Travel the Home Exchange Way blog

Wanted: Christmas Home Swap in Sydney - in Exchange for Beautiful Sussex

Although it happens very rarely, it's alarming when a Home Base Holidays member reports having exchange plans changed or cancelled unexpectedly, especially if they have already bought non-refundable flight tickets. This is the situation for English member Yvonne, her husband and their two teenage sons from Horsham, Sussex who are planning a trip to Sydney over the Christmas/New Year holiday (flights booked to Sydney, 15 December, returning 5 January). Fortunately, being experienced home exchangers and early organisers, this should give plenty of time for the family to find a suitable alternative home exchange to fit their dates.

Yvonne's family offer a large home with many facilities in a prime location in beautiful countryside near the Sussex coast, yet close enough to pop up to London for the day or to the theatre in the evening. Their four bedroom house sleeps up to eight people and would be an ideal base for a family from Sydney who want to experience an English Christmas (snow not guaranteed but ice rinks galore in London are!).

Many Australians and British ex-pats use home exchange as a perfect way to visit friends and relatives in the UK without imposing on them. Although it's fun to catch up with friends and family, it's great to be able to relax in the space and privacy of your own 'home'. This house has a study with internet access and full office facilities so would also suit anyone hoping to combine a holiday with work while in England.

The family's exchange offer:

Horsham, Sussex, England

Large 4 bedroom detached house in a village called Southwater, 10 mins from the historic town of Horsham and all its shops and restaurants. The house is directly opposite a lovely country park with a beautiful lake and walks. The famous Downs Link walk and cycle track are here and, if you feel like it, you could cycle all the way down to the coast on an old railway track, with pubs on route!

Yvonne has given a detailed description of her home's facilities and the many attractions nearby. Read the full exchange offer and see more photos. If you are a current Home Base Holidays member living in Sydney or nearby and are interested in this tempting offer, log on to your member area, access the full listing, HE18195, and contact Yvonne. If you aren't currently a member,do join (or renew if your membership has lapsed) - you will be able to contact Yvonne right away! Yvonne will also write the feature story on her family's previous home exchanges for the next issue of Home Swappers newsletter (available 1 August).

References for further information and location: VisitSussex and West Sussex County Times (local Horsham)

Caring for a Dog on a Home Exchange

Many home exchangers are happy to look after dogs while on an exchange but this will to a large extent depend on the breed, whether they are used to caring for dogs, and if they don't mind the responsibility and ties. It's likely though that families with young children, especially those with no dogs of their own, will be extra cautious about offering to look after a dog while on a home swap.

Nicola, a very recent Home Base Holidays member, has taken the best approach by describing her dog's gentle nature, but also offering to put him in kennels if her exchange partners prefer not to care for him:

'Blondie the Golden retriever could be included but not necessarily, as he could be put in kennels. He is friendly but a bit dim and loves children, as friends not food.'

Nicola's home exchange offer in Estepona Marina, Malaga, Spain:

Very large 3 bed apartment with Mediterranean and sometime North African and Gibraltar views. Right by the marina and 15 mins walk to centre town. Beach across road. Very safe and child friendly.

That's Nicola and Blondie in the photo. See the full exchange offer, HE21157

Use Advanced Search to narrow the search results to Home Base Holidays members most likely to look after your pets while on an exchange or be happy for you to bring them with you. First choose your country of interest, and any other important criteria, then tick the appropriate boxes, 'pet care offered' and/or 'pets welcome' to find the pet lovers.

Home Exchange Travel: Best Choice for Single Parents and Educational for Children

What better way to introduce children to other cultures and languages than by arranging a home exchange!

Aimee, a Home Base Holidays member from Ireland, includes in her exchange offer:

'We are a Canadian Irish family who love to travel and see the world and I value it highly as a form of education for the kids as well as myself.

There are two children in the family, Ava 10 and Loughlin 8, who are responsible and happy kids.

I went to a French speaking school in Canada and know the importance of languages and find travel is a lovely way of introducing culture and differences to our children.'

Aimee's exchange offer in Ireland:

We live in a modern comfortable home in an old seaside village near Dublin. Greystones is a fantastic town where you can enjoy the beach, restaurants and great shops as well as that it has a great traditional live music scene in the old pubs.

You can catch a match or just enjoy the shops and history of Old Dublin in a short Dart ride from Greystones, so it is really the best of both worlds...a lovely town atmosphere with organic markets or the hustle and bustle of all that Dublin has to offer.

