Travel the Home Exchange Way blog

Wonderful home exchange staycation in Windermere

Lake District home swap: beautiful Lake Windermere

"We had a wonderful week long home exchange staycation in Windermere in the Lake District. Fiona and Dave’s place is immaculate, centrally located in the village of Windermere. There was loads of information in the house, with helpful recommendations from Fiona and Dave. They live nearby so we met them a couple of times and they were really helpful advising us what to do and see in the area - there was a lot to choose from. We enjoyed some lovely, not too strenuous walks on the ridge above Troutbeck, up to Alcock Tarn near Grasmere and from the house up to Orrest viewpoint. We only used the car one day, as we enjoyed getting to places via the ferries on the lake and the open-top buses. In the village there are plenty of shops including a supermarket just two minutes from the house and lots of independent shops including craft shops, a health food shop, art shops and ones selling lovely local produce. There are also numerous restaurants, cafes and takeaways too. Fiona and Dave were a pleasure to exchange with, we had such good communications throughout. A big thank you to Fiona and Dave!" - Jimmy & Anne (Glasgow, Scotland)

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Highlight from the home exchange:

1. Paddling with a view in Alcock Tarn
2. A day on Lake Windermere' ferries, with an all day ticket
3. Afternoon tea in Grassmere

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Photos from Jimmy & Anne's exchange 

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Meet the members:

Jimmy & Anne:  We are Jimmy and Anne, live in Glasgow. Jimmy is a Freelance database developer, Anne works for the NHS. View their home swap offer in Glasgow

 

Fiona & Dave:  We are looking for a week away, in a small town or village, and would like to bring our dog so we can relax, have local walks, and explore the area. View their home swap offer in Windermere

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Home Base Holidays: join for free and start home swapping Sign up to Home Base Holidays two-week free trial or select a full membership (6-month membership is just £29 and 1-year at £49). Home swap guarantee: second year free if you do not arrange a swap during your membership.

Happy Earth Day 2021 💚🌏 Staycation home swaps

Tourism and the environment is always a difficult balance. Of course, if you were to fly half way around the world for a three day home exchange, it could never be classed as 'eco-friendly'. However, home exchanging is an excellent way to help cut waste and make full use of our resources. It's so sad to see so many places around the world damaged by over development; knocking down neighbourhoods to build new hotels or shopping malls aimed at the tourist market. By swapping homes, you're not increasing the demand for hotel rooms but you are staying in a real home in a real neighbourhood ...often exploring and supporting local shops and markets.

"Actually, there are also deeper layers of thought to the home exchange idea. When you think about global waste and conservation, the idea of combining resources with other people on the globe has more merits than those you experience on a personal level. Think of all the hotel sheets and towels that are washed every day; of the low-paid hotel workers (often foreigners); of the huge and wasteful industry that has grown around the needs of people who want to experience a holiday in a different country." - Ruti Singer (from 'Home Away From Home')

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Post-lockdown getaway? Staycations (holidays within your own country) will again be very popular this summer as people hold off on overseas travel. By arranging a staycation instead of a long haul holiday, you'll help reduce your carbon footprint by avoiding the need for planes or cruises. The good news is that there are lots of tempting home exchange staycation offers available for this summer through Home Base Holidays.

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Small selection of home swap staycation offers

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Links to the above home swap offers: Cotswolds, England: 180 year old stone cottage in idyllic village. View offer Cranbrook, England: period family home in the heart of the Kent countryside. View offer Devon, England: 300 year old cottage in pretty village near Dartmoor National Park. View offer Ghadira, Malta: bright fully refurbished sea view apartment in North Malta. View offer Shoreham-by-Sea, England: large open plan houseboat with use of kayaks and bicycles. View offer Waterbeach, England: family home on the edge of a lovely village close to Cambridge. View offer Canonbie, Scotland: 17th century cottage in an ideal location for exploring this quiet and wild corner of Dumfries and Galloway. View offer Saffron Walden, England: converted granary dating back to 1820 in the heart of a historic market town. View offer Hebden Bridge, England: newly-renovated wide beam houseboat moored on the Rochdale Canal. View offer Loch Long, Scotland: cozy house with stunning views on the shore of Loch Long. Kayaks available to guests. View offer Cornwall, England: restored Cornish farmhouse with a wildlife pond, pizza oven, summer house and a meadow. View offer Cumbria, England: 300 year old farmhouse situated at the centre of 130 acres of farmland in the Eden Valley. View offer Villeneuve, Switzerland: boutique apartment with fast Wifi and desk for remote working. View offer Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, France: fabulous home with roof top terrace with jacuzzi overlooking the sea. View offer Spanish Point, Ireland: cottage overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and the sandy beach of Spanish Point. View offer

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Home Base Holidays: join for free and start home swapping Sign up to Home Base Holidays two-week free trial or select a full membership (6-month membership is just £29 and 1-year at £49). Home swap guarantee: second year free if you do not arrange a swap during your membership.

Summer break? Try a weekend home swap holiday

In need of a getaway? Arrange a weekend home swap holiday

If you're thinking ahead to a post lockdown holiday this summer, arranging a home exchange is an ideal way to enjoy a much needed getaway but at a fraction of the cost (Home Base Holidays members save up to 90% on the cost of their holidays). When planning your first home swap, initially it can feel a little bit daunting and so many first time swappers choose to arrange a weekend break closer to home.

For example (swap the city for the countryside): if you live in the city and have been cooped up for months, how about a relaxing weekend exchange by the coast or countryside? Shorter swaps can be the perfect introduction to home swapping and give you confidence to plan longer home exchange holidays either within your own country or overseas.

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Find a weekend home swap: You can use the the search filters on Home Base Holidays to narrow down your search to members looking to arrange a weekend swap. Go to the home exchange search Open the "Type of exchange" menu and then tick "Weekend exchange" option

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Small selection of weekend home swap offers

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Links to the above home swap offers: Cotswolds, England: 180 year old stone cottage in idyllic village. View offer Cranbrook, England: period family home in the heart of the Kent countryside. View offer Devon, England: 300 year old cottage in pretty village near Dartmoor National Park. View offer Ghadira, Malta: bright fully refurbished sea view apartment in North Malta. View offer Shoreham-by-Sea, England: large open plan houseboat with use of kayaks and bicycles. View offer Waterbeach, England: family home on the edge of a lovely village close to Cambridge. View offer Canonbie, Scotland: 17th century cottage in an ideal location for exploring this quiet and wild corner of Dumfries and Galloway. View offer Saffron Walden, England: converted granary dating back to 1820 in the heart of a historic market town. View offer Hebden Bridge, England: newly-renovated wide beam houseboat moored on the Rochdale Canal. View offer Loch Long, Scotland: cozy house with stunning views on the shore of Loch Long. Kayaks available to guests. View offer Cornwall, England: restored Cornish farmhouse with a wildlife pond, pizza oven, summer house and a meadow. View offer Cumbria, England: 300 year old farmhouse situated at the centre of 130 acres of farmland in the Eden Valley. View offer Villeneuve, Switzerland: boutique apartment with fast Wifi and desk for remote working. View offer Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, France: fabulous home with roof top terrace with jacuzzi overlooking the sea. View offer Spanish Point, Ireland: cottage overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and the sandy beach of Spanish Point. View offer

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Home Base Holidays: join for free and start home swapping Sign up to Home Base Holidays two-week free trial or select a full membership (6-month membership is just £29 and 1-year at £49). Home swap guarantee: second year free if you do not arrange a swap during your membership.