Do you live near a major city? Is there a popular spot in the next state over? By staying local, you'll save on airfare, accommodation and maybe even food. Day outings can be a lot of fun. Road Trip The cost of airfare is pretty high right now, but the cost of gas isn't too bad (depending on your perspective). Why not turn the break into a road trip? This could be a great family experience. You can travel around and stop when and where you like. Bring along tents to sleep under the stars or check into hotels using the money you may have saved on airfare. House Swap If you have done all of the your local attractions that you can stand, then it is time to find a new home. Find a friend or relative who is willing to swap houses with you for the break. You can get a different environment with new attractions to explore. You'll only have the expense of traveling to the new location, and you can take advantage of having a kitchen available. Research the Deals If nothing else will do besides a traditional spring break holiday, at least research the deals before you book. Waiting until the last minute involves some risk, but it can reap great rewards in terms of savings. Also, beware of bundled packages. They are convenient, but they often cost more than purchasing air fare and accommodations separately. Mary Ann Romans writes about everything related to saving money in the Frugal Blog, creating a home in the Home Blog, caring for little ones in the Baby Blog and now relationships in the Marriage Blog. You can read more of her articles by clicking here or subscribe to the blog using the subscription box on the right. Favorite Deal Websites: Related Articles: 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 Aroundtheworld (5) 13 Mar 2009 12:43 AMWe've done numerous home exchanges to date. Home exchanging has allowed us to save on accommodation costs, car rental expenses, and restaurant meals... Other benefits include the friends that we've made. We've stayed in touch with most of the people we exchanged with. And have also visited with them years later. Families with children also benefit from having a whole house rather than a single room for the duration for the holiday. We often swap with other families, which usually means our kids have new toys to play with during the holiday. For anyone serious about trying this out, we strongly recommend that you join a reputable home exchange club. There are numerous clubs you can join, but one that has worked out really well for us is http://www.HomeForSwap.com Finding a home exchange may require some effort but we have always found that it's been well worth it! 1stHomeExchange (5) 13 Mar 2009 03:34 AMFor anyone considering a home exchange, they can learn more about this travel alternative on 1st Home Exchange. In addition to over 16,000 listings in 130 countries, you can find numerous articles, tips and several videos on home exchanging on http://www.1sthomeexchange.com Community Tags frugal living, fun, spring break, Travel Discuss this article
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