If you are planning a weekend trip, the tips below will help you save money:

1. Drive, don’t fly. When saving money is the first thing on your mind you need to consider how you will reach your destination. Driving as opposed to flying will save you several hundred dollars or more.

2. Don’t opt for the best of the best when it comes to lodging. For instance, if you are planning a weekend trip to Myrtle Beach you should stay away from ocean front hotels as they are most expensive. Instead, choose a building that is one street back and you will save yourself quite a bit of money.

3. Don’t eat out (or at least cut back on this expense.) Taking a family of four out to eat will easily cost an average of $40 to $50; and this is if you stay away from high class restaurants. If you do this six times over the course of a weekend you are going to spend roughly $300. When you compare this to buying food at a local store and cooking in your hotel you will see how big your savings can be. This is an example of why we have guides to finding health food stores or your favorites like Trader Joes, Whole Foods or even Wal-mart locations. You can still find your favorites as you travel.

Nobody knows when the economy will pick back up, or when Americans will begin to spend their money again. If you are worried about spending too much this summer, take a weekend vacation.

Use caution finding your position

Be careful of scams as you seek to be a camp host. There are magazine ads out there that are just ripping people off. You shouldn’t have to pay any crazy fees or give out confidential personal information to anyone. Some of these companies are just getting your personal information and you never hear from them again. Report them to the publication or website that is showing the ad.

Are you a people person?

You have to be a people person. A hermit is not a good personality style to be a camp host. I’ve stayed for days at campgrounds and never saw the camp host. They may have been there the whole time and available if a problem arose but it’s nice to see the host out and about a little bit. Doing something, walking around, trying to be friendly makes for a better experience for visitors.

Set a good example

Have you ever been to a campground where the host is the messiest camp site? We see it quite a bit. Part of this is that they probably have more stuff. They may be full-timers or may live there for months at a time. But still, it’s good for camp hosts to follow the same rules that are enforced on others as well.

Have a good even temperament

This helps a great deal because you will meet some jerks in addition to all the great friends you will make. You are representing the owners of the campground. This may be the government, the state or a private company.

Never assume you are the law. This is probably the aspect that leaves potential camp hosts with the most concern. We’ve all seen the occasional idiots in campgrounds. They get drunk, they are noisy, they misbehave. We’ve also seen them mostly ignored by the hosts at campgrounds. No one really wants trouble and hopes people will just behave themselves. When problems evolve into a possible confrontation, it’s time to leave it to the local law.

Have a good sense of humor

You will witness some crazy things as a camp host, along with meeting some real characters.

Know or learn the area the best you can

Campers will be asking you questions. You should know about the nearest grocery stores, medical care, shopping, restaurants, amenities, hiking, etc. Be accurate if you do give out any information. You don’t want to steer anyone into trouble or the wrong thing.

Know your tasks and situation ahead of time

Duties vary greatly from location to location. Some can easily be a full time job and others can be a relatively peaceful camping experience interrupted by the occasional person.

Do you have to clean the toilets and how often?

What level of physicality is required?

What is the weather usually like during your position?

Are you working just for your site? What happens if the workload is higher or extra work is required. What is the pay? What happens if it goes into overtime hours? If you do get paid, what form and how can you get it to your bank?

Do you get full hookups? What kind? What is the host site like for positioning, sun and shade? If you use solar, this is important.

Are pets allowed? You shouldn’t have a pet in a campground that doesn’t allow it. And you don’t want to be the noisiest person there either.

Check out Workamper for some possibilities. Unfortunately you do have to pay whichever side you are on, the worker or the employer. We’d love to have free listings for work camping jobs but haven’t started yet.

Quartzsite, Arizona is a unique place. In the summer, the town is hot and quiet. There are huge empty lots, paved and unpaved that give you a hint that something big once happened here. As you drive through in July, you might think it was going to soon be on the list of Arizona ghost towns. Then you see the I-10 interstate, the fuel stations with a few fast food joints and you realize it’s not quite a ghost town. There are probably still a thousand or more summer residents but they are not outside melting on the pavement for you to see them. It just looks more quiet in the heat of the day.

I-10 runs east-west through town while US 95 runs north-south. The town was founded after a good water supply was found and a stage stop was built. Railroads just about put the town under but then gold and a high concentration of Quartz brought the town back to life with the name Quartzsite. After dying once again, it was brought back to life in the 1960s for a mineral and gem show. The warm weather helped bring people from all over.

