How to get Others to Pay for your Vacation in 2010

There are other ways to achieve your vacation, if you start making your plans now. In some situations, you may even be able to get someone else to pay for it all.

This article will give you some ideas on how to do that. One way is to volunteer for a project. In many cases, you can trade work for room, board and travel. Check with your church. There are many church camps in need of volunteers. There are even other humanitarian projects were you can apply your skills. Check with your State web site. There are many State parks that need help during the summer for tourists and general work projects. If the outdoors is for you, the Pacific Northwest Trail Association is looking for workers to spend eight days in their National Parks. Two others are Mt. Rainier and Washington Trails Association. With the economy hurting the budgets of many National Parks, this could be the best way to go.

Work at a location. There are many places that will also offer you employment. You could be a tour guide at a park or for a museum. You could be a tutor to small children during the summer. Many individuals become caretakers. You work as a butler, cook, household manager, gardener/lawn expert, chauffeur, or maid. Remember all those in permanent positions there need time off for vacations as well. someone has to fill in their spots. Consider working as a special assistant for someone that has a lot of summer work to do. Cruise lines are always looking for mature individuals to work on their ships. Railroad companies often have openings for workers to serve as porters, waiters, and other jobs.

Enter contests and giveaways. Someone has to win. Why not you? Okay that might be a stretch. However, there are coupons available for discounted rooms. I believe that as bad as the tourist season was this year, there will be a lot more opportunities in 2010. Check adds and offers on products. A few years ago, I took my whole family to Kansas City, Missouri with a coupon from Ivory soap. We stayed in a Holiday Inn for 29.95. That was for the entire weekend. Remember the old saying, "nothing ventured, nothing gained."

A great web site that offers possibilities is couchsurfing.com. You meet new people (friends). You make connections between travelers and communities. Usually, you pay for the travel but, stay free.

Swap homes for a week or two. Once again, you have to pay for travel yourself but, stay free. Checkout the site at Digsville.com. This site helps you do a home exchange for a vacation.

Write a review for a hotel or resort. Send off a letter well in advance and see if they will accommodate you so that you can write a review that will give them exposure. They usually prefer this to be done during the slow season.

Be a courier. There are many businesses that need to have items delivered by hand. I will admit though that these positions are hard to come by. However, they do exist. It is just that it takes time to research and discover them well in advance.

These are just a few ideas to help you get others to pay for your vacation. Since many people didn't take vacations this past summer, I would think that there will be a lot more looking to travel next year. This is why it is important to start planning now for 2010.

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