Travel the Home Exchange Way blog

Post-lockdown holiday? Try a home exchange

Over the last few weeks we've been receiving so many inquiries from people new to home swapping and looking for budget friendly, safe ways to enjoy a much needed holiday.

Staycations are proving a particularly popular option, however, many people have found that holiday rentals here in the UK are already fully booked. The good news is that there are still lots of very tempting home swap holiday offers available through Home Base Holiday.

One of the big perks of home swapping is the cost savings - who doesn't love free holiday accommodation? In addition to being a very budget friendly way to travel, swapping homes allows you to enjoy the space, comforts and conveniences of staying in a real home; this can be especially appealing at this time where the thought of busy hotels and holiday rentals can be quite off-putting. By staying in a real home you have your own private safe base just for you and your family (+ if you're not yet comfortable eating out, you can simply prepare meals from your home swap host's kitchen). 

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Is home exchanging right for you?

Home exchanging was once seen as a bit of a niche way to travel and not really well known by most holiday makers. However, over recent years, more and more people have discovered home exchanging and discovered what makes it such a fantastic way to travel. Swapping homes allows you to really get a feel for the places - often side-stepping the busy tourist trail in favour of staying in a real local neighbourhood. Plus, you can pick up so many wonderful travel tips and recommendations from your home swap partners - a real local's insight. 

Give yourself plenty of time: the most successful home swappers often tend to be the most proactive and so allow yourself plenty of time to discuss and then agree your home swap holiday. If you do not have the time to communicate with members to agree a swap, or if you know that you will not be able to relax knowing people are staying in your home, then perhaps home swapping is not the best option for you. For most people though, home swapping is a very rewarding and wonderful way to travel.

How to start home swapping: The first step is to sign up to Home Base Holidays so that you can add your home swap listing. There are three membership options: Two-week free trial membership: Free Six-month membership: £29 One-year membership: £49 Once you have added your home, you can then start contacting other members to discuss and agree your home swap holidays.

 

Will your home be safe?

Home Base Holidays has been helping people arrange holiday home swaps for nearly 40 years and over that time it’s been extremely rare that we've heard of issues during an exchange. However, it is important to contact your home insurance company prior to accepting an exchange to confirm that your insurance policy will remain valid during the period that non-paying guests will be staying (contact us if you need any help finding suitable cover).

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Members’ exchange experiences:

Below are links to blog post of Home Base Holidays members’ home swap experiences.

• Home exchange in beautiful Vermont
• We had a wonderful home swap in Belgium
• Discovering new destinations: home swap experiences
• Member with 100+ home exchanges completed
• A wonderful home swap in Windermere
• Best location ever: central London home exchange
• Wonderful 2-month home exchange on Vancouver Island
• Home swapping puts you in touch with the nicest people!

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Some of the latest holiday home swap travel offers available through Home Base Holidays.

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• Arrange free holiday accommodation: search home swap offers

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Join Home Base Holidays: start home swapping Looking for a much needed break? Arrange a home swap and enjoy free holiday accommodation. View the latest home swap offers then sign up to Home Base Holidays.

WIN an Amazon Echo Dot: travel photo competition

While holiday plans have been put on hold the last few months, we're now seeing lots of home swaps being agreed for later this year and for 2021.

Looking back at some of your past holiday experiences, send in your favourite travel photo(s) to be in with a chance to WIN an Amazon Echo Dot. Two runner up entries will be selected to win a one year Home Base Holidays membership (valid for both new and renewing members).

Maybe it's a photo from your first home swap holiday, an off-the-tourist-trail discovery or a favourite food spot? The choice is yours!

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How to enter: Send your home swap holiday photo(s) to [email protected] Include a description of the photo / home swap Closing date: 9th August 2020

 

For more information, check out the competition T&Cs 

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Previous winning photos:

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Join Home Base Holidays: start home swapping Whether for a working holiday or just a much needed break, by arranging a home swap you'll enjoy free holiday accommodation. View the latest home swap offers then sign up to Home Base Holidays to start your home swap adventures.

Staycations? Arrange a home exchange holiday

Staycation? Sea view home swap offer in Bangor, Wales (click image to view offer)

It's been great seeing many Home Base Holidays members again starting to plan their holiday home exchanges for later this year and into 2021. There's been a big boost in new home swap offers added just in the last two weeks - all very encouraging signs and just so lovely to see!

