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. |
