Travel the Home Exchange Way blog

Swap homes and enjoy a budget friendly holiday

Looking for a budget friendly break? Try a home swap holiday

We're all starting to feel the pinch with the cost of food, taxes, mortgages and energy bills all going the wrong way. Many of us are having to look at cost saving ideas and ditch many of the non-essentials.

But what about holidays? Everyone needs a break and after the last few years, we're probably in need of a holiday more than ever. The good news is that by arranging a home swap holiday rather than booking a hotel or rental, you can enjoy a fabulous holiday but at a fraction of the cost. By swapping homes your accommodation is free - therefore, it's not uncommon for home swappers to cut the cost of their getaways by over 90%.

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Swap homes: arrange free holiday accommodation

 

Cut the cost of your holiday by swapping homes

What is a home swap holiday?

Home swapping is where you agree with someone living in a destination you'd like to visit to exchange homes for the duration of your holidays. You can arrange an exchange for anything from a weekend getaway, a 2-week holiday or even a 6+ month longer term swap.

 

Additional cost savings (cars, bikes, meals...)

Forget cramped hotel rooms - nothing beats the space and comforts of staying in a real home. You'll have the space and convenience of a 'home from home' - you'll have full use of a fully equipped kitchen and laundry facilities. Preparing your own breakfasts or a packed lunch for a day out exploring is an excellent way to make additional savings. 

 

Cars and bikes: Many home swappers are also happy to exchange cars / offer use of their bikes during a swap, giving you more flexibility and even more cost savings.

 

"I used the Home Base Holidays website to arrange a home swap holiday in London. I had a wonderful time and saved a lot of money by cooking a few meals at 'home' (I liked shopping at the local food markets and little shops) - this meant I could afford to splurge once in a while on excellent meals out."  - Arthur

 

How to arrange a home swap holiday? 

First sign up to a home swap club such as the London based, Home Base Holidays. On signing up, you will go through quick steps to add your offer (details about your home and where/when you want to go on holiday). You can then browse offers and start contacting members to plan your home swap holiday.  

 

Home Base Holidays has a step-by-step guide to help arrange your home swap holiday. You'll also find lots of home exchange travel tips and advice here on the blog.

 

We love to hear from people interested in home swapping - please contact us with any questions.

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Home swap holiday offers for 2022 / 2023:

Paris, France	Insch, Scotland	Lake District, England	Symi Island, Greece

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Looking for a autumn / winter break? Browse home swap holiday offers

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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.

Teignmouth, our new discovery on the South Devon coast

Home swap in Teignmouth: a gorgeous house with superb sea views "Our home swap holiday with Judith and John couldn't have been more relaxing. Their gorgeous home sits high on the hill giving the most superb views of the South Devon seafront and over the lovely town of Teignmouth. Just off the first floor sitting room is a fabulous balcony, we really enjoyed relaxing in the evenings watching the moon rise over the coast. The beach is just a five minute walk, past a very convenient Lidl meaning no car journeys to fetch groceries. Their home is also very close to the station, again avoiding need to drive. We took the train and enjoyed lovely trips to Exeter one way and Torbay the other. Teignmouth itself is a delight - such a lovely sandy beach, long promenade walks and the alternative harbour side with atmospheric pubs and restaurants ...perfect spots to watch the gorgous sunsets. We loved their home, it is beautifully decorated and most definitely a five star experience! We enjoyed regular chats with Judith and John throughout the swap. Thanks again so much for allowing us to share your beautiful home - we had a wonderful time." - Rick & Jen (Yorkshire Dales, England)

Our home swap highlights: Watching to moon rise over the sea from the balcony Excellent communication with Judith and John Fantastic location close to the beach, station and supermarket

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Photos from Rick & Jen's swap in Teignmouth, Devon

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    Members' home swap holiday offers:

Yorkshire Dales, England (HE39785) Detached stone farmhouse in quiet location at end of cobbled drive just off the main square in Grassington. Perfect location for many gorgeous walks in the Dales, including the Dales Way. View Home Base Holidays offer	Teignmouth, Devon, England (HE24632) Sea views home in the charming seaside town of Teignmouth. This large 5-bedroom Edwardian house is just a short walk from the beach, restaurants, cafes, pubs and railway station. View Home Base Holidays 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.

