Home-Exchange Networks Grow as Travel Budgets Shrink

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Since 1991 I have done 50+ home swaps. To help swappers avoid problems I write my best home exchange tips at a non-commercial blog, http://homeexchanger.blogspot.com/

Nicole Frank of NY 3:11PM December 24, 2011

Hi there!
We have done numerous home exchanges to date. Home exchanging has allowed us to save on accommodation costs, car rental expenses, and restaurant meals…
Other benefits include the friends that we have made. We have stayed in touch with most of the people we exchanged with. And have also visited with them years later. Families with children also benefit from having a whole house rather than a single room for the duration for the holiday. We often swap with other families, which usually means our kids have new toys to play with during the holiday.
For anyone serious about trying this out, we strongly recommend that you join a reputable home exchange club. There are numerous clubs you can join, but one that has worked out really well for us is www.HOMEFORSWAP.com
Finding a home exchange may require some effort but we have always found that it has been well worth it.
Good luck!
A-L

Anne-Laure of NY 5:16AM December 20, 2011

Home Exchange is a great way to holiday and more and more of us are doing it, from all different walks of life and age groups.
There are three types of Home Exchange, the normal swap at the same time, a Non-simultaneous Exchange when you swap at different dates and Hospitality Exchange which is when you stay with your swap partner and then they reciprocate later.
Have a look at some Home Exchange websites and see what is on offer. Some sites are good, some not so, some are free and some charge, although I think too much at times. Some exchangers also sign up with more than one website, which I recommend.
We advise our members at Home Exchange50plus prior to the actual exchange that it is important to get to know your exchange partner by communicating via emails /tel calls etc and if after this you are not sure or feel comfortable with them, then do not proceed, move on to another. Swapping Homes is based on trust, trust in
the details of the property being correct and trust in the individuals involved. As a holiday concept it has been around since the 1950s so it can't be all that bad a way to vacation.
If you have any questions please have a look at the Q&A pages of the websites which may help.
Brian Luckhurst

Brian Luckhurst 10:31AM December 18, 2011