Travel the Home Exchange Way

Home swap in central London ...a wonderful vacation!

Covent Garden: Jemma's apartment was located just 5 minutes walk from the tube station

This trip was sent in by Home Base Holidays member, Joan, on her family's home swap vacation in London staying in Jemma's beautiful apartment in Covent Garden.

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"Jemma’s home is spacious, light and comfortable and suited our needs perfectly. I climbed up the stairs and opened the door to find the elegant stylish kitchen in bright sunshine - everything was immaculate and welcoming. Jemma had left a detailed welcome pack so that settling in to her home was so easy. Although Jemma's apartment was lovely, we didn’t stay in very much as there was so much in London to see and do. The apartment was amazingly situated and enabled us to walk almost everywhere; to the South Bank, the West End theatres, Leicester Square, Soho, Piccadilly Circus, the British Museum ...all within easy walking distance! When we wanted to explore further, Covent Garden tube station was literally just a 5 minutes walk away. As for places to eat, step out the front door and there were so many great places close by. It was lovely being in the middle of everything over New Year. Unfortunately we didn’t get to see the fireworks as we'd not realised that you needed tickets but no matter, we went down the road to the Strand and the atmosphere was fantastic. We saw the beautiful Christmas lights and then watched the New Years Day parade. After full days sightseeing London it was lovely to walk back to the apartment and into our comfy beds. Arranging the home swap was simple and communication with Jemma was always easy, prompt and very friendly. Any questions we had were answered quickly and efficiently. She and her family left my home very clean and tidy. It was a very successful home swap and I would certainly do it again!" - Joan

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Photos of Jemma's home swap offer in London

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Photos of Joan's home swap offer in Penzance, Cornwall

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Meet the members (Jemma and family in photo) View Jemma's home swap offer in Central London View Joan's home swap offer in Penzance, Cornwall

 

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Interested in home swapping? Sign up for free!

Rather than booking a hotel or vacation rental, arrange free accommodation by arranging a vacation home exchange. Sign up to the Home Base Holidays two-week free trial.

Tuscan paradise: a fabulous home swap vacation in Italy

Barbara & Iain visited the beautiful city of Lucca during their Tuscan swap

We love hearing about members' home exchange experiences! Here is recent feedback from members, Barbara and Iain, on their non-simultaneous home swap to Christopher and Adrian's beautiful home in Pescaglia, Tuscany, Italy.

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"We arranged a non-simultaneous home exchange with Christopher and Adrian. Arranging the swap was easy and the communication with Christopher and Adrian was always clear, very friendly and prompt. The area is fabulous! Up into the hills you can discover little villages where life goes on in an almost timeless fashion. But then just a twenty minute drive down the valley and you are in gorgeous Lucca. Also just a short easy drive away and you're in the Appenine and Apuan Alps - an ideal location for walking and exploring the coastal beaches and towns such as the beautiful renaissance towns of Prato and Pistoia. Florence is an easy day trip too! Christopher and Adrian's house, La Roccia, has a private driveway and overlooks a lovely peaceful wooded valley. There are four houses in the area, including one belonging to our hosts, who maintained a very helpful but discreet distance at all times. The other two cottages were set well apart from our home swap home. The house has several beautiful sunny terraces and a lovely sitting room and kitchen area that overlook the valley. A short walk from the home, down the hill, took us to the lovely swimming pool with recliners on the peaceful terrace. The bathrooms and kitchen were clean and attractive. There is also a huge rock in the kitchen/diner - an unusual but really interesting feature! There are lovely views from the large sitting room had elegant dining area. Christopher and Adrian were wonderful, generous, helpful hosts and left our Cotswold cottage in perfect shape after their stay." - Barbara & Iain

 

Photos of Christopher & Adrian's home in Tuscany

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Photos of Barbara & Iain's home in the Cotswolds

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Meet the members
	Barbara and Iain Barbara and Iain's exchange offer is a beautiful 180 year old stone cottage in idyllic village in the heart of the Cotswolds.  View Barbara and Iain's Cotswolds home swap offer
	Christopher and Adrian Christopher and Adrian's exchange offer, La Roccia, is a beautifully converted traditional two-storey Tuscan farmhouse. View Christopher and Adrian's Tuscan home swap offer

 

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Interested in home swapping? Sign up for free!

Rather than booking a hotel or holiday rental, arrange free accommodation by arranging a holiday home exchange. Sign up to the Home Base Holidays two-week free trial.

Happy St David's Day! Home exchanges in Wales

 

It's the 1st of March which means St David's Day is here, with daffodils beginning to bloom and celebrations taking place in honour of the Welsh patron saint. 

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Visit Wales: Offering awe-inspiring scenery, breath taking coastlines and vibrant cities, Wales really does have something for everyone. I've spent many a family holiday in Wales and it's a country that I return to time and time again. In fact, my very first home exchange holiday was in a beautifully rustic Welsh cottage!