Perfect house swap holiday by the Cornish coastal path

Summer swap: lovely house in a along the Cornish coastal path "Just enjoyed a perfect house exchange holiday, both from the perspective of a lovely house in a beautiful location, and also the great relationship built up with Jocelyn and Alan over the past few months online and in person. It was one of the rare occasion where we were able to meet on the journey down and say hello! Jocelyn's house is immaculate with views everyone hopes for from a Cornish holiday. Stunning views both from the upstairs open plan living space and the terraced garden behind the house where we enjoyed many evening meals with our daughters. The upside-down layout proved ideal given the extreme hot temperatures we encountered this summer during our stay - the bedrooms remained wonderfully cool. We particularly enjoyed the many strolls to the beach along the fields and woodland below the house, it only took about 10 minutes but fairly steep so keeps you fit. The car was always an option, if you can take the gamble of a face-off along the tiny Cornish lanes. The lovely Tintagel village was just a 20 minute walk, or 5 minutes easy cycle ride - ideal for pubs, chips and groceries. Our favourite though was the MillHouse pub which is just 5 minutes down the hill - we went there twice as the food was so good. The coastal path walks were a delight; we went as far as Port Quin one way and Boscastle the other. One of the highlights was swimming in the waterfalls at Rocky Valley. Many thanks again Jocelyn and Alan for such a delightful stay in your wonderful home." - Rick & Jen (Yorkshire Dales, England)

Highlights of the home swap in Cornwall: Great chats with Jocelyn before and during the swap Superb views and proximity to beach, minimises need for car (bus stop 10mins walk) Trebarwith Strand beach - got to be one of the best in Cornwall

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Photos from the home swap in Cornwall

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View their home exchange holiday offers:

Treknow, Cornwall, England (HE38392) Our cottage is a very short walk from the South West Coastal Path, along the magnificent cliffs of North Cornwall, and in easy reach of one of the best surfing and bathing beaches in the area - Trebarwith Strand. View Home Base Holidays offer	Yorkshire Dales, England (HE39785) Detached stone farmhouse in quiet location at end of cobbled drive just off the main square in Grassington. Perfect location for many gorgeous walks in the Dales, including the Dales Way. View Home Base Holidays 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.

Our idyllic home swap summer holiday in Cornwall ❤️

Staycation in Cornwall: an idyllic swap staying in a lovely village "Just home after an idyllic home swap summer holiday staying in Sally and Rob’s lovely bungalow in Cornwall. We arrived back to find our home very clean, tidy and with well-watered plants and garden... perfect! Their home in the Cornish village of Mawnan Smith was well equipped with everything we needed to make our holiday go really well - they included maps, ideas, BBQs, bikes, SUP boards and kayaks. Their kitchen / lounge space opens up to a sunny terrace, ideal after a day of walks along the stunning coastal paths. On their recommendation we had a superb meal at The Ferryboat in Helford Passage, ate and drank in many Falmouth pubs, enjoyed the local Pizza van that calls in the village on Fridays - great gluten free option too.  The £7 ferry to St Mawes was delightful. We tried to eat at the highly rated Hidden Hut but it was very busy so instead we had an excellent bowl of mussels at the Rosevine Hotel with views to die for. The National Trust Durgan Gardens were beautiful as were the gardens in St Mawes. Walking around The Lizard and Kynance Cove was amazing and we had the chance to do some seal spotting. The King Harry ferry took us over to explore the wonders of the Roseland Heritage Coastline with the stunning Porthcurnick beach a favourite... in fact we loved this whole area of Cornwall. Thanks to you all for such a fantastic home swap summer holiday!" - Barbara & Stuart (Wrexham, Wales)

Highlights of the home swap: Ferry from Falmouth to explore St Mawes Friendly Cornish village of Mawnan Smith with lovely pub, coffee shop, craft fair, shop and splendid beaches Kindness and fun communication with Sally & Rob

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Photos from the home swap in Cornwall

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View their home exchange holiday offers:

Overton-on-Dee, Wrexham, Wales (HE40395) Stunning, spacious, sunny home on the Welsh / Cheshire / Shropshire border. Heated swimming pool (June, July and August). Charles Darwin spent many a summer next door with the local GP and his sister ...so maybe as the house was the orchard, you may well step where he did! View Home Base Holidays offer	Mawnan Smith, Cornwall, England (HE39824) Mawnan Smith is a lovely village surrounded by woodland leading down to numerous beaches. The pet friendly bungalow is near to centre of village and just a few minutes walk to the coastal path and beaches. Musical instruments, kayaks, surfboards and bikes available on request. View Home Base Holidays 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.

Family holiday: home swap in the heart of the Pyrenees

Home swap in Spain: amazing scenery and lovely thoughtful hosts "We swapped to Teresa's lovely apartment set in a charming town in the heart of the Pyrenees. The surrounding area was stunning with plenty of lovely scenic strolls right from the doorstep. There were lots of excellent longer walks available nearby in the beautiful Aiguestortes National Park. A perfect location for a relaxing family holiday. The apartment was clean, tidy and, with all the essentials for a comfortable stay. Best of all was the effort and the attention to detail the owners put to make a great time out of our stay. They provided us with lots of maps, information on activities to do nearby, and excellent recommendations on where to eat and shop locally. Communication was always excellent which made arranging the swap very easy and reasuring. Very much recommend - thank you so much for a fabulous holiday!"   - Sofia & Family (Exeter, England)

