Tuggers offering travel accomodations?

[momeason]

Hi,

My husband and I are tuggers and are members of the Senior Home Exchange. ( $99 lifetime membership )
We are considering joining the Evergreen Club.

The Senior Home exchange offers direct home exchanges. We have had one successful exchange in over 3 years. The 4 problems with this I have discovered are
1. You have to find someone who has a home where you want to go and wishes to visit you where you live.
2. Most members have specific trades they are looking for
3. A lot of members want to trade for several weeks or more.
4. This is primarily simultaneous exchange, we are more comfortable with Hospitality exchange ( We are here while our guests visit )

The Evergreen Club is set up better for what we would like to do.
You join the club for $75/yr..( a little steep )
Members offer their guest room for 1-2 night stays while people are traveling.
You contact other members directly once you join the club if you need a place to sleep for a night. A couple pays $15/night directly to their hosts for a bed and breakfast.
You as members are not obligated to host every time you are contacted and you do not need to match a direct exchange

I know we often need accomodations between timeshare exchanges and will need several nights on a trip out west this spring.

Are there other tuggers that want to start a group like the Evergreen concept w/o a $75/yr fee? I think it would be great. We all love to save money and meet other Timeshare users.
In our case, we would usually arrive at night and leave in the morning. I would be willing to host someone longer though as long as it fits my schedule.
Each time, it would be up to the members involved how they wanted to arrange it.
We live on the waterway on the NC coast. We have a suite with a separate entrance, separate media room, Bed, Bath and full kitchen.

Sherry

 

[Travelclam]

similar to something called the "affordable travel club" ?

Although i think it's a great idea, in reality it's really hard to get a good match. Not impossible, but takes a lot of rounds of trying. Found several of similar types of travel clubs, other home exchange programs too, but none had worked out for us. What had worked for us several times over the past couple of years, no issues, no hiccups, no fees involved (and somepeople may say What?!), was Craigslist's Home Swap section. We have had successful swaps to New York, VT, Amsterdam, London UK, Vancouver BC.

Maybe trying that and put on the text you are intersted in a TUGGER swap. If there are tuggers out there, they will know what you mean. If they are interested, they will respond.

Or maybe here on this site too? ask who would be interested in swapping with you, and then you can get to correspond via private email afterwards.

B

 

[momeason]

Home stays

Hi,
I was trying to point out the difficulties in direct exchange. I am more interested in a " Pay it forward " type of group. It would not be necessary
to match up with a member directly. If you join the group and are willing to host other members of the group, then each member can request accomodations at the home of any other member of this Homestay network.
You may never visit the home of the person who stays with you, but you can stay with other members who may never visit your home. Of course, you can always say no to a specific request if you are busy or on a trip yourself!
I do not think meals necessarily have to be part of the package as breakfast is part of the package in Evergreen Club.
My idea was to see if there were other tuggers wanting to participate in a group like this and help me get it started, My husband recently retired and we are going to travel more, especially if XYZ keeps going. We are looking for a place to sleep overnight during road trips between destinations. In late April and May we will need overnight spots between Las Vegas and Branson and between Branson and back home to coastal NC. Getting to meet other tuggers would be a nice bonus!

 

[Sea Six]

I'm thinking if you're traveling on interstate highways between Nevada and Missouri, you can easily find a motel to stay at. This plan appeals to me more as a way to find a place to stay when I travel to places that just don't have motels or resorts to stay at. Such destinations as Auburn or New Albany, PA. Middle of nowhere places I tend to travel to.

 

[momeason]

Yes, I can find hotels in a lot of areas, but I think meeting other tuggers would be fun and I always want to save money. If I do not find other tuggers interested in this concept, I will join Evergreen Club or another similar club.
Each interested person could use it as they choose. My back does not hold up to long drives so I would enjoy stopping more often w/o a huge expense.

 

[Chilcotin]

You may want to take a look at this site
Ww

Www.mennoniteyourway.com

 

[momeason]

You may want to take a look at this site
Ww

Www.mennoniteyourway.com

Hi,

Thanks for the info. Are you a member of this group?

Sherry

 

[Chilcotin]

Sherry,

No I am not a member of this group but I attend a Mennonite Church and have heard about it through there.

I think the idea began in the 1970's so it has been around for a while.

Erin

 

[momeason]

Thanks for the link. I think I will try it. So far I have not found any other tuggers who want to host other tuggers for 1 night stays.

 

[Passepartout]

Here, try this: http://www.couchsurfing.org/ You are putting more restrictions on the whole 'staying with loose acquaintances' thing by restricting it to just TUGgers. We host people frequently who are passing through our community. Guest soloists and conductors of our symphony. (DW is president) I have extended an invite to TUGgers passing through or offered to share a cuppa or a meal when I know they are in the neighborhood. We-and I think many if not most others- hesitate to call strangers and say, "Hi, you don't know us, but we are dropping in to stay a night at your house. What time is breakfast? We need to be on the road at 7 A.M."

