Have you ever wanted to live like a local when you are on holidays? Tired of staying in costly hotels or B & B’s? Well how about a home exchange for your next vacation?
Just what is a home exchange? Home Based Holidays describes a home exchange as “a mutual exchange of homes or holiday homes, usually at the same time, for an agreed period.” So while you are staying in someone else’s home, either across the country or across the world, they are staying in your home. Sounds good?
Just how do home exchange work? You and your family exchange homes for a specific period of time with another family in another state, or country. You will stay in the other families home while they stay in yours. Usually home exchanges occur simultaneously.
The home exchange is best arranged via an agency that specializes in home exchanges. For a small annual fee, you can subscribe to a home exchange agency. They will help you arrange the exchange as well as host your information on a member’s only website. You are free to contact other members about an exchange or they can contact you.
Home exchanges are built on trust. Once you have found a suitable exchange, one that meets both your destination and time requirements, you will begin a correspondence with the potential exchange partner. As you prepare and make the arrangements for the home exchange, you will get to know your exchange partner via email, regular mail and through telephone calls.
Remember the person or family you exchange with will be staying in your home while you stay in theirs. It is important to establish guidelines and make your expectations clear when arranging the home exchange. Determine if you will exchange cars as well as homes and check with your insurance company about coverage during the home exchange and for your car if you choose to exchange vehicles as well.
To ensure a successful home exchange, Home Based Holidays recommends that you be as flexible as possible regarding destinations and times. You should allow plenty of time to arrange the home exchange. Don’t expect to arrange a home exchange for next week or next month, plan ahead and give yourself time to find the right exchange. Try to exchange with people in similar circumstances as you. If you live in a one bedroom condo, arranging a home exchange with a family of four is probably not a good idea.
Have a friend or relative look after your home and your guests while you are away. They can help get your exchange partners get settled in your home and make sure that everything is going well. This way you will not have to worry about your house while you are gone.
Home exchanges can be an economical and interesting way to vacation. You can visit a destination without having to stay in a cold impersonal hotel. You can stay in a comfortable environment and enjoy all the comforts of home while your holiday. Home exchanges are not for everyone. But if you are a bit adventurous and want to experience an alternative way to travel, you might want to give a home exchange a try.
Some home exchange web sites:
http://www.homeforexchange.com/?gclid=CMWS7abRzJECFSMWiQodW0VIyw
http://www.selectexchange.co.uk/?gclid=CIXj4r7RzJECFQYziQodBF0Dyg
http://www.thevacationexchange.com/index.HTML?CFID=925794&CFTOKEN=93781501
http://www.homeexchange.com/
http://www.1sthomeexchange.com/
Guidelines for a successful home exchange:
http://www.homebase-hols.com/guidelines.shtml
http://www.wikihow.com/Exchange-Your-Home-for-Free-Vacation-Accommodation
Home Swappers Newsletter:
http://www.homebase-hols.com/news.shtml
Not up to a home exchange, how about a B&B club? They offer very low-cost accommodations in private homes for people over 40 (www.affordabletravelclub.net) or 50 (www.evergreenclub.com). The only "catch" is that you have to be willing to reciprocate for other travelers. It's a great way to "meet the locals" and save money.
