Travel the Home Exchange Way

Best location: home swap staycation in central London

Best location: Julia and David's home is in central London's Marylebone

"We had such a wonderful home exchange in Julia and David's central London apartment. We absolutely loved the flat and the location, it really was the best location ever - smack bang in Marylebone ...it really would be hard to find a better place to stay! Julia was in touch throughout and gave tons of local tips and great advice. Her flat was immaculate and so was ours when she and her hubby left it. Our neighbours fell in love with them, as did our cats, who were very well cared for. Staying in such a lovely central London location for free meant that we had lots of spare money to spend on restaurants, river boat trips, etc - and we made full use of this! We are very lucky people to have had this opportunity. Thank you so much to Julia and David for a wonderful swap in London!" - Diana & Alexander (Loch Long, Scotland)

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Highlight from the home exchange:

1. Our home swap partners, Julie and David, were extremely lovely
2. Unbeatable location and such a stylish clean, quiet and comfortable apartment
3. London ...of course!

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Julia & David's home in central London

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Diana & Alexander's home on the shores of Loch Long, Scotland

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Meet the members:

Diana & Alexander:  We are a tech teacher and mental health counsellor from Scotland. Our kids are all grown up and we are ready to explore the world. We are open to suggestions and can be spontaneous but will aim towards travelling during the Scottish school holidays. We have two lovely cats. View their home swap offer on the shore of Loch Long

 

Julia & David:  We are a British (English & Scottish) married couple. For UK and European city short trips/weekends we often travel as a couple although it would be ideal if we could arrange an occasional swap that accommodated the in-laws and both kids, particularly to Sydney where we have family. View their home swap offer in London

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Home Base Holidays: join for free and start home swapping Sign up to Home Base Holidays two-week free trial or select a full membership (6-month membership is just £29 and 1-year at £49). Home swap guarantee: second year free if you do not arrange a swap during your membership.

Preparing for a summer home exchange holiday

With the UK starting to ease lockdown restrictions, many of us are now looking ahead to a (much needed!) summer holiday. Home swapping is a great way to enjoy a fabulous holiday this summer but at a fraction of the cost. Through Home Base Holidays you'll find many tempting home swap offers including country cottages, city apartments and homes by the coast. Shown below are a few tips to help you find and prepare for a summer swap.

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1. Add your home swap offer: sign up to Home Base Holidays

Sign up to Home Base Holidays so that you can add your home swap offer and then start contacting other members to discuss a swap. You'll include details about your home, location and when and where you are looking travel. 

Home Base Holidays has a two-week free trial to get you started. A full six month membership costs only £29 and there are no additional fees to pay. Sign up for free and start planning a summer swap!

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2. Be proactive: start contacting members to discuss a summer swap

The most successful home swappers are usually the most proactive. So, once you've added your home swap offer, don't just sit back and wait to be contacted; search home swap offers and spend some time sending out enquiry messages to members whose homes/locations look of interest.

Note: it's important to reply to all enquiry messages you receive even if just to say "Thank you, but the offer is not what I am looking for".

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3. Communications is key: discuss all details of the proposed swap

Communication really is key to successful home swapping and so be sure to discuss all details of the proposed home swap with the other member and don't be afraid to ask any questions that come to mind no matter how minor they seem. Thankfully, problems during a swap are extremely rare and the majority of issues reported tend to be things that could have been easily avoided with better communication (e.g. difference in house keeping styles, pet allergies, etc). Even once your swap has been agreed, stay in contact with your swap partner regularly in the lead up to your travel dates.

Schedule a phone / Skype call with the member you're planning a swap with - this can provide reassurance and give you a further chance to discuss details of the proposed swap.

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4. Insurance: contact your home insurance provider

Before agreeing a home swap, contact your home insurance company to confirm that your home is covered during the period of the home exchange. Most insurance companies will agree that your home is more secure occupied than if left empty as with most traditional holidays. However, do contact us if you have any difficulties agreeing cover for the period of your home swap.

Car swap? If you have also agreed to exchange cars it is essential to contact your car insurance company to ensure that your exchange guests will be covered on your insurance.

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5. Preparing your home: clean and declutter

Home Base Holidays members understand that they are staying in a real home and not a show house but do make time to thoroughly clean and declutter your home prior to your guests' arrival so that your home is nice and welcoming. Ensure that your guests have enough sets of clean towels and sheets for their stay (prior to the swap, discuss and agree what to do with dirty towels and bedding). Clear some space in the bedroom, bathroom and kitchen so that your guests can unpack their luggage and have space to put away food during their stay.

Think about safety: Do you have smoke and carbon monoxide detectors fitted? Also, read our Covid cleaning guidelines.

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6. Welcome pack: put together a folder of useful information

Most Home Base Holidays members create a welcome pack for their guests' arrival. Include in your welcome pack information about local attractions and recommended restaurants, nearby transport, useful information about your home (e.g. how to turn on/off the alarm, etc), useful phone numbers (e.g. taxi firms) and emergency contact details (e.g. a friend/neighbour's number, an emergency plumber, etc).

