Vacations Blog

From guest blogger, Lois Sealy, who runs a home exchange agency, Home Base Holidays.

Sometimes it’s a good idea to get back to basics. So, if you are new to the idea of swapping homes, here’s a brief list of reasons why you may like to consider trying a home exchange yourself. This list could be much longer but these are the most common reasons given by Home Base Holidays members for taking part in home exchanges:

1. Saves money

Arranging a home exchange cuts out hotel bills, usually the most expensive part of a trip. As well as having a rent-free home as a base, many home exchange offers include extras such as cars, club memberships and generally lots of local information to save you needing to buy many guide books and maps. Living in a real home means having a fully equipped kitchen too so that not all meals need be taken in expensive restaurants.

‘”As an Australian,” wrote a reader from Down Under, “my dollar goes even less far than yours. And so I used a home exchange for my lodgings, which I obtained by going to an agency based in London, www.homebase-hols.com. I had a wonderful time in London and also saved money by cooking in a well-equipped kitchen (I liked shopping in the local markets and little shops) and could afford to splurge once in a while on great meals out.”‘ (from ‘Six ways to offset the high cost of accommodations in Europe’ by Arthur Frommer).

2. Experience life as a local

‘Mixing and mingling with the locals will give you a real sense of what it is like to live there. You could never get that unique “local” feeling in a hotel.’ (from article, ‘Home Exchange Vacations Offer Unique & Free Lodging’ on Everyone Loves To Travel)

‘See Malaysia and experience the life of a society that is multi-racial, multi-religious and multi-cultural. Taste our delicious food and meet our warm respectful people. Learn batik painting and test your skills (DIY set provided). Crockery, groceries, linen, clothes to wear are provided. Use everything found in the house please.’ (Ramlah, Johor Bahru, Malaysia.)

3. For children – toys, books, local playmates, babysitters and more

‘As a family, we have stayed in many different types of homes and neighbourhoods and had experiences we would never have had if we not been on a home exchange. My children still talk about the open air cinema in Switzerland (the tickets were left as a gift), the ice cream they received from the kindly neighbour during the heatwave in France, the children who came to call when we stayed in Ireland, the invite we received from our exchange partners’ friends in Canada to use their pool, the neighbours who called with fish from their fishing trip, etc.’ (Joanne, Gwynedd, North Wales.)

4. Space and convenience of staying in a home

‘We arrived at the house in France late on a Saturday. The house was amazing. As we entered the kitchen, I exclaimed, “Goodness, their kitchen is nearly as big as our downstairs!” The house was lovely, in a beautifully quiet situation, no passing traffic, we hardly heard any cars, just the odd tractor now and again. We love peace and quiet and spent many days sitting reading under the trees or swimming in the small pool.’ (Kathy, formerly from Devon, England; moved to a new home in Poitou-Charentes, France after this home exchange.

5. Home exchangers are often happy to look after plants and pets

‘I love animals. I used to have horses and help on a farm and have a dog at home with my parents so I would be more than happy to look after any animals you might have.’ (Kirsty, Lanzarote, Canary Islands.)

‘We love our life out here in the peace and quiet and are trying “the good life!” We have 3 free range hens, 3 big dogs (that will love you to death!), 2 cats, a rabbit, a guniea pig and many fish!’ (Gill, Malaga, Spain.)

6. A greener way to travel

‘Actually, there are also deeper layers of thought to the home exchange idea. When you think about global waste and conservation, the idea of combining resources with other people on the globe has more merits than those you experience on a personal level. Think of all the hotel sheets and towels that are washed every day; of the low-paid hotel workers (often foreigners); of the huge and wasteful industry that has grown around the needs of people who want to experience a holiday in a different country.’ (from ‘Home Away From Home’, article by Ruti Singer).

First published on the blog, Travel the Home Exchange Way, and reproduced with permission of Lois Sealey, Home Base Holidays.

This is a post written by Lois from the Home Exchange blog. A family is seeking to a home near Cedar Sinai Hospital in Beverly Hills because the mother needs treatment for leukemia for a two month period. Lois has asked us to spread the word in the blogosphere and try to help the family.

“This is a special appeal to anyone, Home Base Holidays members, members or agents from other home exchange clubs, or anyone who lives near Cedars Sinai Hospital, Beverly Hills, who might be able to either do a non-simultaneous exchange or offer accommodation close to the hospital, to please get in touch. Here’s the story behind this appeal and I hope that through spreading the word as widely as possible, we can draw on the resources of the whole home exchange community and find someone able to offer help:

Dear Lois,

I am writing because I was just diagnosed with Hairy Cell Leukemia a week ago and I’m 25 weeks pregnant with a girl. (We already have a 3 year old boy, Daxton, so we’re very excited). The best treatment I can get in the area is at Cedars Sinai in Beverly Hills, but that is about an hour’s drive away without traffic and can be 2 or more hours….plus I have to go there every couple of days for treatment.

I thought I might find someone who lives close to Cedars who would be willing to let us use their home for a couple of months during my treatment, but haven’t had any luck so far. I just wanted to see if you know of any members in the Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, West LA, Brentwood, or any of the surrounding areas close to Cedars Sinai Hospital? Or if you know anyone personally or have any ideas for me. I realize you may not know how to help me, but I thought it was worth the inquiry.

