Five for Friday – Vacay Mode!
As so many had to alter or cancel their vacation plans last year due to the pandemic, experts are expecting a huge surge in travel over the next few years which they are calling ‘Revenge Travel’. 🙂 As you make your plans to venture out, we’ve got some ideas to help you travel both domestically and internationally while saving tons!
Ditch the hotel:
One way to save money on your vacation is by stepping away from the overpriced hotels and opting to stay at a home or apartment rented out by the owner. There are so many neat places to choose from, no matter your destination, and you can read reviews on the owners and the property. Some of the top trusted sites are:
Airbnb – Airbnb is a trusted site that allows you to search for the type of places you would like to stay, the cities/areas, dates available, and how many guests you are brining. We have used Airbnb lots all over the world and always have great experiences as they provide reviews on the home owner (and you yourself are reviewed as a guest) and the location.
VRBO – VRBO helps you discover the perfect vacation rental for you, no matter what style you are looking for and what location, there are lots of rentals to choose from and trip suggestions.
House sitting:
One way to save money on your accommodations while you vacation is by house sitting and pet sitting! There are several trusted sites that allow you to look through profiles of homes and pets to see which might interest you. Some sites allow you to make a bit of a side hustle and earn money, however most will offer free lodging in exchange for house sitting. I recently read of one family who booked house sitting jobs throughout different countries and saw the world with free accommodation. How neat is that?! Here are some house/pet sitting sites to get you started! You can also list your home on these sites and allow your pets to stay at home with a caregiver as you head out on vacation in exchange for a free place to stay.
TrustedHouseSitters (25% discount – no code required)
HouseCarers (10% Discount – no code required)
Nomador – Free Discovery Option
HouseSitMatch (Code 50HSMAG for a 50% Discount)
House exchange:
Just like in the movie, ‘The Holiday’, you can sign up for a house swap for a unique system for traveling the world. However, I cannot promise you that Jude Law is included in these deals…unfortunately. 🙂 On these home exchange sites, you do not necessarily need to reciprocate the exchange, but you can receive points and use them on another location at another time.
Home Exchange have over four hundred thousand homes available in 187 countries. Home Exchange does charge a yearly membership fee of $150. This flat rate gives you access to unlimited exchanges, member support, and assistance if any problems arise (cancellations when you are traveling, or property damage when you are hosting).
Love Home Swap allows you to either complete a classic swap (you watch my house while I watch yours) or use a points system. Love Home Swap is different in that it offers three tiers of membership and a two-week free trial.
Save funds for your vacation:
Here are some great apps to try as you save money towards that vacation! Every little bit helps. 🙂
Dosh – A smartphone app that pairs to your credit and debit cards. Just swipe your card and the Dosh app automatically collects free money for your next vacation. There are thousands of locations that you can earn cash back!
Ibotta – Get paid to do your grocery shopping! Snap a picture of your grocery receipt using the Ibotta app and a few extra dollars will immediately be deposited into your Ibotta account. This app is a simple and easy tool to earn substantial cash back for doing your normal grocery shopping.
Rakuten – The easiest way to save money while shopping online! When you’re checking out from an online retailer, Rakuten will look into your shopping cart and automatically apply coupons to your order and give you cash back.
Earn while on vacation:
If your vacation will include lots of walking (maybe you’re heading for a theme park with the kids/grandkids), then you can earn a little cash with Sweat Coin. SweatCoin is a smartphone app that pays you to walk outside. The app uses your phone’s pedometer to count your steps and your phones GPS to see your location. When it notices you are walking outside, you get paid.
Bonus: Worship
I’ve had this song on repeat for a few weeks now. Let it wash over you, sing it out-loud, and proclaim it! “There is no desert that Your streams can’t run to…there are no ruins that Your love won’t make new…You tell the wasteland that it will bloom again…cause it’s Your nature!”
Whether you are opting for a staycation or venturing out, we hope you have (and are having) a beautiful and blessed summer with LOTS of new memories with your loved ones!
Enjoy your vacation!
Rachel
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