Travel the Home Exchange Way blog

Berlin on a budget (home swaps & things to do)

‘ICH BIN EIN BERLINER’ – once a famous quotation from a speech in 1963 by the late John F. Kennedy, now used proudly by locals and visitors alike.

Berlin has developed itself from the centre of the cold war to one – many people even say it is the-hottest cities in Europe. And not without reason: Berlin ranks among the top five most visited cities in Europe and attracts every year an ever increasing number of foreign visitors to see the remains of the Berlin Wall, 175 museums, plenty of art galleries or just to feel the vibe of an extraordinary melting point of cultures. Additionally, Berlin has become a very attractive hub for the European start-up scene, especially in the areas of art, fashion/design and IT.

How to get the most out of your $ / € / £:

Purchase a ‘Welcome Card’ (http://www.visitberlin.de/) prior to your arrival: it’s a multiple day ticket allowing you unlimited use of the public bus and metro-/subway-system. Say you stay for three nights; the price would be only € 27.50 per person. The card further allows you to get 25-50% discount on 200 attractions, tours and museums. If you prefer an even more sustainable method, rent a bicycle and/or participate at one of the numerous guided bike-tours through Berlin. Rental prices are about € 10-12 per day per bike. A fine selection of how to enjoy Berlin on a budget:

• Berlin Wall – East Side Gallery: It’s the longest remaining strip of the former dividing wall between East and West Berlin. Entry: Free.
• Brandenburger Tor (Brandenburg Gate):  One of Berlin’s most important sites: It used to be one of the old gates leading to the city, but is now the symbol of the unity between East and West Germany. Entry: Free
• Currywurst Museum:  for some people it might be shocking to know that a museum exists, dedicated to the delicious sausage in curry sauce. Entry: € 11 per person
• Walk or drive by bicycle around the river Spree.
• Eating Turkish street-food: Turkish is the largest minority living in Germany. Grab a Doener Kebab for about € 3.50.
• Checkpoint Charlie: Once one of the crossing points between East and West Berlin. Insider Tip: For a small fee, you can get even your passport stamped with stamps of the former sectors.
• Holocaust Memorial: In memory of the murdered Jews in Europe. Entry: Free, but donations appreciated.

Accommodation in Berlin

Guess what? You can stay for free! Rather than booking hotels or holiday rentals - why not arrange a home exchange in Berlin? By choosing to swap homes with a Berliner you enjoy totally free accommodation and get a real feel for this fantastic city!

To find your home swap in Berlin check out the Home Base Holidays website (www.homebase-hols.com).

See you in Berlin! 

Related articles

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Free and cheap things to do in Berlin

House-sitting - an alternative to home exchange

Q: What an unbelievable concept!  I have recently sold everything in Australia to travel. I really wish I had seen your site a year ago.

Do you have any services for couples looking to house sit as our houses have been sold so we can't swap homes? I would be extremely interested. – John S.

A: Although home exchange is by far the most common reason members join Home Base Holidays, there are a number of other options, including house-sitting offered or wanted.

Click here to go directly to the search page. Browse Listings (on the left): To check members currently including ‘House-sitting wanted’, choose this option from the drop-down list under Type of Exchange (you will see the search results refresh on the right of your screen).

I do hope you will join Home Base Holidays (there is a one week free trial membership); choose ‘House-sitting offered’ on the form. Then, as you don’t have a home to swap, use the description and personal profile sections to give some information about yourselves and what you could offer (pet sitting, garden care, etc) and details of references you can provide. You will then be able to contact members whose requests/locations seem suitable to offer your services as a house sitter.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Arrange a Summer Home Swap and enjoy free accommodation

Read the latest Home Swappers Newsletter

• Featured home swaps: Cottage in Cornwall & stunning sea-view home in Ibiza.
• Member’s trip report: lovely home exchange in Cornwall
• Home exchange Q&A: can I arrange more than one exchange?
• Member offer: join Australian home swap for free

Sign up to Home Base Holidays and start planning your home swap vacations! Enjoy free holiday accommodation and travel like a local.

Free things to do in London, starting with staying for free on a home exchange

“We all know that a home exchange is just about the best way to see anywhere at all, but in places where accommodation prices are high, such as here in London, it's a way of having a holiday which really comes into its own, not just because there are no hotel bills but because you don't have to keep eating out all the time.

But there's so much you can do in London that's absolutely free. And I don't mean just the famous museums and galleries. There are, for example, many smaller, sometimes less well known museums and galleries which are also free. Two of my favourites are the Guildhall Art Gallery, recently re-opened after a refurbishment, and the Sir John Soane's Museum (in photo). The former is a peaceful gallery right next to the beautiful Guildhall, with a wonderful collection where it's possible to see every painting in an atmosphere of serene contemplation, the latter a frenetic hotchpotch of artefacts in the architect's town house.

Try also a wander around the legal area known as the Temple. The architecture is marvellous, Temple Church itself a gem, although unfortunately not free to enter, and there is a delightful ‘hidden’ garden.

London has so many parks, commons and gardens that it's hard to pick a favourite, some drawing more visitors than others at various times of year, but I especially love St. James's Park and Regent's Park.