This photo shows the Welcome pack and tourist information available to guests staying in Mario and Lorraine's home in Malta (member HE33093).  View their Home Base Holidays offer

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Home Base Holidays: join for free and start home swapping Sign up to Home Base Holidays two-week free trial or select a full membership (6-month membership is just £29 and 1-year at £49). Home swap guarantee: second year free if you do not arrange a swap during your membership.

Wonderful home exchange staycation in Windermere

Lake District home swap: beautiful Lake Windermere

"We had a wonderful week long home exchange staycation in Windermere in the Lake District. Fiona and Dave’s place is immaculate, centrally located in the village of Windermere. There was loads of information in the house, with helpful recommendations from Fiona and Dave. They live nearby so we met them a couple of times and they were really helpful advising us what to do and see in the area - there was a lot to choose from. We enjoyed some lovely, not too strenuous walks on the ridge above Troutbeck, up to Alcock Tarn near Grasmere and from the house up to Orrest viewpoint. We only used the car one day, as we enjoyed getting to places via the ferries on the lake and the open-top buses. In the village there are plenty of shops including a supermarket just two minutes from the house and lots of independent shops including craft shops, a health food shop, art shops and ones selling lovely local produce. There are also numerous restaurants, cafes and takeaways too. Fiona and Dave were a pleasure to exchange with, we had such good communications throughout. A big thank you to Fiona and Dave!" - Jimmy & Anne (Glasgow, Scotland)

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Highlight from the home exchange:

1. Paddling with a view in Alcock Tarn
2. A day on Lake Windermere' ferries, with an all day ticket
3. Afternoon tea in Grassmere

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Photos from Jimmy & Anne's exchange 

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Meet the members:

Jimmy & Anne:  We are Jimmy and Anne, live in Glasgow. Jimmy is a Freelance database developer, Anne works for the NHS. View their home swap offer in Glasgow

 

Fiona & Dave:  We are looking for a week away, in a small town or village, and would like to bring our dog so we can relax, have local walks, and explore the area. View their home swap offer in Windermere

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Home Base Holidays: join for free and start home swapping Sign up to Home Base Holidays two-week free trial or select a full membership (6-month membership is just £29 and 1-year at £49). Home swap guarantee: second year free if you do not arrange a swap during your membership.

Happy Earth Day 2021 💚🌏 Staycation home swaps

Tourism and the environment is always a difficult balance. Of course, if you were to fly half way around the world for a three day home exchange, it could never be classed as 'eco-friendly'. However, home exchanging is an excellent way to help cut waste and make full use of our resources. It's so sad to see so many places around the world damaged by over development; knocking down neighbourhoods to build new hotels or shopping malls aimed at the tourist market. By swapping homes, you're not increasing the demand for hotel rooms but you are staying in a real home in a real neighbourhood ...often exploring and supporting local shops and markets.

"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." - Ruti Singer (from 'Home Away From Home')

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Post-lockdown getaway? Staycations (holidays within your own country) will again be very popular this summer as people hold off on overseas travel. By arranging a staycation instead of a long haul holiday, you'll help reduce your carbon footprint by avoiding the need for planes or cruises. The good news is that there are lots of tempting home exchange staycation offers available for this summer through Home Base Holidays.

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Small selection of home swap staycation offers

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Links to the above home swap offers: Cotswolds, England: 180 year old stone cottage in idyllic village. View offer Cranbrook, England: period family home in the heart of the Kent countryside. View offer Devon, England: 300 year old cottage in pretty village near Dartmoor National Park. View offer Ghadira, Malta: bright fully refurbished sea view apartment in North Malta. View offer Shoreham-by-Sea, England: large open plan houseboat with use of kayaks and bicycles. View offer Waterbeach, England: family home on the edge of a lovely village close to Cambridge. View offer Canonbie, Scotland: 17th century cottage in an ideal location for exploring this quiet and wild corner of Dumfries and Galloway. View offer Saffron Walden, England: converted granary dating back to 1820 in the heart of a historic market town. View offer Hebden Bridge, England: newly-renovated wide beam houseboat moored on the Rochdale Canal. View offer Loch Long, Scotland: cozy house with stunning views on the shore of Loch Long. Kayaks available to guests. View offer Cornwall, England: restored Cornish farmhouse with a wildlife pond, pizza oven, summer house and a meadow. View offer Cumbria, England: 300 year old farmhouse situated at the centre of 130 acres of farmland in the Eden Valley. View offer Villeneuve, Switzerland: boutique apartment with fast Wifi and desk for remote working. View offer Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, France: fabulous home with roof top terrace with jacuzzi overlooking the sea. View offer Spanish Point, Ireland: cottage overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and the sandy beach of Spanish Point. View offer

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Home Base Holidays: join for free and start home swapping Sign up to Home Base Holidays two-week free trial or select a full membership (6-month membership is just £29 and 1-year at £49). Home swap guarantee: second year free if you do not arrange a swap during your membership.

