A Home Exchange Vacation - Is it Right For You?
Published Tuesday, August 5, 2008 by hotel34343262849.
For many years, home exchanging has been a popular and economical way to vacation. Home exchange or house swapping, offers the benefit of staying in someone else's home while they in turn, occupy yours. These swaps are even exchanges and are typically free of charge. The choices of locations are virtually limitless.
In a typical exchange, you and your exchange partner stay in each other's homes at the same time. These home are usually the vacationer's primary residence. A newer, emerging trend is to have a non-simultaneous swap; where the owner's vacation homes or secondary residences are used in the exchange. This allows both parties to stay in their own home and have more flexibility on the travel dates and how long they stay.
So is home exchanging right for you? Well, it certainly isn't for everyone. Many people love it because it allows them to travel and experience new locations without incurring the cost of a hotel or having to eat out at every meal. Moreover, staying in a home affords you more space than a hotel room. Home exchanges are also a great way to immerse yourself into the life of a local community. Very often your exchange partner will give you information about the area, introduce you to neighbors and friends and give you a real feel for the local culture. Some of the down sides to exchanging are the fact that you are responsible for keeping the home clean while you are staying there. There is no room service or daily housekeeping. For some folks, that is a deal breaker. If you would prefer to stay in a home but still have the comforts and services of a hotel, then a vacation rental might be a better fit for you. It is going to cost you, but if you're traveling with friends or family it can actually be cheaper than booking multiple hotel rooms.
How do you find the right home and home exchange partner? There are many reputable companies and sites available right on the web. HomeExchange.com has over 20,000 listings that you can browse for free. If you want to list your home or contact another home owner, you will need to become a member and pay the annual subscription fee. They also have a great FAQ (frequently asked questions) area to get you started on your search. The International Vacation Home Exchange specializes in 2nd home or vacation home exchanges and also lets you browse listings for free. For seniors, one of the best resources is Seniors Home Exchange. They focus specifically on exchangers that are in the over 50 age group. Seniors are a great fit for home swaps because they have a more flexible schedule, aren't tied to children's schedules or school holidays and can stay for longer periods of time.
Obviously, there are many pros and cons to a home exchange vacation. Do some investigating and due diligence on your part before you jump in. Who knows, you might just find you're hooked!
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