World’s Largest Flea Market

So then you come to Quartzsite in January and find quite a different situation. It becomes one of the worlds largest flea markets. The town hosts a million visitors to tent shows featuring RVs, rocks, minerals and gems and more. If you are looking for anything related to your RV or full time lifestyle, this is probably the place to find it at a reasonable price. There is a two week RV show in January so make sure you come then if you are looking for RV related items. You can also find everything else, from tools to crafts for a fraction of the normal store prices.

The people are nice and characters abound. It’s a good place to become a boondocking expert. You can see what and how others do it in the best ways. And probably the worst too but don’t do that stuff.

Where to Stay

You can stay at a RV park around town, if you have reservations, or you can do like most people and stay out on BLM land. You can get a $40 pass for 14 days or $180 for 7 months, either on-site or at the Yuma BLM field office, and pick a piece of dirt.

Our pick is to stay within a few miles of town. You can set up your camp and if you’re carrying one, bike it into town. You can use a toad but the roads and parking situation right in town becomes quite a mess with all the people. Or maybe talk to some neighbors and see if a bunch of people can go to town together to reduce the traffic. There is BLM land called the La Posa Long Term Visitor Area, within walking distance as well but of course it’s busier the closer you get to town. This is not a RV park however, roads are mostly dirt and can be nice or rough depending on where you go. You don’t get any real amenities but you do have 10 handicap accessible vault toilets, dry dump station, dump station with water, water station with a half dozen faucets and trash service.

How long should you plan to stay?

Many people stay a couple weeks, the length of their BLM pass. But many people stay for a month or more. Even the whole winter. The weather is moderate and usually nice in the winter. But don’t fool yourself into a dream. It is common to have some freezing nights and very windy days as cold fronts move on by. That is still warmer than Minnesota but it’s not a beach in Florida either. You can take Highway 95 down to Yuma, which many snowbirds do and go back and forth to Quartzsite.

Everyone should attend the peak weeks for the craziness and fun of it all but also recommend trying a should week before or after the shows. The crowds are smaller and it’s easier to get around but the fun is still there.

Service stations like Camping World and other dealers. You can blend in like you’re waiting for a early morning appointment.

Some gambling casinos. They like customers who spend money. Check to see if you need to join a club or get a pass. Many have real RV sites and campgrounds now and may charge.

When out west, you have lots of road going nowhere. Find a spot but stay out of the way in case a farmer or worker does come by. You also have BLM and other Federal lands all over the place. Keep binoculars and a wildlife or bird book with you so have an nice peaceful excuse.

Blue Highways is a term used for the old roads and highways. There is also a great classic book by the same name that you may want to check out some day. They go through small towns and places that time forgot. More options exist in these places than in cities or near busy interstates.

Talk to locals. They may know of a local park or even offer to have you park out back and watch over the place for the night.

Play in the park. More than once, I have taken a break for a lunch, a nap or a playground stop and found out that you could park overnight there. I’ve even found free town parks with just two or three electric hookups. You’d never know about them without stopping or talking to a local. Some of these towns are one step away from being a ghost town and keeping you there to buy a meal or such makes a difference. If I was a small town, that’s what I would do. Bring in the RV crowd.

Special Events. Watch for fairs, shows, flea markets, festivals and other club gatherings. You may be able to park for free at low cost. Even buying a spot at a flea market and then “deciding not to sell today” may be cheaper than a local campground.

How about you? Do you have any more tips and places you’ve found and would like to share?

Check for ads in newspapers, publications, online groups, etc. Check with real estate agents, security companies, schools, churches, construction sites, repair shops, storage lots, any place that might attract problems if no one was around. Maybe they have a high dollar place that could use someone parked around back looking after it. Perhaps you’ll get paid but keep in mind that just a parking spot is worth something. The best deal is if you can get water and electric. You have it made right there. If I wanted to stay in an area, I may just offer to do it for free to get the private parking place. Even if you paid a dollar or two a day, you are still well ahead of a campground.

In down economic times, and if you can afford it, you could help someone out by either paying them a couple dollars a day for space or by doing a needed chore around the property. This will work best in small towns and farm areas, probably westward from the Midwest. It’s more difficult in urban and densely populated areas like the east coast.

Make friends and help out. You may just meet some really nice people and establish long term relationships by doing this.

