Off the busy tourist trail discoveries are often what bring the most pleasure when travelling. Exploring places that never make it into a guide book - neighbourhood restaurants, quirky museums and shops, hidden parks and walking trails. This is also one of the biggest joys of home swapping - and who better to give off-the-tourist-trail travel tips and local recommendations than your home swap hosts? Real locals!
Therefore, it's always such a plus to exchange with hosts that have spent time creating a visitor’s guide with tips and local knowledge. You can make your visitor’s guide part of your home swap welcome folder (i.e. how to turn on the central heating, what to do with recycling, emergency numbers, etc).
Creating your Visitor's Guide for your guests
Use your visitor’s guide to share your personal favourites with your guests. Instead of simply listing restaurants, say what you like about them (“fabulous Turkish restaurant, great food, slow service but worth it”). Tell guests how to find special walks (“just the right length for an afternoon, go to the top for an amazing view”). Point out interesting neighbourhoods, local museums, specialised shops, art galleries, fabulous parks, hidden beaches, and more.
Letting your home swap guests tap into your knowledge as a local goes a long way towards helping them feel at home - and excited to have chosen your home for their stay.
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Include key details
To help guests get the most from your suggestions, give them a bit more. Include such details as….
- Address, phone number and hours of operation
- Directions for getting there from your place, as well estimated travel time and parking facilities for those who drive
- Tips for what to wear (long-sleeve shirts for a hike near the lake, warm sweaters or jackets for an outdoor concert at night, a raincoat)
- For outdoor destinations and events, whether there will be food and toilet facilities available
- Special things to know (e.g. get there early, make a reservation, carry lots of water, bring ear plugs)
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Tailor your suggestions
When you create your visitor’s guide, try to learn something about your guests so you can suggest specific things they might like. Find out why they are coming to your area, what they like to do, whether they have kids or pets, or whether they need accessible facilities. You don’t have to re-write the visitor’s guide for each guest but a little customising can help make their stay more enjoyable.
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Send your guests the visitor’s guide ahead of time
A week or so before your home swap guests arrive, send them your visitor’s guide. They’ll appreciate being able to look through your suggestions and ask questions ahead of time.
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What to include in your visitor’s guide
A visitor’s guide for a beach home will be quite different than one for a home in the centre of the city. The places, activities, and events to include depends on the location, whether your guests have children or pets (or both), what you know about what they like to do, and more.
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Think about…
- What you like to do when you’re at home?
- Where do you like to shop?
- What are your favourite restaurants and cafes?
- Where might guests go to take a walk or a run?
- Is there a playground or activity centre nearby?
- A venue for concerts and lectures? A theatre?
- Where are the best golf and tennis courts? Pools or swimming holes? Hiking trails? Ski slopes?
- Places for boating, fishing, or mountain biking?
- What are the special events and places to see in your area?
- Fairs, festivals, and fiestas?
- Farmers’ markets?
- Children’s or historical museums?
- Home tours?
- Bike tours?
- Art walks?
- Oddities like the biggest ball of string?
- Extraordinary views?
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Do some research
For more ideas, ask your friends for their tips and visit your local visitor’s tourist centre. Former guests are also a great source of information for your visitor’s guide. Put out a guest book where people can jot down suggestions. When you send guests a follow up note after their stay, ask them about places and activities they particularly enjoyed.
Make a template
It might take a while to create your first visitor’s guide. But once that’s done, you can use the original guide as a template you can easily customise for a guest’s specific needs and interests.
Include the basics
A visitor’s guide for a city apartment or a desert cabin will include different suggestions than one for a ski cabin or a lakeside cottage, but guests in nearly every travel destination need the basics, such as where to buy groceries and find a pharmacy.
Other basics to include depend on where your home is located. In a city, guests need to know about public transportation options. Visitors to a lakeside home might want to know where to rent boats or where to find the best place to fish.
Homes in Mountain Destinations
The mountains provide a year-round playground for people who love the outdoors. Are there wonderful trails with surprising views? Hidden fishing holes? Out-of-the-way ski slopes?
Local activities
- Old mining towns
- Local museums
- Souvenir shopping
- Nature walks
- Hiking trails
- Mountain biking
- Wildflower blooms
- Boating, swimming, and fishing
- Hayrides
- Oktoberfest
- Skiing & Snowboarding
- Ice Skating
- Cross Country Skiing
Homes on or near the beach
Many people choose beach visits just to relax, and beaches are a popular destination for families. In case your guests want to do more than sunbathe and frolic in the waves, tell them what else makes your area unique and interesting.
Local activities
- Piers and funfairs?
- Snorkling and paddle boarding?
- Bike hire (or use of your bikes)
- Sunset photo ops
- Hidden coves to explore
- Local museums
- Farmer’s markets and festivals
- Places to eat and drink
- Whale watching
- Fishing
- Beach walks
- Swimming
- Boating
Homes on lakes and rivers
Lakes and rivers are typically a go-to destination for people who love outdoor activities, and for families. What’s fun to do in your area at different times of the year? Great places to hike? Picnic? Fish? Visit ghost towns?
Local activities
- Sightseeing
- Local museums
- Places to eat and drink
- Hiking / Nice walks
- Swimming
- Fishing
- Boating
- Jet Skiing
- Biking
- Picnicking
- Ice Skating
Homes in the Desert
The desert is known for its stark beauty, wide open vistas, and unique wildlife. But desert areas are not all the same. Some are relatively undeveloped, while others offer all the amenities a guest could want. What does your desert home have to offer?
Local activities
- Hiking / Nice walks
- Rock Climbing
- Sightseeing
- Star-gazing
- Golfing and tennis
- Spas
- Museums
- Sightseeing
- Off-road vehicles
- Places to eat and drink
- Festivals
Homes in Urban Destinations
Cities offer an endless supply of things to do and see, and of places to eat and drink. You can’t cover everything in your Welcome Guide. Be a virtual concierge, sharing tips for getting around and insider suggestions for places to go and things to do.
Local activities
- Cafes, restaurants, bars, and clubs
- Local markets (food, clothes, etc)
- Music venues
- Art museums and galleries
- Street art
- Interesting places to shop and explore
- Walking tours and excursions
- Fairs and festivals
- Bike hire / Cycle routes
Homes in suburban and rural destinations
Guests choose suburban and rural homes for lots of reasons: to visit friends or family, attend a wedding or other special event, when they are relocating, or when they simply want a place to relax and enjoy some peace and quiet. What kinds of low-key activities can you suggest? What hidden gems does your area offer?
Local activities
- Places to shop, eat, and drink
- Local markets (farmer's markets, etc)
- Interesting walks and drives
- Places to hike, bike, and swim
- Parks, tennis courts, and golf courses
- Historical museums
- Wineries, farms, and orchards
- Fairs and festivals
- Music venues and art galleries
- Local libraries
