Rent somebody else's house when traveling - and save money over hotel rooms

Short-term rental services are booming as homeowners seek help avoiding foreclosure.

Money Magazine is telling travelers, don't rent a hotel. In this troubled real estate economy, rent somebody's home instead.

If you're a traveler, here's how to get started.

Websites like Airbnb.com, HomeAway.com, FlipKey.com and Craigslist are the best known and all of them are enjoying a surge of new listings. Money suggests that you ask for references and seek out rentals that let you pay via credit card, so you can dispute charges if things are not as they should be.