Travel the Home Exchange Way blog

Looking for a longer term home exchange getaway?

Long-term swaps are ideal for digital nomads, writers or any other location independent workers

Most home swaps are for holiday periods of one to three weeks or, closer to home, for long weekend breaks. However, many members also arrange long-term home exchanges that can be anything from one month to over a year. Arranging longer swaps can be a great way for retirees with no holiday time restraints to visit family or friends living overseas. If you are an expat, it’s an excellent way to visit your native country and have your own space rather than stay with family for long periods. Longer term swaps can also be an exciting and realistic option for digital nomads, writers or any other location independent workers who can work anywhere there’s a good internet connection. It is this latter category where Home Base Holidays has seen a particular growth since the quite dramatic shift away from office to home working during and after the pandemic. 

 

A sample of recent long-term home swap requests follows. As it can take several weeks to find a perfect match for a long-term exchange, especially if one or both exchangers need a swap for a set period, please do check out any offers that are of interest without delay.

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North Shore, Auckland, New Zealand Seeking a 5 month swap in London   "We are on transfer to London for five months between 1 September 2023 and late January 2024 and are seeking a home swap for a property in London which sleeps up to 6 adults."   Lovely villa just a 500 metre walk from Devonport's main street, and a 15 minute walk (or five minute drive) from local beaches. The villa was recently named New Zealand Home of the Year in its renovation category.   View home swap holiday offer

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Provvidenti, Molise, Italy Second home: open to any length swaps   Charming old village house in beautiful Molise, one of Italy’s last truly authentic regions. if you like the smell of hay, the taste of homemade salsa, hearing nightingales and owls, seeing sheep grazing around the village and don’t mind the occasional tractor passing or neighbours sitting outside in front of their houses chattering and playing cards, then Provvidenti is for you. International airports all connected by public transport.   View home swap holiday offer

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Bedford, Bedfordshire, England Open to longer term home swaps   Beautiful Country House in a peaceful country area with easy access to Cambridge, Oxford and London. London is 50 minutes by train. Cambridge is 45 minutes by car. Oxford is 90 minutes. Stratford-upon-Avon is 90 mins by car. London Luton airport 50 minutes.   View home swap holiday offer

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Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Seeking up to a 6 month swap in the UK   "I would appreciate an exchange anywhere in the UK for any time up to 6 months."   Brick veneer house with remote gated entry in a quiet area near to foot of the Dandenongs (hills). Boronia is 20 miles from Melbourne city with both bus and train stations nearby. While a car is not necessarily needed for most people, my car is included in an exchange.   View home swap holiday offer

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Stroud, Gloucestershire, England Seeking a 1-2 month swap in London, Paris, New York, UK or Australia   A stylish, spacious, two bedroomed apartment on the second floor of a transformed historic mill situated in the Golden Valley, a beautiful rural, old industrial area with canals and walking towpaths along the River Frome, the Cotswolds in Gloucestershire.    View home swap holiday offer

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Remember, the most successful home swappers are often the most proactive, so browse home swap offers and start sending out your initial messages to suggest an exchange!

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Home Base Holidays: start home swapping Sign up to Home Base Holidays and arrange home swap swap holiday accommodation for the new year. Save over 90% on the cost of your next holiday!  Search the latest home exchange holiday offers

Home swap: perfect London gem with fantastic owners

Miriam and family enjoyed a wonderful swap in London's Battersea

Our London home swap: a perfect gem with fantastic owners "We travelled from the States swapping to Rosemary's lovely home in London. Rosemary and her family will come to our home in Massachusetts later this year; but I wanted to write a review of our home swap vacation while it was fresh in my mind. Rosemary was an absolute joy to communicate with as we worked out the details of our stay; she and her husband went above and beyond to help us as we planned our trip. We were able to Facetime with them ahead of the travel dates and we came away from that first "meeting" with a solid feeling of trust. When we arrived in London after a red-eye, with our children and all of our things, we were greeted at the airport by Rosemary's husband who helped us navigate back to their house in Battersea. This was certainly not within the requirements of hosting us and was so very, very appreciated! We had a chance to meet Rosemary and her children when we arrived at the house and then they left us on our own to explore, and explore we did! Prior to our arrival, I had been in contact with Rosemary and shared our itinerary and she was able to send us some guidance on navigating London's public transportation system. Their home is just a 3 minute walk to several bus stops that can start you on your trip to wherever in London you might want to visit. I can not express enough how wonderful it was to be able to spend our days in and about London and then only have to make our way back to Battersea to settle in for the night. Having access to a kitchen where we could prepare a quick breakfast and some coffee every morning was a game-changer for our travel experience and the home was the perfect amount of space for all of us to unwind after a full day of activities. Battersea is such a nice lively area of London and we loved visiting several excellent local pubs. Additionally, the Italian restaurant literally at the corner was a delight and we had no concerns at all about allowing our children (11 and 13) head back to the house on their own from the restaurant while my husband and I enjoyed another drink and a dessert. If you're thinking of visiting London I highly recommend a stay with Rosemary and her family. Their attention to detail in their home packet was extremely helpful and they even had a few pages of possible itineraries that we would have definitely used had we not already planned our entire stay! We are looking forward to hosting Rosemary and her family in a few months time." - Miriam (Massachusetts, USA)

Our home swap highlights: We were a 1/2 block away from several bus stops and Underground stations. Battersea is such a lovely location to explore (excellent pubs, restaurants and cafes). Rosemary and her family went so far above and beyond our expectations for hosting - helping us understand the area and the public transportation system; providing a clean, lovely home; being available before, during and after our stay for all of our questions and needs. Staying with such a nice family and getting to know them a bit has made our anticipation of their visit to us next year a delight.