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Holiday home swaps in Wales: If you're interested in arranging a home exchange in Wales, check out some of these tempting offers:

	Talbenny, Pembrokeshire (HE31272) This renovated barn is situated in Talbenny, just under 2 miles from Little Haven in the heart of the Pembrokeshire National Park. It offers a wonderful holiday for the wildlife enthusiast; the walker and cyclist; the surfer; sailor; as well as those just looking for a variety of beaches. View this home swap offer
	Tenby, Pembrokeshire (HE36502) Only metres from beach, this contemporary top floor apartment is located within the old medieval walled town. A former pub. Stunning town setting on a rocky crag overlooking the ocean. Sitting astride the Pembrokeshire coastal path - hundreds of miles of beautiful coastal walks. View this home swap offer
	Llanberis, Snowdonia (HE23677) Ripon House is a lovely 1830's, restored house in the centre of a small Snowdonia village. It is only 3 mins walk from the lake, close to facilities, numerous tourist attractions, and at the start of paths to Mount Snowdon. Castles, beaches & coast are 20 mins drive away. View this home swap offer
	Llanfairfechan, Conwy (HE20511) This home swap offer looks across the Irish sea towards Anglesey, Puffin Island, and the Great Orme. The views are amazing both out to sea and at the rear of the property across the Snowdonia mountain range. Dolphins/Porpoise are sometimes seen from the window! View this home swap offer
	Three Cliffs Bay, Gower Peninsula (HE35400) Rosedale is a secluded detached cottage nestled behind the dunes of Three Cliffs Bay close to the village of Parkmill. This charming cottage, built around an original 1920’s holiday chalet. The property sits on the edge of Pennard golf club. View this home swap offer

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Arrange free vacation accommodation: search home swap travel offers

Home Swappers Newsletter (+ 20% discount code)

17th century thatched cottage in a pretty village near Cambridge and London (click to view)

Start browsing home swap travel offers and contacting other members to find home swap accommodation for your spring and summer vacations.

Check out the latest Home Swappers travel newsletter which includes a discount code to receive 20% off your home swap membership with Home Base Holidays. 

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• Check out the latest Home exchange newsletter

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In this issue of the Home Swappers newsletter:

• First time swappers, Jason & Hannah's home swap in London
• Discount code: save 20% on your Home Base Holidays home swap membership
• Featured home exchange vacation offers

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Join Home Base Holidays. Sign up using the STARTSWAPPING discount code to save 20% on your home swap membership.

Our first home swap holiday ...we'll be back for more!

It's always so nice to see new members discover the joys of home swapping! Here's some recent feedback from first time home swappers, Jason and Hannah, on their first home swap experience: swapping their beautiful stone cottage near Hebden Bridge in Yorkshire for member Jemima's stylish central London apartment in Covent Garden.

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Home swap: Hebden Bridge, Yorkshire >>> Covent Garden, central London

"This was our first swap, and we will be back for more! We were a little nervous in the run up but thanks to advise from our experienced host we were well prepared, but not over prepared, it was just what we had hoped for. A great apartment, right in the centre of London with everything you could wish for. It was easy to get about and our hosts had given us great pointers for where to eat, visit and what to see which we took advantage of. A great experience we both agreed, thank you so much to our hosts."  - Jason & Hannah

Home swap: Covent Garden, central London >>> Hebden Bridge, Yorkshire

"Thank you for a great home swap experience. We had a fantastic time in beautiful Yorkshire staying in your amazingly spacious house and pretty garden. Yorkshire was everything we had hoped and more. We absolutely loved it. Thank you for all the recommendations and tips about places to visit and also for allowing us to have a couple of friends to stay. We enjoyed cooking up some feasts in your well equipped kitchen and we found the village picturesque and very friendly. We look forward to visiting the area again and doing all the things we missed this time. We were blessed with splendid weather and enjoyed a lovely long walk at Hardcastle Craggs, near Hebden Bridge. So much beautiful countryside to enjoy. Thanks to Jason and family for home swapping with us and leaving our home clean and tidy. Best wishes."  - Jemima

 

Photos of Jason & Hannah's home in Yorkshire

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Photos of Jemima's central London apartment

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Meet the members:   View Jason & Hannah's home swap offer: a beautiful stone cottage near Hebden Bridge View Jemima's home swap offer: a stylish apartment in Covent Garden, Central London

 

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New to home swapping? Sign up for free!

Rather than booking a hotel or holiday rental, arrange free accommodation by arranging a holiday home exchange. Sign up to the Home Base Holidays two-week free trial.

Reasons to home swap (no hotels/rentals, pet care...)

Crepet's beautiful home swap offer in Provence, France

Home Base Holidays members love home swapping for many reasons and it's particularly interesting to see what has attracted those new to home exchange. One recent member, Crepet, whose lovely home in Provence will, I'm sure, be of interest to many looking for a swap in France, gives her reasons in her member profile (see below).

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Profile

"I am a self-employed translator and work from home. Since last year, I am officially retired but because my pension is very small, I still have to work part-time. Although I love Provence in general and more specifically Villeneuve (I came here by choice), now that I have more time, I would like to discover or rediscover other beautiful regions and cities. I am not really interested in seeing a lot of places, but rather in staying long enough in a place to feel part of the community. My partner is 62, British, retired.

I am choosing home swapping for several reasons: I don't have enough income to rent a place for several weeks every year, I would prefer to stay in a private house rather than a hotel or a rental because I find those too impersonal - it's ok only for a few days; and I think that, although my house is not luxurious, it has a lot to offer and the Provence region even more!

I have a dog that travels with us whenever possible. He is well trained and friendly! I have two cats that I’d like my guests to feed.* "

*Note: Pets welcome and pet care offered

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Location

"Four kilometres from Avignon, in the residential town of Villeneuve, my house is a very functional and is in a pleasant little town (12 000 inhabitants) on the Rhône river, across from Avignon. It has a lot of medieval buildings, going back mainly to the 14th century when the popes resided in Avignon. It is very special, urban and rural at the same time; urban because it is only a 15 minute walk from the historical centre of Villeneuve, and rural because it is situated in a former agricultural area where no construction is now allowed. Consequently, there are very few houses." 

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• Check out full details and more photos of Crepet's home exchange offer in Provence, France

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If you, like Crepet, are looking for homes that accept pets and/or members willing to care for your pets in your home, tick the relevant boxes under Additional Options when searching for suitable home swap offers.