Then there are the markets. Many are household names and Borough Market at London Bridge is fast getting that way. Open on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, the best time to visit is on a Thursday or Friday, avoiding lunchtime. It's a wonderful food market with stalls for take away food and stalls to buy things to take back for meals in your home from home.

Walking almost anywhere by the Thames is a great treat, with a huge variety of scenery and architecture along its banks, but going in either direction along from either side of Borough Market is fantastic with views of the Tower and Tower Bridge in one direction and the Globe, Tate Modern and St Paul's Cathedral in the other. London is a great city to walk and it's easy to get free leaflets of suggestions or you could try Free Tours of London. As  a great lover of churches I must recommend to you Southwark Cathedral, free to enter unlike its more famous cousins, and an oasis of calm and ancient beauty. The only thing which might disturb you are the regular school parties with children dressed as monks or Henry VIII or Roman soldiers or Victorian school children.

Finally, take a packed lunch with you. We don't think twice about taking a picnic if we're going to the country for the day but it's just as easy to find a spot to sit down here in the city as it is in the country.” - Sandra Newnham

Sandra is a long-time member of Home Base Holidays, an experienced home swapper and a regular contributor to our blog and newsletter. Click here to see her home exchange offer in London.

 

Live like a local – March home swap newsletter

Home exchange holidays - live like a local

Read the latest Home Swappers Newsletter

• Featured listings: three bedroom apartment with pool and spa in St Lucia, Caribbean; charming 300 year old cottage in Devon, England
• Win a Kobo eReader: our winning entry trip report
• Trip report: beautiful home in lively Spanish village
• Home swap tip: want to take Fido with you?
• Exchange offers just in: Ghent, Belgium; London, England; Vancouver Island, Canada

Read articles in this issue in full and previous issues of Home Swappers Newsletter, in the Newsletter Archive. Subscribe to receive the newsletter as published.

Budget friendly Paris - things to do & free accommodation

Paris is one of the most beautiful and romantic cities in the world and attracts many visitors with its great variety of historical sights and entertaining attractions. Paris, also called the City of Light, is located in the north of France on the river Seine and is home to the world's finest and most luxurious fashion designers and cosmetics. Being the Capital of Fashion and world centre of gourmet restaurants, luxury goods and high-end hotels it is one of the most expensive cities to travel to. With our budget-friendly guide to Paris you can enjoy a pleasant stay in Paris without sacrificing comfort and missing out on attractions.

Things to do

There are dozens of free museums and budget-friendly attractions in Paris to explore.

Visit the Notre Dame Cathedral. It is one of the most stunning and famous gothic cathedrals in the world Enjoy free admission and climb to the top of the church to have fantastic views over the city.

Stroll around Montmartre quarter. The famous hill north of Paris is primarily known for the white-domed Basilica of the Sacré Cœur on its summit, which offers fantastic views over the city.

Go to the top of Arc de Triomphe, one of the most famous monuments in Paris, and enjoy excellent view of the city.

Recharge your batteries at the Parisian garden, Jardin des Tuileries. It is the best urban escape with great views over the Louvre and the Seine.

Enjoy free concert at the Saint-Merri Church. Every Saturday and Sunday  the church hosts free concerts.

Visit a museum. No trip to Paris is complete without taking in the world-famous artwork at the city's best museums. With the Paris Museum Pass enjoy unlimited visits to more than 60 museums and galleries, such as the Louvre, Musee Rodin, Musee D’Orsay and much more. There are also numerous smaller and less crowded museums, which don’t even charge admission. Visit the Musee des Beaux Arts de la Ville de Paris for famous art work.

Cheap (free!) accommodation

Paris is an expensive place to stay and most hotels charge a high fee for their rooms. A fantastic budget-friendly alternative is to arrange a home swap in Paris. This means that you agree with another person or family living in Paris to exchange homes for a set period of time. By arranging a home exchange in Paris you get to enjoy totally free accommodation and get to stay in a real Parisian neighbourhood. Have a truly authentic experience with a home swap in Paris and enjoy its benefits, for example if you want to continue one of your hobbies during your vacation find a home exchange partner with similar interests or if you travel with your whole family enjoy enough space for everyone if you swap your home with a family the same size. Home exchange in Paris is a save and fun way to explore the city with the eyes of a local.

Interested in arranging a home exchange in Paris? Visit the Home Base Holidays website (www.homebase-hols.com)

Transportation

Despite being such spread out city most sights in Paris are in walking distance. The neighbourhoods are built for pedestrians and with a good city map you can discover a lot without spending money on public transportation.

For your day trips you can save on public transportation with the discount multiday Paris Visite travel card for metro, bus and RER trains.

Food

Paris is one of the best places for tasty gourmet food and delicious wine. With a discount card like those offered by TheCityCase you can save on meals in fancy restaurants throughout the city.  Enjoy Parisian crepes for a snack or dessert or colourful macarons with your cup of coffee. Every neighbourhood in Paris has its own food market with fresh products for low prices.

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Want to arrange a home swap in Paris? How about this tempting offer... 

Luxury 3-bed apartment in Paris 

Exceptional location with wonderful views of the Eiffel tower and Bois (Woods) of Boulogne. Very sunny, with balconies all around. Restaurants, cafes with terrasse, shopping, banks, post office, downtown, movie theater, walking, street market, etc.

View this home swap in Paris