Arrange a last minute winter home exchange holiday

Last minute getaway? Start planning a winter home exchange

We'd always recommend giving yourself plenty of time to arrange a home exchange holiday. However, there can be times where the travel bug hits and you start searching for a last minute break. At this time of year, you will find lots of Home Base Holidays members looking to plan a home swap holiday for this Christmas and into the new year.

Tips to arrange a last minute home swap holiday:

Last Minute Offers: check out the Last Minute Offers section on the Home Base Holidays website - here you can browse lots of tempting last minute home swap holiday offers. Make sure to also add your listing to the Last Minute Offers section so that other members will see that you're looking to arrange a last minute break (you can add this from your Home Base Holidays member's dashboard).
Be pro-active: as always, when arranging a home exchange it's important to be pro-activate (the most successful swappers are often the most pro-active!). So, don’t just wait to be contacted, search home swap offers and start contacting members to discuss a swap.
Be flexible with destinations: one of the biggest joys of home swapping is exploring new destinations that may not have previously been on your travel radar. Also, if you can be flexible with your holiday destinations, you'll have a much better chance of arranging a last minute home swap.
Non-simultaneous swaps: if you can, suggest the option of a non-simultaneous exchange (i.e. their home or holiday home may be available for the dates you want and, if you can offer your home later on for dates that are convenient for your exchange guests, that should increase your choices).
Upcoming events: as well as including a good description in your home swap listing, also include information on any upcoming events or activities that might be of interest (at this time of year you could include information on Christmas Markets, ice-rinks, etc).
Helpful travel info: if you can, include any details such as cheap airlines, which airports they fly to/from and an idea of the cost of tickets/availability for the period needed – anything to save some time and give members you contact a better idea of how feasible it would be to take up your last minute offer.
Don’t cut corners: even if you're super keen to find a swap, make sure to never cut corners when arranging a last minute exchange. Don’t accept an offer until you’re sure the home/location are suitable and that you are fully comfortable with the plans. As with any home swap, it's important to contact your home insurance provider and get confirmation that your policy will cover the period that your guests will be staying in your home.
Contact us: if you ever need any help finding a last minute swap, do contact us and we will try to help publicise your offer.