Photo: Faversham - one of our day trip destination home swaps
"I have noticed that many of the places I love, I love even more if I stay there rather than visit for the day. I had, for example, taken the train ride from Palma in Mallorca to Soller and on to Port Soller many times before we decided to stay there. There are so many spots I've visited while staying elsewhere and returned to for a longer sojourn and others still on my list. (Verona, I shall return!).
Last year we swapped to Bridport in Dorset, a town I'd wandered around many times and which I found even more appealing when I was 'living' there; and while there we took the bus to Lyme Regis, perhaps my favourite seaside resort, and although we had a good day, it didn't have the same appeal as when I knew that's where I'd be laying my head.
My best example of this is the home swap we did to Oxford which, for we Londoners is a day trip destination, and a day trip I've made many, many times; but what a delight to wander into the city centre each day, sometimes along the canal, sometimes along the river, sometimes along the aptly named Broad Street, to potter about at leisure and to know I can do some more of the same tomorrow, or go into that college I just didn't have time to see to-day; and what a saving in time and money on travel. As we home exchangers know, our visits help us to really get under the skin of a place, even perhaps a very familiar place, and to experience it in a different dimension.
So broaden your horizons. Choose a home swap destination that's close to home." -Sandra Newnham
Sandra and her husband, Paul, are very experienced home swappers - both within the UK and further afield in Europe. View the couple's home swap offer in London.
Interested in home swapping? Visit the Home Base Holidays site to find your ideal home swap vacation
