24/Savvy Food and Travel

So you didn't get the upgrade, join the club.  With airlines holding ever-more-dear the magic fairy dust that turns a cheap ticket into a luxe joyride, it seems that those of us who travel on a budget are forever destined to the cold, cramped confines of the steerage coach cabin.

Before you say "moooooo" and resign yourself to a flight from hell —particularly if it's going to be a long one—try some of our heavenly ideas for making yourself feel right at home, even if you are 40,000 miles above it.

I totally dig Rick Steves. The bespectacled PBS personality may be an acquired taste, but that man loves the art of travel, and for that, I love him. My favorite Rick catch phrase is, “Travel like a temporary local.” Don’t let a guidebook or previous assumptions about your destination direct your trip. Get your fab fun-planning information where the locals do. Whether it’s an exotic foreign locale or your parents’ retirement home in Florida, here are some resources to help you plan your summer holidays like a local:

A lot of savvy friends are planning a "staycation" for their holidays this year in lieu of the allure of exotic destinations and their requisite--and pricey--air tickets, hotels and restaurant meals. While staycations can be a wonderful opportunity to sit back, relax, regroup, and tackle those projects you've been putting off (you know who you are), getting away from it all can be equally rewarding and doesn't have to blow the family budget to be worthwhile.

If you've never had the chance to do a home swap, now is a great time to consider it with many budget-minded vacationers willing to part with their home sweet homes for a week or two, saving everyone hundreds of dollars in lodging and food costs.  Websites like Home Exchange and Luxe Home Swap are perfectly legitimate avenues for meeting prospective candidates (and they're a fun guilty pleasure to browse as well!)

Things to consider before doing a home swap:

• Will cars be included in the swap and does your insurance cover additional drivers?
• Does your home owners or rental insurance policy cover guests in the event of damage/theft/disaster?
• Do you have a friend, relative or neighbor willing to be an emergency contact for your guests?
• Is there somewhere you can store valuables you don't feel comfortable leaving behind?
• Are you in agreement about cleaning before and after your stay?
• Do you have a place for Fifi and Fido to stay or will your guests assume responsibility for your pets?

If you've had an experience with a home swap, we'd love to hear your tips as well!