Q: I am very keen to join and do a home swap but do you need to own your home to do it? I am currently renting a small flat in London.
A: You don’t need to own your home to take part in a home exchange but, as you rent your flat, please check with your landlord before joining Home Base Holidays. If you explain the concept (i.e. you won’t be sub-letting and the swap will be for a limited period), most landlords should be happy that your home will be occupied while you’re away – but always check!
Swapping homes for holidays is a very personal arrangement where honesty is key. However, to attract potential exchange partners, it is important to give some thought on how to present your home and yourself in the best possible light in your listing description and exchange offer messages.
Description: Give a detailed description of your home and area. If you are new to home swapping, read through a few Home Base Holidays listings for inspiration, especially those of members who are experienced exchangers. It can be difficult to see your home and local area from a visitor’s perspective – think how enticing the smell of freshly made croissants from the bakery around the corner will be to someone who lives far from shops; or, if you live in a rural area, city dwellers will be delighted to get away from the crowds and be able to view stars in dark night skies.
Photos: You can add as many photos of your home and area to your offer as you like (and change or add to them whenever you want) but consider your choice carefully. It’s better to include a small number of clear, bright, well composed photos than two dozen mediocre, dingy ones that won’t show your home off to its best advantage.
You will see in the member profile options that you can select your housekeeping style from: very house proud, relaxed or somewhere in between. If you have a relaxed attitude to housekeeping, that’s fine but, however laid-back you are, spend a little time tidying before taking photos of your home to add to your offer. An unmade bed, over flowing bin or papers scattered on all surfaces looks slovenly and is likely to be off-putting to even many members who are also relaxed about housekeeping. Your home may be spotlessly clean beneath the mess but most people will conclude that this is probably not the case and are unlikely to contact you to suggest a swap (or respond positively to your offer messages).
Personal Profile: It’s great to add a profile photo of you and your exchange party as this makes your home swap offer more personal. You certainly don’t need to be beautiful or fashionable to arrange a home swap but a photo of yourself or your family looking happy will make you appear friendly and approachable.
Similarly, take some care over the information you give in your profile description. Make sure to include the number of adults and children (and ages) that will be travelling. It’s important to also include whether you have pets and if they will be there during the exchange (some allergy sufferers will not be able to consider a swap to a home where pets usually live). Also remember when adding information to your profile not to include anything that may cause offence - you might be a loveable eccentric with a dry sense of humour but this may not come across to readers who don’t yet know you. The purpose of your profile is to encourage potential exchange partners to view you as trustworthy, reliable and a pleasant person who would be easy to communicate with to arrange an exchange.
The capital and largest city of Italy, Rome, is well-known for its ancient architecture with wonderful palaces, millennium-old churches and grand romantic ruins, making the city to one of Europe's most visited and famous places. The historic centre of the city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with plenty of attractions to visit. Rome, also called the Eternal City, is regarded as one of the fashion capitals of the world and offers plenty of opportunities for shopping.
But as fascinating as it can be, a trip to Rome can be an expensive investment with high-end hotels, high-priced entry tickets and fancy restaurants. With our budget-friendly guide to Rome we show you how to make the most out of your trip without breaking the bank.
Things to do
In Rome it is enough to pick one or two museums or monuments you really want to see and spend the rest of your time wandering around the city to view heaps of sights without spending a cent.
With a Roma Pass, which costs only about $40, you can not only save heaps of money but also save on time since you can skip lines and leave the crowds behind. Enjoy free entry to 2 museums or archaeological sites and concessionary tickets to all other sites you choose to visit thereafter. Additionally with the Pass you have free use of public transportation.
Visit the Vatican. World’s smallest state, entirely surrounded by Rome, is the centre of the Roman Catholic Church and the temporal seat of the Pope. Once you are inside, it is worth to get to the top of the Cupola to enjoy a breath-taking view. Stick to the dress code (long clothes) to get in and avoid crowds in the morning. Visit the St. Peter’s Basilica, which has the largest interior of any Christian church in the world.
Throw a coin into the Trevi Fountain. Follow the Roman tradition of throwing a coin into the fountain to guarantee a return to the Eternal City.
Hang out at the Pantheon. The Pantheon, located in the Piazza della Rotonda, is one of the best-preserved Roman buildings. Piazza della Rotonda is a favourite hang-out for young folks in the evening.
Take a stroll at the Protestant cemetery in Testaccio. To recharge your batteries walk along the beautiful gardens and view the graves of famous non-Catholics, like those of the sons of Wilhelm von Humboldt and the son of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.
Visit the two most famous piazzas in Rome: Piazza Navona and Piazza Campo dei Fiori. Piazza Navona contains two famous fountains by Bernini and Campo dei Fiori has fantastic take-out stands and delis to enjoy cheap and delicious food.
Get Into the Galleria Borghese. See the heartbreakingly beautiful works by Titian, Bernini and several other artists.
Cheap (free!) accommodation
Rome is a very touristy city and so it can be hard to find decent but inexpensive hotel rooms. One excellent alternative is to arrange a home exchange in Rome. You not only save on accommodation costs but you can also enjoy a really rewarding travel experience. When arranging a home swap in Rome you basically agree to swap homes for a set period of time with a person or family that have a home in Rome. It is a fantastic way to enjoy free accommodation, stay like a local and have a truly authentic experience. If you're travelling as a family it can be a great way to save money and enjoy the space and comforts of a real home. Italians are very welcoming and love to introduce you to their way of living.
Transportation
You can walk around Rome and stumble upon an ancient ruin on almost every corner. This is why Rome is often called the Open-Air Museum. For day trips it is worth buying a travel card which covers all bus, metro and tram journeys.
Food
To get great bargains on food avoid the main tourist areas for restaurants and rather try to get delicious street food. There are plenty of good sandwich and pizza by the slice options.
Most home exchange offers include a good description of the home and area, along with a variety of photos. It's also important for Home Base Holidays members to complete their Personal Profiles as this additional information is really useful in helping members find the best matches. If you haven't done this already, please login and click Edit Profile (under Dashboard). If you aren't yet a member, please complete your personal profile when you join.
Photo
Add a photo of yourself or your family. It is your choice whether you want to add a photo of course but, for most members, it makes arranging an exchange feel much more personal when able to visualise who they're communicating with.
You will see a number of subject tabs (Note: each time you complete details under a tab, click Save Profile to save/update your listing):
1. Who is travelling
Number of adults and children in your party plus tick box options (over 55s, exchanged before)
Names and birth dates of members of your party (dates by day, month, year). Note: this is particularly useful if you have children as many members look for exchanges with others who have children of similar ages to their own.
Tell us a bit about you and your exchange party: this is a description box where you can include any information you feel would be useful. Also include any specific requests you have (e.g. details on disabilities or allergies and any special needs in a home you swap to). If you have pets or other animals, details of your requirements from members prepared to care for them plus details of other arrangements you can make for their care if needed.
2. Interests and about
Tick box options covering culture, entertainment, sports, your description and housekeeping style.
3. Languages
4. Extra Information
Contact phone number (never displayed), personal website, Skype ID
5. Verifications
Link your account with your social network accounts to help verify your identity
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Purpose
Home Base Holidays Helping provide travel tips and advice on arranging your home exchange holidays. Do get in touch if you have any questions about home swapping or if you are interested in contributing to the blog.