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Photos from Miriam's London trip

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    Members' home swap holiday offers:

Massachusetts, USA (HE41094) Beautiful wooden home in Manchester by the Sea, MA, USA. Just 1.75 miles to the Singing Beach. View Home Base Holidays offer	Battersea, London, UK (HE40964) Stylish Victorian maisonette with private garden. An ideal location from which to explore London. 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. Search home exchange offers Home swap guarantee: second year free if you do not arrange a swap during your membership.

Q&A: Is my house suitable for a home swap holiday?

Toys and children's books can be a bonus of swapping with another young family

Q: Hello Home Base Holidays team! I've been browsing offers on your website and am interested in arranging a home swap holiday. I have a 2-bedroom cottage in the Cotswolds and would initially be interested in arranging a shorter break within the UK. I just wasn't sure what people would expect of my home and how to prepare it for a swap. My home isn't luxurious by any means but I think it's very nice, cosy and comfortable. However it is also full of my family's stuff (we have a 3 year old girl with lots of books, toys, etc!). I'm guessing it's okay to leave our belongings in the cottage during the swap or would our guests expect us to clear much of it out? Also, are there any precautions we should take prior to a swap? - Katie

A: Thanks for getting in contact and lovely to hear you're interested in home swapping! Your Cotswolds cottage sounds lovely and I'm sure it would be a very appealing offer to many members. Planning your first swap can feel a bit daunting and so choosing a shorter swap closer to home is a great way to start. You do not need to clear out any of your items prior to a swap. Home swappers aren't expecting to stay in an empty show home but will be expecting a home just like yours, a nice real home contain furnishings and belongings. In fact, if you arrange to swap with a family that have a similar aged kid(s), having childrens books and toys can be a really big bonus!

Prior to the swap, make sure that you give your home a good clean and declutter so that it's nice and welcoming for your guests. Although you do not need to remove your belongings, it's nice to clear a little space in your wardrobe, kitchen cupboard and bathroom so your guests have room to unpack. 

• Five steps: prepare your home for a home swap holiday

Home swaps are mutual agreement between the two members and is based on trust that will develop over a lengthy correspondence in the run-up to exchange dates. However, it is always important to contact your home insurance company to make sure your policy will cover the period your guests will be staying. There are also several specialist insurance companies that provide very reasonably priced top up cover for home swappers, contact us for details

Tip: For peace of mind, some members also choose to use a lockable room or ask friends/family nearby to store certain personal items that they would not want available for use by exchange guests (e.g. a work laptop).

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Home Base Holidays: start home swapping Sign up to Home Base Holidays and arrange home swap swap holiday accommodation for the new year. Save over 90% on the cost of your next holiday!  Search the latest home exchange holiday offers

Swap homes and enjoy budget friendly holidays in 2023

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

We're all starting to feel the pinch with the cost of pretty much everything on the rise. 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 2023:

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

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Planning a holiday for 2023? 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.

BLACK FRIDAY: 25% Sale | Home swap holidays for 2023

BLACK FRIDAY SALE: sign up to Home Base Holiday and start planning a home exchange holiday for 2023. Use the BLACKFRIDAY discount code to save 25% on 6-month and 1-year memberships.    

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25% discount code: BLACKFRIDAY (valid until the 3rd December 2022)

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To take up the Black Friday offer:

1. Go to the Home Base Holidays website
2. Select either a 6-month or 1-year membership
3. On the checkout page enter promotional code: BLACKFRIDAY 
4. Add your home swap offer (details of your home and where you want to visit)

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Start planning your home swaps for 2023

Browse home exchange holiday offers

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Join today: home exchange holidays for 2023 Join Home Base Holidays - select either a 6-month or 1-year membership (use the BLACKFRIDAY code for a 25% discount).

We had a fantastic home swap holiday in Abruzzo, Italy

Views from the villa nestled between the Adriatic coast and the Gran Sasso mountain ranges

Home swap in Abruzzo, Italy: lovely villa with stunning views "What a fantastic location for a home swap holiday! This was our first time visiting Abruzzo but we will definitely be back. The mountain views from the villa's terrace were stunning. We picked fresh figs and grapes from the garden for our daily breakfast. Such a treat. Plus there were plenty of excellent restaurants within very easy reach. The area itself is simply stunning and we loved exploring. Just half an hour drive and we were visiting amazing hill top villages or the lovely coastline. Just a little further drive and we were in the mountains. Thank you so much for such a wondeful holiday in Italy!"   - Chris & Graham (Yorkshire Dales, England)

Our home swap highlights: Fantastic views from the terrace Close to the beach and the mountains Explore the hilltop villages and discovering lovely places to eat

 

Photos from the home swap in Elice, Italy

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    Members' home swap holiday offers:

Yorkshire Dales, England (HE39799) 18th century Yorkshire farmhouse. Located between the spa town of Ilkley and the market town of Skipton on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales. View Home Base Holidays offer	Elice, Abruzzo, Italy (HE31329) Pretty 3-bedroom villa with stunning views. Located in Elice, nestled between the Adriatic coast and the majestic Gran Sasso mountain ranges. 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.

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.