Thanks so much and I hope you are well. By the way – my Leukemia is treatable and curable, I just need to get the baby out first and then I can start treatment! I also may have a surgery next week to remove my spleen.

Best,

Leslie”

If you can help, please contact me or Lois and we will put you in touch with Leslie.

Thanks,

Pat Jenkins

We are pleased to introduce our guest blogger, Lois Sealy, who runs a home exchange agency, Home Base Holidays, based in Great Britain and serving the world. We met because of a recent Kango blog on home exchange. Lois offers valuable insights into home exchanges in her blog and fosters home exchanges around the world through her website. In this brief post, Lois explains how you can improve your home exchange experience by giving detailed information on your interests in your exchange offer. Samples of just two of the many homes available for exchange are included to illustrate the topic.

Most home exchangers are very good at including information in their home exchange offers on attractions and activities available where they live. This is really useful as it helps potential home swap partners decide if the location, as well as the home, is likely to suit their needs and interests. It is also helpful to include information on your own interests and those of other family members. This will help those interested in your offer to tailor their exchange offer messages to you around your interests, needs or special requests.

Two members, both living on the West coast North America, joined almost simultaneously a few days ago and, as it happens, both not only provide excellent descriptions of their areas’ attractions but also give details of their own interests and thus, good clues to what they might like to do while on a home exchange. The first family live on the outskirts of Victoria, British Columbia, and the second, a retired couple, live in Eugene, Oregon:

“We are a very active family of four looking forward to our first house exchange. Don is the General Sales Manager of two local radio stations. He enjoys cheering on his favorite hockey team – The Canucks, gardening and hiking! Megan is a Financial Planner. She keeps busy away from work enjoying her many artistic projects. Tye, our oldest son, is in 10th grade. He is a passionate musician who is very active in the local music scene. Cory, our 15 year old is in grade 9 and spends his spare time perfecting his passion…magic. He works at a local restaurant on weekends performing close up magic! Our family is made complete with our quirky dog, Milo. Milo will be staying at Grandma’s when you visit.”

See the family’s attractive home exchange offer in the beautiful city of Victoria, BC, Canada.

“We are very active seniors, recently retired. My husband was an electrical contractor and I was an accountant. We are respectful of other people’s property and would treat your home with care. We love animals and would not mind caring for your pets, if you need it. We like to fish, go on walks, visit other countries and learn of different cultures. Our 3 bdrm house, with a large deck w/barbecue and view of local hills is located in a wooded area (deer munch on our flowers), yet just 15 minutes from downtown Eugene.”

See the couple’s exchange offer in Eugene, Oregon, USA

Both these profiles illustrate my suggestion about providing sufficient information about your family, home and the surrounding area to help the potential swap partner make a decision. For more tips, please visit Home Base Holidays.

Do have a home exchange story to share? Share your tips, stories and ideas about your home exchange experiences and your travels with us, we love to hear where you are going!

Related Information:
Home Exchange Blog
Home Base Holidays

From guest blogger, Sarah Ellerman

Have a wish list of places you’d like to travel, but no idea how you’d ever make those dreams into reality? Look around you – really look – at the place where you live. Chances are, you’ve never thought about what a valuable vacation commodity your own home is.

Look at me: I rent a modest home in California, and while I’ve always adored it, I never dreamt that it would be the key to unlock affordable world travel for me. It started when a friend told me about her experience with a house swap vacation – known in various circles as home exchange, flat exchange, home swap, and so on. It’s all the same brilliant concept, though: like-minded travelers in different parts of the world hooking up to trade free vacation time in their house, apartment or RV. My little 2BR/1BA has made it possible for me to visit such places as Paris, Kauai and Hilton Head for little more than the cost of a plane ticket. Even better, I didn’t have to arrange for a housesitter for my houseplants and fish tank – my swap family looks after such details for me, just as I do for them. (This means that I have more responsibilities than at a hotel, but I consider that acceptable – even enjoyable.)

That’s because house swaps are undeniably economical. With lodging costs out of the equation, you’ll find that a trip to even the most exclusive locale is suddenly well within reach. Use of the family vehicle is often included in the deal, and with a kitchen on hand, you can cook local food. In no way is cost the only attraction, though. House swaps offer you the chance to live like locals, not tourists, so if you’re interested in an authentic experience, it’s the way to go.

Mutual respect is the most crucial aspect of any house swap. After all, you will be staying in each other’s homes! Many house swap vacationers report long-lasting ties with their swap family, leading to repeat vacations. If you are clean, responsible and thoughtful, you may find that within a few years, you’ll have special places to stay all over the globe.

The field of matching people up for house swaps is dominated by the free ads on Craigslist, but there are many other sites – some with a fee, some without. Home Exchange has glowing testimonials, and Only in America has listings and great advice. Homes in England is fab if you dream of visiting the UK, and for a look at exotic homes from Shanghai to Barcelona, check out Expatriates. There’s someone out there who would jump at the chance to stay in your so-called “ordinary” house – and perhaps you’d like to spend a week in their flat in London, or their rancher with a hot tub in Big Sur. Open your mind – and your front door – to the idea of house swap vacations, and anything is possible.