In these tight economic times, the thought of traveling someplace exotic might be the last thing on your mind. But if you’re still itching to take a trip, consider swapping houses with someone who lives far away. Trading places with someone in another city (or even country) saves you bucks you’d otherwise spend on a hotel. And the extra space to lounge in can be quite nice.
So how does it work? Well, you could just call up a relative or old friend who lives someplace you’ve always wanted to go. But there are also web-based home-exchange organizations. They help you set up “I’ll stay in yours if you stay in mine” deals. You can post photos and details of your home for others to see and check out homes, condos, and apartments all over the world right from your computer.
What You Get
While the cost savings are pretty obvious, people who’ve done house swaps say there’s more to it. For one thing, you’re more likely to see a location as a local and not as a tourist. Home exchanges also give you more flexibility, freedom, and privacy. You can come and go as you please and prepare meals at home if you like. And you don’t need to worry about a house sitter. Some home swappers even become great friends—leaving notes and gifts in each other’s houses when they stay there.
What You Need
But is your home interesting or exotic enough to be attractive to someone else? Turns out you don’t have to live in a beachfront or a Manhattan penthouse to catch attention. Since home swappers are often looking for a less touristy experience, many welcome the chance to stay someplace a little off the main path. You might find some people coming to your area to visit family or do business—not necessarily see the sites.
To get a feel for this kind of experience, check out the websites of the three leading home-exchange organizations.
* HomeExchange (homeexchange.com) has more than 26,000 members in more than 120 countries, including the U.S. A 1-year membership ($99.95) allows you to make as many home exchanges as you want.
* Homelink International (homelink-usa.com) costs $110 for 1 year and $176 for 2. A print version of the home directory costs an additional $60.
* Intervac International (intervacus.com) has several levels of membership, including a premium $155 “advisor” level offering full access to listings as well as help from Intervac representatives as you post your listing and prepare for your house swap.
What Next?
If home swapping sounds interesting, get in the swapping frame of mind by making a list of all the places you’d like to visit. Then nail down dates you might be able to travel.
Sounds like fun, but is exchanging homes with a complete stranger really safe? Seasoned home swappers (usually professional, educated travelers) say any problems are pretty rare. Letting a home-exchange organization serve as your go-between can help you avoid any exchange trouble. Also, be sure to ask questions about the entire area (not just the home). Request photos. And get referrals from prior exchanges. Allow plenty of lead time to set up an exchange—4 to 6 months at least. By the time you’re ready to swap houses, the phone calls, e-mails, and letters you’ve exchanged will have built a level of trust with the person on the other end of the deal.
What tips do you have on cutting costs for vacations? Is there a special website, magazine, or place that you have found to save a few bucks?
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