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Avoid Vacation Stagnation On 'Staycation'

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By Jean Chatzky

The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 15, 2008

It's almost summer. The pool in my town is open, the kids are itching to get to camp and, more often than not, we're cooking dinner on the grill.

We also have vacation on the brain. My family is lucky to live within a short drive of a few nice beaches, so we're still planning to make the trip this year, despite the strain of high gas prices. But many people don't have that luxury and are instead sticking close to home and enjoying what's been coined a "staycation."

In fact, in a recent study by Better Homes and Gardens, nearly half of respondents said they would be spending less this year on vacations and travel, a finding re-enforced by low travel numbers on Memorial Day weekend.

Even if your heart is set on an overseas or cross-country trip, you're likely still on the lookout for ways to save, not only on gas, but also on airfare, hotels and even food. So we dipped into the brains of a few travel experts to get their latest and best ideas for passing your vacation time this summer without coming home to an empty bank account.

Stay local. "A lot of times, people have a list of things they want to do nearby that they never get around to. There's certainly a good incentive this year to do that," says Tim Leffel, author of "Make Your Travel Dollars Worth a Fortune."

Don't get stuck on the idea that you've "been there, done that" just because you're limited to a 50- or 100-mile radius. You likely haven't even scratched the surface, so go into this with a positive attitude. First stop? The Web site of your town or the place you're interested in visiting.

Look for deals. The fact that people are traveling less could work to your advantage, says Anne Banas, executive editor of SmarterTravel.com.

"Hotel providers and theme parks are starting to panic a little, and I'm starting to see a lot of discounts," she says. "I think this summer might be a great summer for good deals, and that can offset some of the cost of gas."

One biggie is gas rebate cards, which are being doled out mainly by hotels looking to fill rooms.

Be flexible. If you know you want to get out of the house for a week, but you don't have your heart set on any specifics, you can save a bundle by using online tools. Web sites such as Orbitz.com and Expedia.com regularly feature package deals, and you can sign up for an alert service at Airfarewatchdog.com that will send you a weekly e-mail with reduced ticket prices out of your local airport. Others, such as Travelocity.com and Kayak.com, will allow you to input the amount you want to pay for airfare and then send you an alert e-mail when they find a ticket price below that amount.

"That's useful because a lot of times, if you have a few places you're thinking of going and a good price comes in for one, you can grab it, and the decision is made," Leffel says.

Also, if you can stay flexible on travel dates, leaving and returning midweek typically will cost less.

Consider a swap. If you saw the movie "The Holiday," you know what I'm talking about. Web sites such as HomeExhange.com allow you to create a profile for your home and search for houses or apartments that appeal to you.

If you find something you like, you contact the owner and see whether they would be interested in swapping for a week or two. The annual membership fee is about $100, well worth it when you consider the amount you'll save by forgoing a hotel, and it's generally very safe.

"I'm sure problems pop up from time to time, but there's an element of trust there because you're in their house, too. I have friends who do it all the time and think it's fantastic," Leffel says.

If you're worried about leaving your house in someone else's hands, he advises setting up the exchange so you also swap deposits, just in case. And, of course, it's never a bad idea to lock up any valuables in a safe or safe deposit box at the bank.

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