Travel the Home Exchange Way blog

Home swap holiday: cosy log cabin in Eryri (Snowdonia)

Home swapping to a log cabin in the Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park

We love hearing about your home swap holidays! Here we've received a trip report from Home Base Holidays member, Madeline, who enjoyed a lovely family home swap holiday to Karen's cosy log cabin set within the beautiful Eryri National Park (Snowdonia). 

Family holiday in Wales: scenic log cabin & caring home swap hosts "We enjoyed such a wonderful one week home swap holiday staying in Karen's lovely log cabin. The cabin is in such a fabulous location, in a beautiful spot within the Snowdonia National Park with amazing views over the Rhinog Mountains. The log cabin was so welcoming, it is really nicely renovated, clean, plus warm and cosy, perfectly equipped for colder days! Communication with Karen was excellent and we really appreciated the thoughtful recommendations for our family. The cabin is in the Trawsfynydd Leisure Village which is very family friendly, our kid really enjoyed visiting the playground on site. The setting and surrounding area is just stunning with lots of walks and outings to choose from. Plus what a treat to watch all the busy bird feeders in the garden! Thank you so much for such a lovely holiday." - Madeline

Highlights of the holiday: Swapping to a cosy log cabin with stunning views Beautiful location in the Snowdonia National Park Kind and responsive owners

Madeline's riverside home in Frome Lovely, peaceful family flat in Frome, a beautiful, historic town in Somerset. View the home swap holiday offer	Karen's log cabin in Snowdonia, Wales Norwegian style log cabin nestled within the Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park. View the home swap holiday offer

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Start home swapping and cut the cost of your next holiday Sign up to Home Base Holidays and save up to 90% on the cost of your holidays by arranging a home exchange. Search the latest home exchange holiday offers

Handling back-to-back home swap holidays | Travel tips

The majority of home exchange holidays are simultaneous swaps, where the two members agree to swap homes for the duration of their holidays. Although all home exchanges take careful planning and preparation, they usually tend to be quite straight forward to arrange.

However, some home exchangers arrange two or even a series of swaps, one after the other. Such arrangements take careful planning as, if one member is unable to take part in an agreed exchange for any reason, this could affect others in the chain of swaps. Although it is very rare that there will be a problem, as with any home exchange, it’s sensible to have a fall-back plan, perhaps even agreeing to pay for alternative accommodation for your guests should you have to cancel at short notice.

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Exchanging keys: If you're arranging back-to-back home swaps, it might be worth installing a lock box outside your home so that you can provide your guests' with a code to access the keys to your home when they arrive at the start of the swap. If you do install a lock box, make sure to give detailed instructions as to where to find the lock box and how to enter the code.

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It is also important to consider arrangements to ensure your home is ready for your second exchange guests arrival. The vast majority of home exchangers will leave your home very clean and tidy at the end of their stay. However, if you're doing back-to-back home exchanges, it's likely you won't have a chance to check your home prior to your next guests' arrival. Therefore, to give you and your guests peace of mind, it might be good to arrange a cleaner to come in between the exchanges so as to make sure your home is clean and tidy, change bed linen, wash towels, etc. You can then relax as you start your second exchange, knowing that your home will be just as you left it and ready for your guests' arrival.

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Home Base Holidays: arrange a home exchange holiday Sign up to Home Base Holidays two-week free trial and start planning your home swap holiday accommodation.  Search Home Base Holidays for the latest home swap holiday offers

Travelling with kids: wonderful home swap in Devon

We love receiving trip reports from Home Base Holidays members! In this trip report, members, Eliza and her two young daughters, enjoyed a wonderful non-simultaneous home swap holiday staying in Isabel's cosy cottage set in the beautiful East Devon countryside. 

Eliza's home swap holiday in the Devon countryside "We had the most wonderful time in Devon swapping homes with Isabel and her family. We'd arranged a non-simultaneous home swap holiday and Isabel couldn't have been more welcoming or lovely. It was such a treat to get to enjoy a couple of nights in such a beautiful part of the Devon countryside. Isabel's home is a lovely cosy cottage set in a beautiful valley close to the coast. The cottage is in such a perfect location, just a short stroll to Lyme Regis and ideal for exploring East Devon's Jurassic Coast. My husband couldn't join us so it was just myself and my two little daughters. Isabel went to every effort to make sure I had everything I needed, including a cot for my youngest and even a bucket and spade when we went to the beach. It really was such a lovely break and I'd recommend Isabel's cottage to everyone. Thanks so much!" - Eliza

Highlights of the holiday: Enjoy gorgeous country walks direct from the cottage Going to the beach. The cottage is less than 10 minutes from Lyme Regis! Cosying up in Isabel's beautiful cute cottage

Photos from the home swap in Devon

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Reply from Isabel: "Thanks so much Eliza for the great review. We really enjoyed meeting you and your daughters. We loved our home swap to your beautiful Cotswolds cottage and I really hope we can arrange a swap again later this year! Many thanks, Isabel"

Eliza's cottage in the Cotswolds Cosy cottage on the edge of the Cotswolds. Set in a pretty village in the Wiltshire countryside. View the home swap holiday offer	Isabel's cottage in Devon Lovely cottage in the beautiful East Devon countryside. 10 minutes from Lyme Regis. View the home swap holiday offer

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Start home swapping and cut the cost of your next holiday Sign up to Home Base Holidays and save up to 90% on the cost of your holidays by arranging a home exchange. Search the latest home exchange holiday offers

Q&A: Is my home suitable for a home swap holiday?