Summer break? Try a weekend home swap holiday

In need of a getaway? Arrange a weekend home swap holiday

If you're thinking ahead to a post lockdown holiday this summer, arranging a home exchange is an ideal way to enjoy a much needed getaway but at a fraction of the cost (Home Base Holidays members save up to 90% on the cost of their holidays). When planning your first home swap, initially it can feel a little bit daunting and so many first time swappers choose to arrange a weekend break closer to home.

For example (swap the city for the countryside): if you live in the city and have been cooped up for months, how about a relaxing weekend exchange by the coast or countryside? Shorter swaps can be the perfect introduction to home swapping and give you confidence to plan longer home exchange holidays either within your own country or overseas.

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Find a weekend home swap: You can use the the search filters on Home Base Holidays to narrow down your search to members looking to arrange a weekend swap. Go to the home exchange search Open the "Type of exchange" menu and then tick "Weekend exchange" option

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Small selection of weekend home swap offers

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Links to the above home swap offers: Cotswolds, England: 180 year old stone cottage in idyllic village. View offer Cranbrook, England: period family home in the heart of the Kent countryside. View offer Devon, England: 300 year old cottage in pretty village near Dartmoor National Park. View offer Ghadira, Malta: bright fully refurbished sea view apartment in North Malta. View offer Shoreham-by-Sea, England: large open plan houseboat with use of kayaks and bicycles. View offer Waterbeach, England: family home on the edge of a lovely village close to Cambridge. View offer Canonbie, Scotland: 17th century cottage in an ideal location for exploring this quiet and wild corner of Dumfries and Galloway. View offer Saffron Walden, England: converted granary dating back to 1820 in the heart of a historic market town. View offer Hebden Bridge, England: newly-renovated wide beam houseboat moored on the Rochdale Canal. View offer Loch Long, Scotland: cozy house with stunning views on the shore of Loch Long. Kayaks available to guests. View offer Cornwall, England: restored Cornish farmhouse with a wildlife pond, pizza oven, summer house and a meadow. View offer Cumbria, England: 300 year old farmhouse situated at the centre of 130 acres of farmland in the Eden Valley. View offer Villeneuve, Switzerland: boutique apartment with fast Wifi and desk for remote working. View offer Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, France: fabulous home with roof top terrace with jacuzzi overlooking the sea. View offer Spanish Point, Ireland: cottage overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and the sandy beach of Spanish Point. View offer

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Home Base Holidays: join for free and start home swapping Sign up to Home Base Holidays two-week free trial or select a full membership (6-month membership is just £29 and 1-year at £49). Home swap guarantee: second year free if you do not arrange a swap during your membership.

Our home exchange holiday in beautiful Tuscany

Sally and John's beautiful home in the Tuscan village of Tempagnano

"We loved our ten day home exchange staying in Sally and John's home in Tempagnano, Tuscany. The house is beautiful both inside and out - comfortable, full of character and with glorious views from every room. For four nights my brother and his family joined us and they loved it too - we had three nights dining together on the terrace and one in Lucca which was at its best in the late afternoon and evening as it's cooler. As well as Lucca, we also went to Barga, further up the valley, which we'd recommend to any visitors. It's a beautiful hilltop town and the 360 degree views from the church are stunning. We loved being able to swim in the river - there were several spots a mile or so beyond Bagna de Lucca that were perfect for this purpose. The local public pool is lovely too - to swim surrounded by mountains and trees is such a treat. We also enjoyed a very atmospheric walk up through Fiume Candalla - which was a very attractive 50 minute drive from the house. It's quite a climb but the steps up to the house were good training and on a hot day it was perfect exploring the waterfalls and plunge pools and abandoned mills. Any queries we had, Sally and John were quick to reply and it was great being able to swap advice and suggestions of places to go." - Sarah (Brighton, England)

Photos from Sarah & Tom's home swap holiday in Tuscany

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Meet the members:

Sarah & Tom  Sarah is an author and Tom is a chef. They have completed a number of successful home exchanges (mainly with the US but would like to explore other options too). They can supply home swap references.  View their home swap offer in Brighton, England

 

Sally & John  Sally and John are a retired couple from England who for the majority of their time live in Northern Tuscany. They love to travel, enjoy the coast, countryside, visiting historical sites, visiting cities, museums and art galleries and walking. View their home swap offer in Tuscany, Italy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Home Base Holidays: sign up for free and start swapping Sign up to Home Base Holidays two-week free trial or select a full membership (6-month membership is just £29 and 1-year at £49). >> Search the latest home exchange holiday offers  Home swap guarantee: if you don't arrange a swap we will renew your membership free of charge.