Cheap vacations can still be relaxing, fun and whatever else you need them to be. Unlike cars and shoes, vacations do not acquire better according to price. Allow that expensive resort if you do not have the money, but do not give up your vacation. Try one of the following ideas instead.

1 visit your friends. The key here is to have friends with spare beds that live in interesting places. You probably had to tell friends and you stay a while, so why not? I hope my friends move to Hawaii.
2  Caretaking vacations. Someone in California, Costa Rica or Colorado wants to remain in their homes, while they are away. You will have to water the plants, and maybe watch the cat, but you will get to stay in a beautiful home. You may even get paid. To learn more caretaking opportunities, visit the Caretaker Gazette online.

3 Outdoor vacations. Outdoor adventure does not need to be expensive. Just stay close to home, and use your imagination. The “Tom Sawyer day” we hike up a river for hours, then build a raft from dead trees. Then we float on that back to the car. It is cheaper and more fun than a guided river trip. Where can you hike or bicycle for free?

4 Treasure Hunt. Take a trip to a ghost town or beach with a metal detector. In Arizona an old Mayan Indians have shown us where to find  arrowheads,semi  precious stones and ancient pottery. Treasure Hunt is cheap, and you might find something valuable as well..

5 Cheap beach combing vacations. What’s more relaxing than sitting on the beach with a drink? Restless? Start collecting seashells and driftwood.bring a metal detector to find something more valuable. There are beaches in Florida, where you can camp in your RV, and cheap motels on or near the beaches in Michigan.

6 Stay at home.
Make a list of sights to see, and things you have ever wanted to do that are within an hour of home. Spend a weekend or a week before reviewing your list. No expensive distance, hotels or readers.

7 Shopping Trips. Cheap vacations don’t normally involve shopping, but they can. Visit flea markets and jumble sale* in some scenic corner of the country. Have a shopping adventure for less than a day at the mall.

8 Hotspring holidays. Hotsprings in many parts of the USA are available free or at minimal cost to use. Camp RV or a tent to keep it really cheap. Spend nights around the campfire and days soaking in hot water. My personal favorite is a beautiful place in Arizona (106 degree water), with hiking trails. We paid the $30 annual fee and stayed more than a week.

9 Greyhound Bus travel. Taking the bus is an alternative to expensive gasoline if you’re traveling alone, and the trip itself is sure to be an adventure. Pick a nice place within a day’s ride, pack a bag and go.

10 Camping Holiday. In Florida, we stalked alligators and saw a dozen other forms of wildlife. Nightly we sat around the fire with new friends from England and Texas. We escaped winter there for 8 days in our van. There were hot showers, and the campground was free. Camping can be the cheapest of cheap vacations.

source : Steve Gillman,  www.EverythingAboutTravel.com

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