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Save Tons of Money with a Home Exchange

August 1, 2015 by Laurie Deppa Leave a Comment

Save tons of money and stay like a local by doing a home exchange.  Home exchange sites are becoming more popular because you save TONS of money on the costs of accomdation, food and even transportation.  Yes, you can even exchange a car!  You can have all the amenities of home – washer, wifi – maybe even a pool or a  maid.

On sites like www.homeexchange.com and www.homeforexchange.com, you join for a fee of about $100-150 a year and list your home.  Then you can proactively contact others who want to come stay in your area or you can wait for people to contact you.

A lot of people are open to anywhere they say “just ask”.  If you live in a popular area like me you will probably get get some, if not many, requests. I have to often turn people down.

I have been telling my friends for years that your vacation overseas can be cheaper than a week at the local beach.  I have done exchanges and it is a great way to stay like a local and be financially smart.  The only cost is joining the site – and you can exchange the whole year if you want! Take a year sabbatical and swap your vacation home or your primary residence.

There are so many scenarios – simultaneous, non-simultaneous, your vacation house for their primary, exchange RV’s, boats etc.  We have had many families stay in our house with us and we will stay at their house in the future.  Tomorrow I have a family from Malaga coming to stay for 10 days then in September I will go stay with them!

It’s totally up to you and the party to set the parameters of the exchange.

So get out there and exchange!

 

Filed Under: Home Exchange, Travel Tips

Renting a Home through Sites Like VRBO and airbnb

July 24, 2015 by Laurie Deppa Leave a Comment

View from AirBnB apt in Play Blanca Panama

I know that most of the time I talk about free homestays but if you “can’t do that” there are always options like airbnb and VRBO.  I actually have used both of these sites and had good experiences as a renter myself.  I just started renting recently and have had great success in renting my entire house and sometimes just a room within my house.

As someone who has rented for USNA graduation over many years, I thought why not try renting for an occasional weekend.  I have had a lot interest during the Navy games and boat shows but there are also several summer weekends we have rented.

This weekend we rented and we are going to the Hyatt Chesapeake Bay and we will have the whole weekend paid for by renting our house.  Kinda genius if I say so.  My house is going to be vacant anyway, why not capitalize on the opportunity to pay for my weekend getaway!

I just have two examples to share with you to learn from my experiences in renting on these sites…
1)  Be very explicit in your descriptions, almost to a fault.  I had one guest, who did not read the top word that said “PRIVATE ROOM”  and she ended up running out the door like some crazy person because she thought it was a private house :-0.  Yes, her fault but I am putting more and more detail to be sure that never happens again!
2)  I rented on airbnb in Playa Blanca, Panama (my first experience).  I was unsuccessful in trying to CouchSurf so I thought I would try renting a house.  It was kind of a nightmare.  We got into the apt – it wasn’t clean, there were no towels and no hot water (and no Wi-Fi).  I should have just said I’ll clean and have them knock money off.  Instead we moved to another property they owned and that had a water leak and ants.  The first one was a beautiful place with an amazing view.  I think with a lot of these experiences (like in life) you just have to roll with the punches and make best of it.  I had my daughter and it was so stressful moving 3 times.

Lagoon and water park at AirBnB apt complex Playa Blanca

Lagoon and water park at AirBnB apt complex Playa Blanca

As I always say, staying in the apt was “nice” but so culturally unrewarding.  I really don’t know what Panamanians are like because I only met them superficially.  It’s a shame because I was there three weeks!

Filed Under: Destinations, Panama, Travel Tips

12 Places to Swim Before You Die

July 7, 2015 by Laurie Deppa Leave a Comment

Found a great article in the Huffington Post, “12 Places to Swim Before You Die“.  Some very cool places.  I had planned on going to Turkey in September but changed my plans.  Definitely putting Pamukkale Hot Springs in Turkey on my list.  The mineral deposits from the hot springs create beautiful crystal like formations on the rocks where the water runs.

Anyone ever been??

 

Filed Under: Destinations, Travel Tips

Travel Tips – WAZE saved my trip

June 22, 2015 by Laurie Deppa Leave a Comment

I took a trip to Panama this year and rented a car.  Upon receiving my car, I was told that google maps didn’t work in Panama.  My Panamanian friend even said “there is no GPS” in Panama.  She was wrong about that part thank goodness because a gentleman overheard me and said to use “WAZE”.  “WAZE is the world’s largest community-based traffic and navigation app”, according to the company.  It saved my butt, let me tell you.  I didn’t get lost once, and believe me, as my friend said the signage is TERRIBLE!  It was also able to talk to me in English or Spanish – which was perfect as sometimes my Spanish friend would play co-pilot.

hospitality-guest-Maria-02

Laurie, Mamen and Ellie at the Panama Canal

I recently used it on a trip to Virginia Beach – not because I needed directions – but it’s usually very accurate about where the police are waiting ;-0.  It even told me where there were potholes to avoid.

I’m a believer!  Check out WAZE.

Filed Under: Travel Tips

Travel Tips – Make a Local Friend

June 20, 2015 by Laurie Deppa Leave a Comment

Make a local friend in the area you will be staying.  Use sites like Couchsurfing.org to find local residents who enjoy playing tour guide in their hometown or just meeting a new friend for coffee.  I once met a young lady (Cristina) from Italy through Couchsurfing.  She was staying in Annapolis for a month or two as her husband was working and she joined him on the trip.  She couldn’t work, had no car and had all day, everyday, to herself.