Toys and children's books can be a bonus of swapping with another young family

Q: Hello Home Base Holidays team! I've been browsing offers on your website and am interested in arranging a home swap holiday. I have a 2-bedroom cottage in the Cotswolds and would initially be interested in arranging a shorter break within the UK. I just wasn't sure what people would expect of my home and how to prepare it for a swap. My home isn't luxurious by any means but I think it's very nice, cosy and comfortable. However it is also full of my family's stuff (we have a 3 year old girl with lots of books, toys, etc!). I'm guessing it's okay to leave our belongings in the cottage during the swap or would our guests expect us to clear much of it out? Also, are there any precautions we should take prior to a swap? - Katie

A: Thanks for getting in contact and lovely to hear you're interested in home swapping! Your Cotswolds cottage sounds lovely and I'm sure it would be a very appealing offer to many members. Planning your first swap can feel a bit daunting and so choosing a shorter swap closer to home is a great way to start. You do not need to clear out any of your items prior to a swap. Home swappers aren't expecting to stay in an empty show home but will be expecting a home just like yours, a nice real home contain furnishings and belongings. In fact, if you arrange to swap with a family that have a similar aged kid(s), having childrens books and toys can be a really big bonus!

Prior to the swap, make sure that you give your home a good clean and declutter so that it's nice and welcoming for your guests. Although you do not need to remove your belongings, it's nice to clear a little space in your wardrobe, kitchen cupboard and bathroom so your guests have room to unpack. 

• 4 Tips for Happy Home Swap Holiday Guests
• 20 Home Swap Holiday FAQs | Travel Tips
• Five steps: prepare your home for a home swap holiday
• Home swapping? Add photos of your clean & tidy home
• Tips to take great photos for your home swap listing
• Travel Q&A: does size matter in a home swap holiday?
• Communication is key to a successful home swap holiday

Home swaps are mutual agreement between the two members and is based on trust that will develop over a lengthy correspondence in the run-up to exchange dates. However, it is always important to contact your home insurance company to make sure your policy will cover the period your guests will be staying. There are also several specialist insurance companies that provide very reasonably priced top up cover for home swappers, contact us for details

Tip: For peace of mind, some members also choose to use a lockable room or ask friends/family nearby to store certain personal items that they would not want available for use by exchange guests (e.g. a work laptop).

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Home Base Holidays: start home swapping Sign up to Home Base Holidays and arrange home swap swap holiday accommodation for the new year. Save over 90% on the cost of your next holiday!  Search the latest home swap holiday offers

First time home swappers: fabulous trip to the UK and Italy

Jarn and Ian's home swap holiday to Burnham-on-Sea and Lake Como

We love receiving trip reports from Home Base Holidays members. First time home swappers, Jarn & Ian, enjoyed a wonderful home swap holiday with Jenny & Colin, swapping to their house in the English seaside town of Burnham on Sea. They even enjoy a short trip to Italy's Lake Como!  

Jarn & Ian's fabulous home swap holiday in the UK & Italy "Thank you so much for the opportunity to be in the UK again! We had house sat and exchanged homes with friends of friends, so we were a bit hesitant at first to go on-line and find a suitable couple to stay in our house and us in theirs. We had contacted a few members while looking for somewhere suitable and close to see our family in the UK.  When Jenny and Colin responded, we were thrilled! We chatted online, then emailed and after a few days we called and spoke. It’s actually a bit like online dating!! These lovely people, were so knowledgeable and helpful throughout the process. We both discussed dates and cars, insurances for the houses, passports were viewed and driving licenses. Arriving to their beautifully cleaned home, we felt at home straight away. Plus they provided lots of food in the fridge, which they told us to help ourselves to... how kind and appreciated that was after a long haul flight! We both have dietary restrictions and so it was so handy and cost effective to be able to cook delicious, home cooked food. Plus having laundry facilities was a great plus too. The supermarket was less than a mile away. Jenny and Colin’s home was close to Bristol Airport, so we even enjoyed a short trip to Italy and Lake Como. On our return, we relaxed for a couple of days in a comfortable home. Recovered for the next adventure, where we explored this wonderful area and ended up in the beautiful town of Clovelly, near Bridport. We also visited Bletchley Park, which was amazing. The home swap was fantastic. Now we are great friends but never meet. We speak and email each other often. We feel very blessed and lucky." - Jarn & Ian

Highlights of the holiday: We were extremely lucky to have a delightful exchange with Jenny and Colin, such beautiful people. Visiting Clovelly, Bletchley Park and a trip to Italy's Lake Como The best part is having a home from home… no unpacking and packing up... blissful. Home exchanging makes everything so much easier.