Staycation holidays are continuing to prove particularly popular as we cautiously step out of lockdown. Staycations are where you holiday within your own country rather than travelling abroad. As a result, many of the UK's campsites and rental properties have already been fully booked and often their prices substantially increased. However, you'll still find plenty of holiday home swap accommodation offers available and, by choosing to swap homes, you'll enjoy free holiday accommodation along with all the space, comfort and safety of a home from home. 

So, whether you're looking for that perfect holiday in a country cottage, a place by the sea or a weekend city break ...you'll find an your ideal getaway by choosing a home swap!

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Staycation swap: lovely holiday in a beautiful area of Suffolk

"We spent 5 nights at Sue's home and looked after the hens and geese. Although semi-detached it felt very private with a south west facing garden and conservatory. It was a real pleasure to stay as the house is very homely and welcoming. The surrounding area is unspoilt with lovely villages, pubs and the coast not far away. Sue is an excellent communicator and our home swap arrangements were made promptly and with ease. A great place to stay. Thank you Sue!" - Steve (Ovingdean, East Sussex)

View Steve's seaview home swap offer in East Sussex  |  View Sue's home swap offer in Suffolk

Staycation swap: cosy cottage in a beautiful Lake District location

"We have often visited the Lake District, but neither myself nor my partner knew this area of the Lakes. What a lovely discovery! As keen walkers and bird watchers the estuary was wonderful, and we found the most gentle and lovely walks, all with a view of the northern lakes. Very handy for Coniston too, and Cartmel, where we recommend The Pig and Whistle for good food and beer. Thank you very much Steve and Jean for an excellent exchange." - Marguerite (Harrogate, Yorkshire)

View Marguerite's home swap offer in Harrogate  |  View Steve & Jean's Lake District home swap

 

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Start home swapping By swapping homes you'll enjoy free accommodation plus all the space and convenience of a home from home. Sign up to Home Base Holidays and cut the cost of your travels. Join Home Base Holidays

Cleaning tips for holiday home swaps during COVID-19

Home swapping has always helped Home Base Holidays members step away from the busy tourist trail and enjoy the space, comforts and safety of a home from home. As the world starts to slowly reopen for travel, many of us will be wondering what steps we need to take prior to a swap. To help make sure your home exchange guests are safe while staying in your home, we’ve compiled these cleaning guidelines. 

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Tips for cleaning

Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces after each home swap stay. If you hire a cleaner between stays, make sure that they follow the cleaning guidelines. We recommend using both regular household cleaners plus an antibacterial spray / wipes.

Examples of frequently touched surfaces: Keys Key lockbox Light switches Door handles Staircase handrails Wardrobe and cabinet handles Kitchen surfaces, appliances, and cupboard handles Bathroom surfaces Toilet flush Thermostats Alarm system controls Washer / dryer handles and controls Window latches and handles Home swap welcome pack Download our full cleaning checklist (PDF)

 

Other household surfaces:

Use regular household cleaners on floors and other less frequently touched surfaces. We recommend wearing disposable gloves when handling dirty laundry and discard after each use. Wash bedding and towels using the warmest setting. Make sure to empty the vacuum cleaner after each use and then disinfect the surface of the vacuum cleaner.

Tips for disinfecting

Most common household cleaners / disinfectants should be effective. Make sure to wash your hands for at least 20 seconds before and after cleaning or use a hand sanitizer (that is at least 60% alcohol based).

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Tips to help your guests 

Think about stocking up on certain items to make sure that your home swap guests feel that you have gone the extra mile to make them safe during their stay.

Items for your guest’s safety: Hand sanitizer Handwash / soap Antibacterial wipes Disposable gloves Facemasks (check if your location requires that a facemask be worn on public transport and in shops, cafes and restaurants)

 

Transport tips for guests

If public transport use in your area is for essential journeys only, make sure that your guests are aware of this prior to their stay. Where possible, provide alternative transport options (bike hire, walking routes and taxi phone numbers).

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Disclaimer

These guidelines are based on publicly available information from the World Health Organization (WHO), the UK Government’s Covid-19 guidelines (GOV.UK) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Home Base Holidays / Travel the Home Exchange Way make no guarantees of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability of these guidelines. Any reliance a member places on these guidelines is at their own risk.