Travel the Home Exchange Way blog

Good Housekeeping: 'Holidays at home and abroad'

The April issue of Good Housekeeping (UK) includes 'Good Choices', a section with a number of cash saving tips - 'Yes, you can live well on a shoestring!'. Home exchange is included under the 'Holidays' tips:

'Teacher Anita Smith from Leeds, her husband and two children, are fans of home-swapping'.

Anita's quote:

'I became interested in the idea because of a friend's good experience. I looked on the internet, found Home Base Holidays and arranged a swap with a couple who had a flat in central Barcelona. The experience was beautifully simple and very positive.'

Thanks Anita! It's always great to hear from members who have taken the time to talk to journalists. Check out the Smith family's current exchange offer:

A large, recently extended, semi-detached home in Alwoodley, a quiet suburban part of North Leeds. Nearby attractions include Harewood House and the Royal Armouries; within easy reach of York, Harrogate, Manchester, the Yorkshire Dales and the Yorkshire coast. Read the home exchange offer in full and see more photos, HE16514

Listen to Discussion on Home Exchange on BBC Radio Coventry

I mentioned a couple of days ago that I would be taking part in a live discussion on home exchange on BBC Radio Coventry & Warwickshire yesterday. These live discussions are fun to do although I never know quite what to expect from the presenter. But, sure enough, as has happened before both when I and Home Base Holidays members have done live interviews, the question, 'Aren't you worried that your home exchange guests will rummage through your knicker drawer?' came up!

The recording of yesterday's edition of the Annie Othen show will be available to listen to on BBC iPlayer until the end of the week. The 10 minute slot on home exchange starts at 02:07.

Dreaming of a Home Exchange in Ireland

This is a little early for St. Patrick's Day but Sue James, an American who settled in London back in the late Sixties, has always wanted to tour Eire, but somehow it has not happened to date (a long weekend in Dublin, yes, but not the chance to spend the time needed to really savour the country while on a home exchange).

Sue writes:

'In mid July it is our daughter's birthday(9th) and we would like to spend 1-2 weeks based in Cork, Kinsale or along the coast if possible... we are experienced home exchangers and welcome all offers, wherever they are based!'

Note: Although Sue and family would love to arrange an exchange to Ireland, being experienced exchangers, they know it's always a good idea to keep their options as open as possible. So, along with Ireland, they are open to other exchange offers, especially Scotland and the West Country, England.

Their home is in Twickenham, London:

Quiet suburb nr. River Thames, 35 mins to London by train. 1930's spacious semi-detached brick house with 3 bedrooms. Nr. several parks, pools, good local shops, restaurants, cinemas & theatres, Kew, Richmond, Hampton Court, Windsor. 5 mi to Heathrow airport. A short walk from Marble Hill Park and the river Thames. Ham House (N.T.), Orleans House nearby, and there are lots of shops, restaurants, cinemas and two theatres in Richmond. For rugby lovers, we are not far from Twickenham Stadium. See the full home exchange offer, HE12498.

Check out the enticing videos on Discover Ireland, the official tourist site.

Stop Press: Sue has let us know that she is now in the processing of arranging an exchange to France this summer but would still like to go to Ireland at another time.

Live BBC Radio Discussion on Home Exchange: Monday 9 March

I will be taking part in a discussion about home exchange on BBC Radio Coventry & Warwickshire on Monday just after 12 noon, GMT. Home exchange will feature on the special Monday morning holiday slot, 'The Escape', on the Annie Othen show.

Listen in on the BBC site (link above) tomorrow if you can or you can listen to the recorded programme on BBC iPlayer any time during the week. If you happen to live in Warwickshire, I'm sure Mollie Green, the presenter would love to hear from you if you are an experienced home swapper.

First Time Home Swappers: Swapping with Experienced Home Exchangers

This is the final post in a series based on Kathie's recent useful comments and feedback:

'We found blogs like yours a huge help when doing our first exchanges (and subsequently!) We have also picked up good ideas from other people we have swapped with. We were very lucky in that our very first exchange was with experienced home exchangers so we had a little "hand holding" which was very reassuring. It might be a suggestion for anyone about to embark on their first swap who is nervous about the whole process - to try and swap with someone who has exchanged before.'

This is a great idea from Kathie (but please don't ignore other first timers as, they may not know the ropes from previous exchanges but are, like you, likely to be very careful in making exchange arrangements so that nothing is overlooked). Home Base Holidays has many experienced home exchangers though. To check for these, do a search and look for 'Experienced exchanger' in the work/hobbies box towards the bottom of full home exchange listings.

Password Protect a Computer Shared with Home Exchange Guests

*'Our computer is password protected and we have a separate "guest" user set up (no password) so exchangers can use the internet etc without having access to our personal files and information.'

*Quote from comment by Kathie on A Check List of Things to Do Before a Home Swap