Use common sense and keep yourself and your RV clean. No one wants to bring a garbage pile onto their property or have more to clean up after you leave. Keep a clean site. It may lead to more opportunities to return in the future or references with people they know in other cities. It helps to NOT have a barking dog with you. I probably wouldn’t want someone to bring their noise into my neighborhood or on my quiet farm either.

Have you done this and do have any tips you’d like to share with others?

What are all these terms. Boondocking, dry camping and independent parking are pretty much the same thing when you see them bantered around. Dry camping means you obviously have no water or normal amenities. Independent parking means that you are prepared to dry camp or boondock but you’ll use any amenities you’ll find.

The most important thing, which always sparks a heated discussion in all the online forums and boards, is to blend and use common sense. No one should be able to tell you are sleeping or “camping” in your rv where it is parked. No chairs, awnings, grills, jacks or slideouts deployed.

When you are moving fast to a particular destination, it makes sense to use rest areas and parking lots for naps or just sleeping. Many of these areas restrict parking. If you are discreet and don’t look like you are staying long, you probably won’t be bothered. And if you really unsure about if you can park somewhere for a little while, don’t even put up sun shades, antennas or anything that may hint that you didn’t just run in to shop at the Gap or IKEA or wherever. Most officials have better things to do than go poking around a vehicle that looks like it’s just parked. It’s when you look like you are staying for a bit that draws some attention.

If you look like any of the following, be prepared to be approached. Homeless, drug dealer, drug user, prostitute, crook or a person who puts leaflets on car windshields.

The bigger the place and the more crowded it is, the better. This isn’t good if you need silence for your nap, but it helps to blend in. Bigger truck stops, bigger malls, bigger rest areas.

You can use of our guides to find many of the most common places to try parking, from rest areas to Camping Worlds to Wal-mart locations. And if you are creative, you’ll come up with many more possibilities out there.

Walk around any hotel

You can kill quite a bit of time just walking around and exploring each of the monster hotel casinos in Las Vegas. Most all of the major hotels are within a 1.7 mile distance on the strip. You can walk (free) up and down the strip, take the monorail (moderate cost but also recommended) or a taxi (expensive).

Walk the malls and shops

Most of the time, this winds up costing you. But if you can walk shops without spending any money, it could be free! There are malls at Caesars, Planet Hollywood (formerly Alladin), Palazzo/Venetian and the Fashion Show Mall by Treasure Island and Wynn. There are also rows of shops at many of the hotels like the Bellagio and Wynn.

Watch out for pickpockets

Okay, these are not free. These can cost you big and ruin a vacation. But they usually frequent the spots where things are free. Always watch your bags and wallets closely. It’s best not to have anything in your back pockets or loose pockets when in crowds. Especially in down economy times.

The Mirage

Completely Free Things to Do in Las Vegas

All of these are free. Zero dollars. I have seen them all and they are all worth some time and a visit. A few of them are worth more than one visit depending on day or night as the experience is different.

Fountains at The Bellagio

• Fountain show in front of Bellagio. The schedule has changed a bit over time and doesn’t run nearly as often as in previous years. It generally runs every night after 7pm and in the afternoon on weekends. Viewpoints include out front on the sidewalk and from the nearby pedestrian bridge.
• Botanical Conservatory in lobby of the Bellagio.
• Glass art on ceiling in lobby of the Bellagio.
• Fountain show in the Forum Shops at Caesars. Statues come to life.
• Aquarium in Forum Shops at Caesars. Fed by a diver twice in the afternoon.
• Live trapeze and high wire acts all afternoon and evening at Circus Circus.
• Laser light show on Fremont Street overhead canopy starting at 8pm.
• Browse the lights and old Las Vegas signs on Fremont Street. Lots of free street entertainment as well.
• The monorail between Excalibur, Luxor and Mandalay Bay is free.
• Free wildlife habitat at the Flamingo.
• Free aquarium at the Golden Nugget.
• Outdoor Carnival Court at Harrah’s has music and entertainment nightly.
• Lion habitat at the MGM Grand from 11am – 11pm.
• CBS Television City Research Center. Watch and review tv shows.
• Free volcano show outside in front of the Mirage.
• Times Square Bar has Dueling Pianos show. No cover but if you don’t want to even buy one drink you can see or listen from outside the bar as well.
• Free aerial show at the Rio.
• Siren show outside in front of Treasure Island. Four shows nightly, every 90 minutes from 7pm to 11:30pm.