I wish you success with your quest. The key to a successful business model is to recognize a need and fill it. Maybe this idea is yours to run with.

Jim

 

[beejaybee]

Evergreen Friends

Friends of ours are Evergreen members and have stayed a dozen or more times at host homes. They like meeting the hosts and the stipend for the b&b is very modest. I think they've hosted only a couple of times themselves.

 

[momeason]

Friends of ours are Evergreen members and have stayed a dozen or more times at host homes. They like meeting the hosts and the stipend for the b&b is very modest. I think they've hosted only a couple of times themselves.

Evergreen sounds very nice. I just think the $75/yr is a steep membership fee.
I understand the fee for set ups but renewals should be less IMHO. I am not sure how much I would use it. I paid $99 to Senior Home Exchange in 2009 and have used it for one 3 night stay. That $99 is lifetime though so I was okay with it.
I joined the Mennonite group today for $25 and another free club.The free club protects your identity so I can screen, I hope.
I am looking for Hot Springs,AR for a couple of days in late April. Also one night stays between Las Vegas and Branson and Branson back to NC right now. We have a month long trip planned. I have 6 nights I need rooms along the way.

 

[momeason]

Place on the forum to request/offer overnight accommodations

Hi,

Maybe my idea needs to be presented differently. Could we have a place on the forum to request and offer accommodations? The members who were interested in helping and receiving help in their travels could respond. Others need not be concerned with it. I did receive a PM from a member who really liked my idea. Those who don't like it obviously do not need to participate. Each request would be at the member's discretion and convenience..no obligations upfront.

 

[Miss Marty]

Timeshare Memories

We have hosted alot of Timeshare Get Togethers over the past twelve
years. Some included overnight stays at our timeshare in Massanutten.

It would be nice, if Tug had a section devoted to overnight stays.
I know from experience how much it costs to travel between resorts.

 

[chickenfoot]

this site is popular site for renting rooms or couch surfing:

www.airbnb.com

 

[glypnirsgirl]

I would love to participate in something like this. I like having guests.

elaine

 

[am1]

You may also want to consider visiting people for a night or two at peoples timeshare. Less risk than having someone stay in your home. I would think a unneeded lockoff work great for this.

 

[momeason]

I agree that the overnight accommodations could be in a timeshare. We often have an extra bedroom. I put a suggestion in the travel box asking for a place for people to request and over short stays-usually one night. No response yet from the moderator.
We love having guests too. I think most Tuggers would be interesting guests.

 

[Fitts]

I like your idea

I live in WNC, which might fit your "on the way to Branson." I also love the coast. My PM box is almost full, but you can contact me.

 

[DeniseM]

Did you know you can go to the last page of your pm's and delete the old ones to make room?

 

[momeason]

Need accommodations

Okay,
There are a few of you who like this idea. Since we do not have a home for our requests yet. I will make mine here. My DH and I need 3 places to stay between Las Vegas and Branson, MO. The first night, April 22. We would like to be close to Interstate 40 about 6-7 hour's drive from Las Vegas. Then we want to make another stop about 7-8 hours west of the first. Then we would like 2 nights in or near Hot Springs, AR. Those 2 nights would be April 24-25. We will then be in Branson April 26-May 3 at the Marriott Willow Ridge. Then we need places continuing east at around 6-7 hours a day.
I am 53 and my DH is 60 and just retired from banking after 36 years in Finance. Does anyone have a bed for us?
I still would like a home for these requests. I do not think enough Tuggers come to the TUG lounge. I know I did not come to the lounge before I started this thread.
How do we get a better home for the requests?

 

[northwoodsgal]

If this develops further, do you think it should be a members only group? It would mean users are "known" and not as easily abused by the general public.

 

[Amy]

momeason: I suggest you consider editing your last post to take out some of the details of your personal info (like exact ages -- just use something vague like "recent retirees"). Right now you have your home location info in your profile plus detail of former employer and age and specific travel dates when you'll be away from your home on a public BBS.

 

[jfbookers]

Globalfreeloaders.com and hospitalityclub.com

We have hosted guests from England, Finland, Slovenia, Germany, New Zeland, Australia. Oregon, Italy, and others. We have stayed with hosts from Florida, New Orleans, Las Vegas, Scotland, Dubai, Santo Diomingo, Chicago,Manchester UK and others.
No problems or regrets to date. Fully enjoyed some most interesting people.
I would suggest giving then a try since they have many thousands of members worldwide while TUG is relativly small with a more mature demographic that may be less willing to leap into the world of cyber searching for nightly stays or simi-strangers staying in their homes.
Both sites are free but you should agree to host to use the sites

 

[momeason]

The more mature demographic is what I am comfortable with. I think the suggestion of a TUG members only group is good also. I am a member of 2 other senior group. I am not comfortable with a totally open to anyone demographic.