1. Swap homes with other vacationers If you prefer to mingle with locals rather than other tourists, look into a home exchange vacation. One couple spent their eight-week honeymoon touring Europe without ever staying in a hotel; instead, they stayed in private homes while their European hosts stayed in their New York City apartment. Sound risky? Maybe—but tens of thousands of people have exchanged homes since 1950s. For an annual membership fee (usually around $50), home exchange clubs help members arrange exchanges, as well as offering tips to make exchange go smoothly. According to ExchangeHomes.com, a home exchange can cut travel costs by as much as half. More importantly, though, a home exchange vacation makes it possible for you to live like locals, and perhaps make some life-long friends.

2. Rely on hospitality of others In a slight twist on home exchange idea, look into joining a hospitality club that will hook you up with people willing to host you on your next vacation. The largest hospitality club has more than 23,000 members in 148 countries. Membership is usually free, although members are asked to provide hospitality to others (on a voluntary basis) in return sometime in future. In addition to saving money, staying with others is a great way to meet locals who can give an insider’s perspective on your destination.

3. Stay in a monastery or convent Monasteries and convents have a long tradition of providing hospitality to travelers. Aside from being a lot more interesting (and affordable) than local Holiday Inn, a monastery can be a great place to explore your spiritual landscape. Many monasteries and convents ask for a donation of $40 to $80 per night; others only ask for a free-will offering. In addition to simple accommodations, monasteries and convents often offer their guests simple meals as well as opportunities to participate in daily prayer and work. Reservations may be required in advance. You can research this vacation idea by looking up individual monasteries or convents online. Or get a guidebook such as “Europe's Monastery and Convent Guesthouses: A Pilgrim's Travel Guide” or “Sanctuaries: The Complete United States: A Guide to Lodgings in Monasteries, Abbeys, and Retreats.”

The first of our Walt Disney World Tips is to carefully choose time of year when you will vacation. Take into consideration if it is tourist season as you will avoid a lot of crowds if you visit off-season. You also might want to avoid summer months as Florida weather can get very uncomfortable. Lastly, research park's schedules for different times of year because parks in Walt Disney World Resort tend to stay open later during various months.

Rise and Shine

Set your alarm and get to park early. Arriving at water parks before noon is a great way to avoid crowds. Also, Animal Kingdom closes early so arriving in morning will give you plenty of time to relax and look around. If you want to have breakfast in Magic Kingdom then get there early and head for either Crystal Palace or Cinderella's Royal Table. Both are located on Main Street USA, which opens earlier than rest of The Magic Kingdom. When rest of park opens you will have quite a headstart on other visitors who will still have to buy tickets to get in park.

Riding Without Wait