Cristina trying her first cheesesteak in Philly

Cristina trying her first cheesesteak in Philly

She contacted me and asked if I wanted to meet for coffee.  I was fairly flexible with my schedule at the time and we ended up spending LOTS of time together.  She was just like me, a world traveler who loves meeting people and experiencing cultures.  I gave her the personal tour, had them for meals, taught her how to make apple pie, took her to Philly for an overnight, etc.  We really had the best time together!

She invited me to come to her town in the Piemonte region and so we did!  See my blog “Red, Red, Wine” for more about our trip to “surf” with her.

Filed Under: Hospitality, Italy, Travel Tips

Travel Tips – Be Sure of an Airport’s ACTUAL Location

June 18, 2015 by Laurie Deppa Leave a Comment

On a trip to Europe I found a great deal to Brussels.  Our next destination was Italy so I thought a quick flight on Ryan Air would suffice.  I looked up airports and plugged in Venice.  The website populated Treviso automatically so I assumed it was a good option.  We were taking public transportation as I often do.  We ended up having to take a taxi to the bust stop then a bus to the airport (all starting at 5am).  UGH, never again.  It wouldn’t have been so bad if they would have had direct transportation.

It’s like saying Dulles is in Washington.  My bad.

Oh and be aware that airlines like Ryan Air have smaller baggage allowance than the big international airlines.  We had to lay our stuff out and repack a little in the airport so as not to get stuck with hefty baggage fees.

Filed Under: Travel Tips

Budgeting for Travel

June 8, 2015 by Laurie Deppa Leave a Comment

One of the most important things to consider when planning a trip is your budget.  I found a nice website that provides some spreadsheets for tracking your travel expenses, Vacation Travel Worksheet.  As I have done the math over and over on my trips, I can say for sure that I spend much less than the average person traveling to the same locations.  Even when I just wanted a low key, low cost vacation, I found places within driving distance.  Just fill up the gas tank, buy some groceries (or wait if cheaper in the place visiting) and pack some fun car activities for kids (more on that in another blog to come) and you’re off!  We have driven to NC, NY, NJ and they were all fantastic getaways and VERY INEXPENSIVE.  Virginia beach is our destination for next weekend!

In yesterday’s Capital Gazette, there is an article on B4 entitled “Budgeting for a Family Vacation“.  It’s a great reminder to do your homework in advance.  My recent guests from Iceland said they got roundtrip airfare from Iceland to Washington State for $300 (because bought year in advance), CRAZY!    As the article also states, be creative about activities and eating out.  In Croatia, we bought groceries, ate breakfast at the house, packed our lunch and ate most dinners at the house.  We spent the day on the local public beach and found a very reasonable “local bus” to tour the  (beautiful) little towns of Slovenia.  We spent less on vacation in daily activities than we do at home.

You can travel to many places within a reasonable budget, you just have to think outside the box.  Let me know if you need some help with that….

Filed Under: Travel Tips

Travel Tips – Loyalty Programs

May 29, 2015 by Laurie Deppa Leave a Comment

Always use loyalty programs.  I am talking about the ones offered by hotels, airlines, restaurants, etc.  Membership really does have it’s rewards.  These programs are free and usually quite easy to join.  So many times, we have gotten special perks because we were members.  We stayed at the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake recently and we received several free s’more kits ($5 each I think).  Not that any of us needed a sugar high, my 3-year old included  – but it was a lot of fun standing in front of their massive outdoor fireplace enjoying our free treat.

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday

It was my birthday in April and I had a great (and frugal) day enjoy perks of membership.  I received an email from Applebee’s that I could get a free lunch – I greatly enjoyed a full rib platter and beverage on the house (cost a tip).  YUM!  Then I had a free drink at Starbuck’s as part of their loyalty program – my favorite is their summer Refreshers line in Hibiscus.  FABULOUS!  Then I went to JcPenneys and got myself a much needed second pair of sneaks and used my birthday discount.  FUN!  Tuesdays are member discount days at Bowtie Cinemas Annapolis.  Super Tuesday tickets cost $6 and  I had a great time watching the Fast & the Furious (part 25 I think :-).  Lastly I went to the Chop House where they have a free birthday meal deal.  WOO HOO!  There are many others out there – Godiva, Zoe’s Kitchen, etc.  Check out this list of birthday freebies.

If you get frustrated with all the emails just unsubscribe from their lists.  I don’t even get correspondence from some of them.

Happy Birthday and don’t forget about loyalty programs.  🙂

Filed Under: Travel Tips, Uncategorized

Travel Tips – Cool Gear for Travel

May 23, 2015 by Laurie Deppa Leave a Comment

Just came across some of the newest tech gadgets for travel.  Check out this video.  This new laptop weighs 1.9 pounds – one whole pound less that MAC Air.  Wow!  Portable travel speaker is so small; has good sound but at a very reasonable price – ok if you forget it somewhere.

Filed Under: Travel Tips

Travel Tips – Travel Insurance

May 22, 2015 by Laurie Deppa Leave a Comment

Travel insurance can save you lots of money and hassle.  Life is crazy – the weather, kids, parents, health, etc. can all put an abrupt end to vacation plans.  I have heard stories from friends and family of booking trips and having to cancel last minute due to unexpected illness or death in family. Travel insurance can be very inexpensive, particularly in comparison to the average spent on a family vacation ($4580) for a family of 4.

IMG_1438

Travel insurance is just one of those things – you don’t need it until you need it. According to Consumer Reports, “When the unexpected unfortunately happens, you stand to face two major financial risks; the loss of nonrefundable prepayment and the heavy cost of emergency transportation back home.  Your exposure to those risks can amount into thousands; fortunately, travel insurance can protect you from both. It is very vital to note that travel insurance is the most overpriced of all travel services but it is very essential.”

Filed Under: Travel Tips, Uncategorized

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