Travel the Home Exchange Way blog

Travel the Home Exchange Way: Forward into 2008

2007 has been a very good year for Home Base Holidays. From the number of responses received to requests published in Home Swappers Newsletter, and general feedback, Home Base Holidays members feel part of a community of home exchange enthusiasts (and that is the aim).

Many of our members have offered to help others in various ways, from responding to particular questions raised on home swapping issues, volunteering to help students writing theses on the home exchange phenomenon (even keeping video diaries of exchanges!), taking part in radio discussions, sharing their exchange stories in the newsletter to offering to review a new e-book. I appreciate the time that members are prepared to give as, with different backgrounds, nationalities, ages and such a wide range of experiences to call on, our members are definitely our most valuable resource.

There has been a number of highlights this year, from Home Base Holidays being chosen as one of the top 130 travel sites by Times Online, many articles and radio programmes featuring our members, and great ratings from several members on Know Your Trade.

But just wait for some nice surprises in 2008 - the service is going to get even better (one new year's resolution we plan to keep!)

Tempt Us With a Home Exchange Offer - Anywhere!

'We are interested in the outdoors but are equally happy to explore urban areas. We are adaptable and flexible and have found that our most interesting home exchanges have been in areas which we would not have thought about - so we are easily tempted.'

This quote is taken from the listing of Home Base Holidays members who have recently renewed and have the right attitude to make the most of home swap opportunities.

Their own attractive exchange offer in Winchester, Hampshire, England:

Spacious 4 bedroom, fully equipped Edwardian house in beautiful Cathedral city which was once the ancient capital of England. Fine architecture, famous college, connections with Jane Austin/Alfred the Great, theatre, music, cinema, restaurants, pubs, riverside walks, Great Hall with King Alfred's round table. 5 min from train station (London 1 hr). Salisbury, Stonehenge, New Forest, beaches (all within 1 hr). See the full offer and more photos, HE14528

Next Holiday Season You Could be on a Home Exchange

Fodors published an article last week, 'Holiday Escapes: 3 Cities That Do the Holidays Right', naming New York, London and Vienna as 'the best places in the world to be during the holidays.' All three cities do have much to offer the visitor at this time of year but the idea of a winter holiday in the sun also has much appeal too.

Where are you spending this holiday season? Here are a few samples of places you might be - if you had arranged a home exchange:

Rhone Alpes, France

Beautiful 3 bedroomed alpine chalet on own good sized plot, dating from 1911, in rural Val d'Arly close to Megève. One of 11 tiny hamlets in an ancient farming community. South facing, superb views. Espace Diamant (5 trad stations, 84 lifts, 154 pistes, 185 kms.) Exceptional snow record. Pistes with views of Mt Blanc, through spruce woods. See full exchange offer, HE19625

Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia

Luxury 120sq/m, 14th floor apartment located on the Queensland Gold Coast at Burleigh Heads. Breathtaking unimpeded, panoramic views of the ocean and beaches. See full exchange offer, HE17298

Palos Verdes Estates, California, USA

Our home is located on the Palos Verdes Peninsula, which is minutes south of the popular Los Angeles South Bay beaches (Redondo, Hermosa & Manhattan Beach). See full exchange offer, HE19910

Goring-By-Sea, West Sussex, England

Brick built, semi-detached house with sea views. Worthing is a quiet sea-side town 15 miles from Brighton (a lively sea-side town). Worthing has all the facilities that a family might expect, and Brighton is even livelier with more attractions on offer. London is 60 miles away and easily accessed by train. See full exchange offer, HE13173

December/January is a popular time for home exchanges. Join Home Base Holidays and plan ahead to your next holiday in these and thousands of other attractive destinations.

Wherever you are spending the holiday, seasons greetings to all readers!

Is Home Exchange Free?

A couple of sentences caught my eye when reading 'Finding a home exchange', an article recently published in the Seniors on the Go column on Smarter Travel:

' ... as with the proverbial lunch, home exchange isn't truly free. But it's still about as inexpensive as you can find.'

Free accommodation is definitely one of the many plus factors of home exchange over a traditional vacation where rental costs or hotel charges form one, if not the most, expensive portions of the overall budget. So, on that score alone, home exchange is definitely free!

However, there are still other expenses involved (air fares generally being the next most costly for exchanges abroad) and the minimal cost of joining a reputable, established home exchange agency (Home Base Holidays). A home exchange does give participants the option to cook and eat at 'home', which can be a major saving, especially for families but, of course, most home exchangers will want to eat out at least some of the time (trying out the local cuisine is one of the great pleasures of travelling). Exchangers often save further by including cars as part of an exchange agreement, looking after pets, sharing club memberships and sports or camping equipment - really, the extras can add up to a tidy sum if the alternatives (car hire, kennel fees, expensive entry fees and equipment rentals) are taken into account.

But, getting back to the original quote - although the author didn't go into this, he may have had in mind the costs in time involved in arranging an exchange that can certainly be more than for a traditional vacation where, once you have done your research and booked your trip, there isn't much else to do except pack your cases. Home exchange does require more time and effort but, for many home exchangers, this 'getting to know exchange partners' in the run up to an exchange is all part of the fun that enhances the experience.

Local Contacts Help Smooth Home Exchange Arrangements

Many Home Base Holidays members use home exchange as a way of being near, but remaining independent from, family and friends they are visiting. As not having to accommodate extra people for a lengthy period can be a relief for those you are visiting too, why not ask these local contacts to help you with your exchange arrangements?

It can be a great reassurance to have feedback on the home and location you are considering for an exchange from friends or relatives who visit it. And it is also reassuring for your exchange partners to be able to directly ask any questions they have about your home and area.

Local contacts can certainly help smooth home exchange arrangements. This is exactly the situation of recently renewing members (two university professors, Canadian and Russian, living in Scotland) who want to arrange a swap to Vancouver Island:

'We need a family friendly home (3 bedroom or larger) close to Parksville, where my parents live. We would like to spend summer 2008 (July/August approximately 6 weeks) in a nice location, and would like access to a car. We are experienced swappers and have had great experiences! Ideally a home in Parksville, or Qualicum, or Nanoose, but would consider Nanaimo. My parents could come see you to confirm arrangements and tell you about us and our home in Scotland.'

The family's home exchange offer:

Wonderful Scotland at your door! New (4 year old) 5-bedroom home with beautiful view of River Tay. 10 minutes to world-famous St. Andrews, 1 hour to Edinburgh, 1.5 hours to Glasgow. Dundee is just across the Tay Bridge and is the gateway to the Highlands. See the full listing, HE12753

Home Exchange Feature on Irish TV Show Tonight, 16 Dec

This is a reminder to readers in Ireland that home exchange will be featured on 'Highly Recommended' on RTÉ One tonight (Sunday) at 8.30 pm. Fingers crossed, the home exchange advocate, Mervyn Walker, will convince Joe Duffy and his panel of consumer experts that home exchange is indeed a good way to save money - and take home 2000 euro!

If you are able to see the show please get in touch after and let us know how it went.