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January 30, 2017

Putting a home exchange membership 'on hold'

Occasionally a member contacts Home Base Holidays to request that their home swap offer be put on hold for a few months. There can be times when this is needed, e.g. when members are moving, undertaking major house renovation, arranging a different type of holiday, or when a family member is ill. We are very happy to pause a membership until a member lets us know that they are ready to consider home exchange offers again.

If you should ever need your membership put on hold, please do let us know: Contact Home Base Holidays.

in General Home Exchange Information, Home Base Holidays | Permalink | Comments (1)

January 26, 2017

Happy Australia Day! Home swaps in Australia

We'd like to wish all our Australian friends a very Happy Australia Day!

Australia Day is celebrated each year on the 26th January and marks the date of the first fleet of ships from Great Britain in 1788. The holiday is celebrated throughout Australia and by Australians throughout the world, with fireworks, organised events, or simply getting together with family and friends.

Visiting Australia? If you're lucky enough to be planning a vacation in Australia, rather than booking a hotel, save money and get a real feel for Australia by arranging a home swap. Home Base Holidays has a large number of home swap offers throughout Australia, including apartments in Sydney, beach villas and rural retreats. Visit Home Base Holidays to find out more: www.homebase-hols.com

Home swap offers in New South Wales just in:

Byron Bay, New South Wales, Australia (HE29231)

Stunning grand 3 bed/3 bath tri level villa located in Lennox Head, NSW. Set in a central bay location offering panoramic 180 degree views of the ocean: the sights, sounds and smells of the surf are mesmerizing!

Interested? Check out full details of this: beach home swap in Byron Bay

Wangi Wangi, New South Wales, Australia (HE32237)

Lake side retreat home swap in the fabulously named, Wangi Wangi. This beautiful home includes a pool and BBQ area. Situated at Lake Macquarie which is the largest coastal salt water lake in Australia. Abundance of bird life, great fishing, walking and all manner of water sports.

Interested? Check out full details of this: lake side home swap in Wangi Wangi

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia (HE35281)

Stylish family home in Sydney. This 1880s terrace house was remodeled four years ago into a comfortable contemporary living space. Set in a quiet, leafy street, our terrace house is close to transport, shops and restaurants.

Interested? Check out full details of this: home swap in Sydney

Join Home Base Holidays and find your home exchange in Australia

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January 25, 2017

Happy Burns Night 2017! Home swaps in Scotland

Burns Night is annually celebrated in Scotland (and by many people throughout the world) on the 25th January. It celebrates the life of the Scottish bard Robert Burns, who was born on the 25th January 1759.

If you're lucky enough to be in Scotland on the 25th January, you can enjoy some of the many festivities organised to celebrate the occasion. Check out the Burns Night section on Scotland.org for details of events happening throughout Scotland: www.scotland.org/whats-on/burns-night

Visiting Scotland? If you're planning a vacation in Scotland, rather than booking a hotel, save money and get a real feel for Scotland by arranging a home swap in a ...Highland cottage, an apartment in Edinburgh, a Scottish yurt ...and many more. Home Base Holidays has a large number of home swap vacation offers throughout Scotland. Visit Home Base Holidays to find out more: www.homebase-hols.com

Home swap offers in Scotland just in:

Dunnet Brough, Highlands, Scotland (HE33554)

Check out this stunning eco friendly, architect designed Larch clad set in 5 acres of Highland grassland. Very close to sea (only 75 metres ) and with beautiful views across the Pentland Firth to the Orkney islands, from every room.

Interested? Check out full details of this: Scottish Highlands home swap

Edinburgh, Scotland (HE33775)

Stylish comfortable family home in beautiful Edinburgh. Located in the south of Edinburgh in a quiet family friendly location. Easy access to the historic sights of central Edinburgh. Parking is available but Edinburgh is such a wonderful city to explore on foot.

Interested? Check out full details of this: Edinburgh city home swap

The Isle of Mull, Argyllshire, Scotland (HE24591)

Tormor cottage overlooks the Isle of Iona and has its own sandy beach and pier. Lovely west facing views, seals, dolphins (occasionally) and otters can be seen from the windows. Access is a fifteen minute walk from the village (with shop, post office and bar/restaurant).

Interested? Check out full details of this: home swap on the Isle of Mull

in General Home Exchange Information, Home Base Holidays, Home Exchange Offers, Travel, Travel Websites & Blogs | Permalink | Comments (0)

January 16, 2017

Home swap photo competition winner: more photos

We published the winning photo in the last Home Base Holidays competition some time ago, re-publishing recently in Top 15 home swap blog posts in 2016 but, looking again at the winning entry, it seemed a shame not to publish some of the other amazing photos that member Jacqueline had shared from her family's home swap in Germany last year.

"One of the best things about doing a home exchange (aside from it being a really affordable and convenient way to have a holiday when you have children!) is exploring an area that you would not have considered going on holiday to. We'd never heard of Trier, Germany and neither had our friends when we'd mentioned our trip. However, we were blown away by the beauty of the region - lake Mosel, the ubiquitous vineyards surrounding us and the ancient Roman buildings in Trier. Although our exchange was for two weeks, we went home with lots of things left on our sightseeing to-do-list for a future trip to Rhineland-Pfalz. Our hosts were helpful and welcoming; we felt so lucky in their gorgeous apartment. Our boys loved playing with the Lego their teenage son used to play with and we found the highchair they'd borrowed from a friend made things so much easier for our 18 month old. The bottle of wine they left us from their local region was a wonderful thank-you. We can't wait for our next house swapping adventure!" Jacqueline (Brighton, UK)

View Jacqueline's home swap offer in Brighton

Interested in home swap vacations? Sign up to Home Base Holidays

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January 12, 2017

Home Swappers newsletter: home swaps for 2017

Looking forward to your next getaway? Through Home Base Holidays you can enjoy free holiday accommodation in over 90 countries. Offers include country cottages, city pads and beach villas. View the latest Home Swappers travel newsletter

In this issue of Home Swappers newsletter:

Featured home swaps: Apartment in the heart of Amsterdam, Holland | Converted barn in the Coromandel Forrest Park, New Zealand
Trip report: Lovely relaxed coastal home swap in Devon
Home swap tip: Leave your guests a welcome pack (and a small gift!)
Home swaps for 2017: Farmhouse in Limousin, France | 'White village' home in Andalucia, Spain | Stylish family home in London, England
Top home exchange blog posts of 2016

Find your perfect home swap vacation: join Home Base Holidays

in General Home Exchange Information, Home Base Holidays, Home Exchange Offers, Home Swappers Newsletter | Permalink | Comments (0)

January 08, 2017

Trip report: lovely home exchange in the Algarve

"We had a non simutaneous home exchange in Portugal with Eileen and Terry in August/September 2016. Eileen, with whom I had the communication regarding the swap, was extremely easy and pleasant to deal with and was always very responsive. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay in their lovely, spacious apartment in Ferragudo, a quaint fishing village. Their home was well equipped and in an excellent location to explore the Algarve by car which we did extensively. We loved finding little bays to spend the day by the sea and also enjoyed the fantastic, fresh and reasonably priced seafood, the cataplana dishes being our favourite! Swapping with Eileen and Terry is highly recommended. Thanks again for making our Summer 2016 holiday so enjoyable." - Linda

Highlights of the home exchange:

Location, location, location.
The lovely apartment
Fantastic seafood in the area

Eileen & Terry's home swap in Portugal | Linda & Ruggero's home swap in Italy

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Travel the Home Exchange Way blog

Information and travel tips on arranging your home swap holidays