Highlights of the home swap: Owners effort and attention to detail Excellent recommendations on where to eat and shop locally The apartment was clean and tidy with all the essentials for a comfortable stay. Beautful location with lovely scenic walks

Photos from Sofia's family holiday in the Pyrenees, Spain

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View the home swap holiday offers:

Exeter, Devon, England (HE38650) Three bedroom family home in Exeter (Devon) in the southwest of England. Exeter is a vibrant cultural town with museums, library, theatres and the University of Exeter. Near the seaside where you can visit Exmouth, Dawlish, Sidmouth and Topsham. View home swap holiday offer	Vilaller, Pyreness, Spain (HE28192) Two bedroom apartment in a mountain village. Ideal for two couples, or a couple with children, looking for calm and nature. This Pyreness village is the ideal location for walking, biking, skiing and countryside ride horse. View home swap holiday 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.

Arrange a last minute summer home exchange holiday

Last minute getaway: still time to plan a summer home swap holiday

It's always best to give yourself plenty of time when planning a home exchange holiday. However, if you're still looking for a summer getaway, the good news is that you will still find lots of Home Base Holidays members ready to arrange a summer swap. Shown below are some tips to help you find a last minute home exchange holiday.   

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Tips to arrange a last minute summer home swap:

Last Minute Offers: check out the Last Minute Offers section on Home Base Holidays - here you will find members looking to plan a home swap holiday for this summer (both staycations and swaps abroad). Make sure to also add your home swap offer to the Last Minute Offers section so that other members will see that you are looking to arrange a last minute break (add this from your Home Base Holidays member area). Be pro-active: as always, when arranging a home exchange it's important to be pro-activate (the most successful swappers are nearly always the most pro-active!). So, don’t just wait to be contacted, search home swap offers and start contacting members to discuss a summer 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. If you can be flexible with your holiday destination you will increase the chances of agreeing 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 will also increase the offers available to you). Upcoming events: as well as including a good description of your home and area in your home swap listing, make sure to also include information on any upcoming events or activities that might be of interest to a potential guest. Helpful travel info: it's also helpful to include details such as nearby transport options (train stations, airports, any cheap travel deals for the swap dates being discussed, etc) – 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 summer swap, make sure to never cut corners when arranging a last minute home exchange. Don’t accept an offer until you’re sure the home/location are suitable and that you are fully comfortable with the plans. Important: as with any home exchange, you must 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 arranging your last minute summer swap, please do contact us and we will try to help publicise your 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 home swap membership (6-month membership is just £29 and 1-year at £49). Search Summer home exchange offers

Home swap holiday in Sri Lanka for daughter's wedding

Sally & Jerry's wonderful colonial style bungalow in Kandy, Sri Lanka

Kandy, Sri Lanka: home swap holiday & magical wedding day! "After spending her early years in Sri Lanka, our daughter wanted to have her wedding day on this most beautiful of islands. It was a big ask, can we arrange a home swap staying in Sally and Jerry's amazing home in Kandy, Sri Lanka ...oh, and can we have a wedding there too? Our home swap hosts, Sally and Jerry, were just so fantastic and helped us have the most magical day. Their home is stunning; it's set in the middle of a tea estate with spectacular views, a large garden with swimming pool, stream, lawns and fruit trees - it was the most perfect wedding venue. Jerry advised us on the process and organised the registrar and witnesses. Their home is staffed by a lovely couple, Martin and Rani. Rani and her team created a fabulous Sri Lankan banquet. Sally did the wedding cake and Tim and Luna, two work away volunteers, were trumps at decorating and helping prep for the big day. Oh, and in addition to the beautiful wedding, we all had such a wonderful holiday on what we think is the most magical of islands on this planet. We are really looking forward to hosting Sally, Jerry and their family here in our cottage in Shropshire. I can't thank them enough for their generosity and everything they did to help fulfill our daughter's wedding wish." - Helena & Mike (Shropshire, England)

Highlights from the swap: Sally and Jerry's warmth kindness and generosity Rani's wonderful cooking and Martin's helpfulness The magical location in Kandy, Sri Lanka

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Wedding home swap in Kandy, Sri Lanka

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View their home swap offers on Home Base Holidays:

Shropshire, England (HE34705) We're a semi retired couple and have been exchanging since 2013 and have had some amazing swaps, we think this works really well. We enjoy outdoors, music, good food and conversation. We love to travel and are keen to see what we can of our planet. View Helena & Mike's home swap offer	Kandy, Sri Lanka (HE27559) We're an English couple but Sally was brought up in Sri Lanka in a tea planting family. We brought up a large family and now have several grandchildren - we love kids. We moved from the UK to live at Jungle Tide in 2015. Jungle Tide is especially good for families and for older adventurers. View Sally & Jerry's home swap offer

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Home Base Holidays: sign up and start planning your home swap holidays Sign up to Home Base Holidays two-week free trial or select a full membership (starting at just £29). Search home exchange holiday offers