Published: February 1, 1991

Travel On A Shoestring

Travel-hungry teachers who enjoy ample time off but are limited by modest incomes can travel free or at discounted rates if they're entrepreneurial and willing to work. By arranging travel groups, chaperoning student trips, and participating in home swaps, teachers can satisfy their wanderlust and save thousands of dollars.

Group travel. Palazzi got her free passage by booking a group of 26 fellow teachers and friends on the cruise. Most travel agents will provide a free trip to anyone who organizes an excursion with 15 or more people, according to Robert Whitley, president of the U.S. Tour Operators Association.

Palazzi, who works at Westfield (Mass.) High School, says it wasn't hard to drum up interest in the cruise. She simply shared stories about a previous voyage she had taken. That's not to say organizing the trip didn't take hard work and careful planning. Palazzi called more than 50 different travel agents to compare prices, scanned travel magazines, collected money, and took...