Vacationing Close to Home

Relaxing and Cost-Conscious

Edited by Jennifer L. Price

As gas prices continue to rise, your hopes for a fun-filled family vacation may be sinking. Frankly, the vacation budget was already a little tight. But throw in the prospect of paying $4.00 a gallon just to get you to your destination, and things begin to really look grim. If you can relate to this scenario, you're in good company. A recent survey conducted by the National Retail Federation found that 32.6 percent of respondents have cut back on their vacation/travel—and you're right there with them.

In fact, discouraged by the thought of racking up a lot of credit card debt (rarely a good idea), you're starting to think you and your family may be "vacationing" at home this year. But Christine Karpinski says you don't have to scrap your summer getaway dreams just yet. Staying in a nearby vacation home—say, within a hundred miles or so—can offer the best of both worlds.

"People have this idea they have to go far away to feel they've had a vacation," says Karpinski, director of Owner Community for HomeAway.com (the online vacation home rental marketplace).  "But it's not true—a cozy home a few hours' drive away can sometimes feel like an entire world away.

"Besides, staying at home during your vacation time never works," she adds. "Okay, you might spend the first day lounging at the pool. But before you know it you're weeding the garden, emailing the office, or cleaning the house—and there goes your vacation. Your week is over, you're back at work, and your vacation was anything but fun and relaxing."

By finding a vacation home in a not-too-distant location—even if it's not a predictable vacation destination like the beach or a theme park—you can avoid spending tons of cash fueling up the family car or buying expensive airline tickets. (High gas prices affect them, too!)

In fact, HomeAway's network of vacation rentals includes over 200,000 properties all over the world, making it possible for almost anyone to find one within a two- to three-hour driving distance from their home. And you don't have to live near a resort area to find a great place to vacation, adds Karpinski.

For instance, one popular rental on the website is for a barn in Kentucky that the owner has converted into a vacation home. It provides a great opportunity for guests to relax and enjoy country living. In other words, options abound: whether you're in New York City or Butte, Montana, there's a HomeAway rental just a short distance from you.

"When you choose a vacation home, you won't save money only on gas; you'll save in other areas as well," says Karpinski. "You can avoid boarding the dog, as many homeowners allow you to bring pets, and it's much easier to prepare your own meals since you'll have a full kitchen to work in."

"It's such a practical choice," says Karpinski. "There's just no need to dole out major bucks on gas, not to mention endure the painful hours you'll spend in the car with the kids, trying to get to some distant destination. When you're relaxing in a comfortable home—one that's not tempting you to clean it!—after your short and sweet three-hour-or-less drive, you'll be glad you decided to spend your vacation at home . . . not yours, but someone else's."

Visit www.homeaway.com to find a dream vacation—right near you.