SWAP YOUR HOME AND SEE THE WORLD

Find an online home exchange site like HomeExchange.com (that's right, the one in the movie The Holiday was for real). Post some digital photos for your digs, then start shopping. When you find a family with a compatible vacation schedule in a place you want to visit who meets your requirements - you've got a match. Sort of like on-line dating with houses.

My family and I had an amazing three-week European swap recently and were wined and dined by the locals, while my exchange family got treated to the Getty and Dodgers by my friends. Now my kids and I are ready for Greece, Buenos Aires and Paris!

"Mi case es su casa" becomes much more than just an expression when you open your home to a stranger (with whom you've corresponded and feel completely secure). Exchanging homes is an incredibly trusting act. It lets you experience another culture in a neighborhood, instead of a hotel, often mingling with your hosts' friends and family. Bonus: it's cost-effective!