 

Photos from the home exchange

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Jenny & Colin's home in Burnham-on-Sea, UK Lovely semi-detached house close to Europe's 2nd longest sandy beach. View their home swap holiday offer	Jarn & Ian's home in Adelaide, Australia Fabulous home close to city, beautiful beaches and vineyards. View their home swap holiday offer

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Start home swapping and cut the cost of your next holiday Sign up to Home Base Holidays and save up to 90% on the cost of your holidays by arranging a home exchange. Search the latest home swap holiday offers

4 Tips for Happy Home Swap Holiday Guests | Travel Tips

Experienced home exchangers know that helping guests enjoy their stay in their home isn’t difficult, but it does take some extra attention. Here are 4 tips to ensure that your guests are happy and have a wonderful home swap holiday. Search home swap holiday offers

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Tip 1. Make sure your home swap listing is accurate

An inaccurate or misleading listing description is one quick way to leave your home swap guests feeling unhappy with their stay in your home. Make sure that your listing has accurate detailed information about your home and location. Of course, you'll want to highlight the best bits of your home and area, but make sure you also be honest about anything that could be a potential issue (e.g Have a 5 floor walk up apartment? Make sure potential guests know if there is no lift. Have pets? Let your potential guests know as this could be a big no no for allergy sufferers).

Good communications when in the planning stage helps ensure that both you and your guests enjoy a wonderful stay in each others' homes.

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Tip 2. Good communication (stay in regular contact)

As mentioned, good communication is key to successful home exchanging. Make sure to discuss and agree all details before agreeing to an exchange. Spending time getting to know your home exchange partners helps to build trust and avoid any misunderstandings. Make sure to answer any questions promptly. If you'll be out of contact for a while, let your exchange partners that you'll be away and let them know when you'll be back in contact. 

Provide serveral ways that you can be contacted (e.g. through the website, via email, WhatsApp and phone numbers). It can also be a nice touch and reasuring to schedule a phone or video call with your home exchange partners prior to agreeing the swap. 

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Tip 3. Provide the basics (toilet paper, basic food, bedding, towels)

You don't want to arrive at your home swap accommodation to find that there is no loo roll! Your guests won't expect you to fully stock your cupboards but make sure that you leave basic supplies for their arrival. Provide plenty of clean towels and bedding but also provide your guests with toilet roll, kitchen towels, cleaning supplies, pots, pans, kitchenware, and so on. Many hosts also provide basic food items for their guests arrival e.g. bread, butter, milk, olive oil, cereal, salt & pepper... even a bottle of wine!

It’s not difficult or expensive to provide the basics for your guests. Think about what you would need if you were staying in a home like yours for a few days or a few weeks. 

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Tip 4. Information about your home & area (create a 'Welcome Pack')

Put together a Welcome Pack for your guests with clear, detailed instructions: how to turn on the heating or air conditioner, where to put the rubbish & recycling. Not only will that help your guests enjoy their stay, you’ll be less likely to be bothered by messages and phone calls when they can’t figure something out.

One of the most rewarding things about home swapping is that you get to 'live like a local' as you explore your host's area. You'll often find lovely off the tourist trail discoveries such as independent shops and cafes, places to buy food, local restaurants, churches and historic sights, etc. Help your guests discover some of your favourite local attractions by including this information in your Welcome Pack. Think about what your guests might need or like to know about your neighbourhood, things they might not find in their tourist guides. You might include maps and restaurant menus; directions to food stores and markets; where to buy bus and train tickets; locations of parks, gyms, beauty salons, and pharmacies; suggestions for good places to walk; and brochures for interesting places and sights known only to locals. 

It's also always good to leave your guests contact details in case of emergencies. In addition to your own contact details, include phone numbers of an emergency plumber and electrician. Include the phone numbers of your local doctor, dentist and emergency response call out numbers (i.e. 999 in the UK and 911 in the US & Canada). If you're also able to leave the contact number of a local friend, neighbour or relative, this can also add to the reasurance.

Check out our blog post: Prepare a Welcome Pack for your home swap guests

 

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Join Home Base Holidays: start home swapping Looking for a budget friendly break? Arrange free holiday accommodation by choosing to swap homes rather than book hotels or holiday rentals. View the latest home exchange vacation offers then sign up to Home Base Holidays.

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