See the full home exchange offer and photos, HE19860

Aimee wrote:

'Very often parents find it daunting to travel alone with children but it is much more practical to house swap as the things that you miss in a travel resort can drive you mad, and the peace of mind arriving at a house where your day to day things are there for the children to keep busy is priceless. In addition to that, the personal touch and warmth you feel can not be replicated by any company or tour guide.'

I look forward to hearing of the family's exchange adventures in Italy this summer. Their story will be featured in an issue of Home Swappers Newsletter later this year.

'How to holiday on the cheap this summer': Swap Homes

'Why stay in an expensive hotel when you could be in a real home for (almost) nothing?'

This is the (very sensible) question posed in The Sunday Times article, 'How to holiday on the cheap this summer', under the heading, Home Swaps.

As the economy weakens, and many people are feeling the pinch of higher fuel and food bills, journalists are more frequently writing articles about alternative holiday ideas that don't cost the earth (literally, when the emphasis is on reducing air travel). Home exchange is an ideal money saving choice for holiday makers on a tight budget and so is rightly included in this recently published article.

Interestingly, when questionned about their motivation for taking part in home swaps, Home Base Holidays members generally haven't given cost savings as the main factor but rather cite the opportunities swapping homes gives to stay in a comfortable home whilst getting to know a real neighbourhood as opposed to a tourist resort, as their prime reason.

Although home exchangers, like other travellers, continue to travel abroad, I've noticed a small but perceptible shift over the last few months, with more Home Base Holidays members interested in exchanges closer to home and, when they do plan exchanges to long-haul destinations, a trend for longer exchange periods. These slight changes in destination requests and duration of exchanges may reflect both the need to save money (the inevitable rise in air fares is bound to increase this) and a conscious effort to reduce their own carbon footprints by limiting the number of flights taken.

More Home Exchange Perks: Health Club Membership, Private Beach Access and Discount Meals

Continuing on from yesterday's post (Nice Home Exchange Perks: Free Spa Treatments, Golf Club Memberships and Museum Passes):

Bal Harbour, Florida USA

Home: Darling condo in exciting Miami beach area. Bal Harbour is known for the incomparable Bal Harbour shops, a 5 minute walk away.

Perk: With our unit you will have health club and beach access privileges for your entire stay.

Full Home Exchange Offer, HE18770

Dartmouth, Devon England

Home: Our house is a Victorian semi, it has a splendid position overlooking the valley within walking distance of Dartmouth.

Perk: We are able to offer Spa membership at Dart Marina Hotel & Spa.

Full Home Exchange Offer, HE20771

 

Kyrenia, Northern Cyprus

Home: Our modern comfortable bungalow is in a lovely quiet secluded area not far from the historic harbour of Kyrenia.

Perk: We include membership to a club with 2 swimming pools + access to the sea + restaurant with 20% discount on food.

Full Home Exchange Offer, HE21101

These are only a few examples of the many special perks of home exchange. Check out current home exchange offers at Home Base Holidays.

Nice Home Exchange Perks: Free Spa Treatments, Golf Club Memberships and Museum Passes

These are a few samples of the many extra perks you may be offered as part of a home exchange with a Home Base Holidays member:

Boracay Island, Philippines

Home: Our home sets on a cliff eighty meters above the teal blue waters of the pacific ocean. The house includes a staff of maids, cooks and gardener to provide for your daily needs.

Perk: Included with the house are complimentary spa treatments at Mandala Spa, which sets on the same five acre parcel. Mandala Spa has received international awards for it's treatments including "Spa Destination of the Year" from the Asia Spa Baccarat Awards.

Full Home Exchange Offer, HE20876

Swindon, Wiltshire England

Home: Our house is four years old and is the end of a terrace on a new development in the North of Swindon. Swindon is about one hour from London by train.

Perk: Golf club membership for two is included in the exchange for The Wiltshire Golf & Country Club, a par 72 course designed by Peter Allis.

Full Home Exchange Offer, HE18403

London N7, England

Home: Lovely large Victorian family home. The house is close to all the attractions and amenities of Central London whilst still being on a quiet residential road.

Perk: We have family membership to the Tate galleries which you could use to gain free entry.

Full Home Exchange Offer, HE16331

Look out for more samples of home exchange offers with special perks tomorrow!