Home Exchange

Home Exchange: Trading Your House for the Vacation of a Lifetime
By Stephanie Olson, Freelance Writer

The only way to really get to know somebody else's life is to live it or at least become part of it. When you take the time to arrange a home exchange for a trip abroad (I'll live in your house while you stay in mine), you get as close as you can to living like one of the locals.

In the first place, you're dealing on a very intimate basis with a resident of another country or city, swapping pictures of your bedrooms, kitchen and backyard pool; giving details on how to operate your clunky VCR, the particulars of your car insurance and the mechanic's contact information (just in case), as well as emergency phone numbers of local family members and neighbors--who really ought to know that it's okay that there'll be a bunch of strangers living in your house for a while.

You'll think of these houseguests from abroad often as you physically make room for them – just like you know they're doing for you – emptying some drawers, making closet space, and clearing off a couple of bathroom shelves while you're at it. Finally you arrange to hand over the keys to your respective castles, and the adventure begins anew.

When Lindsey Jennings and her husband took their toddlers to London for a two week exchange in April 2004, their childless host couple "were kind enough to borrow two cribs, a highchair, backyard slide, and many toys." In fact, the suitcase full of toys from home was never unpacked, because of all the toys and videos their London hosts had obtained.

Like many vacationers who eschew the impersonality of hotel chains, the Jennings happily got to know their temporary neighbors, receiving not only sage advice regarding worthwhile sites and restaurant tips, but also a taste of the local lifestyle. "We became very friendly with the neighbors," Lindsey confirms, "and spent quite a lot of time with them." In fact the British family next door went so far as to make the American family a lovely traditional English brunch.

Ken Hampel from Ottawa, Canada, agrees that you can immerse yourself into the daily life of the locals. "Instead of staying in the middle of the usual tourist areas (and "traps"), we [were] able to stay in an area where all the local people actually live and go about their day to day business.....and you meet the nicest people!"

Patsy and Roger W. of California, who toured Europe for three months by way of ten home exchanges and hospitality swaps (all arranged by email), similarly struck up warm relationships with exchange partners and the locals they met.

We had the most wonderful vacation that anyone could imagine at a fraction of the cost and at a premium of opportunities, experiences and new friendships. I can't imagine traveling any other way from now on. And certainly recommend swapping to all my friends. Whenever I travel in the future, I will have "family" to stay with and the same will be true for them.

Another traveler, Paula, who regularly visits one destination and has made a network of friends there, says that "exchanging apartments is the only way to travel when you plan to be in a country for an extended period of time because it allows you to reciprocate socially. Just as I am invited to homes for dinner and conversation, I can offer the same hospitality." As a matter of fact, Paula adds: "I cannot imagine any other way of getting to really know a country and making friends than having a wonderful home to share."

The refrain of friendship with the locals and really getting to know the country and customs of the people is constant in the home exchange experience, but I think N.B. from Madison, WI, sums it all up very nicely, saying: "This is my third time exchanging my apartment in Madison with a couple from Paris. I must confess that when I'm there now, I always feel a bit superior to the tourists I see walking around on a schedule. (I used to be one of them, so I know.) Now, my "guide" is whichever neighbor I can talk into taking off with me and often I'm content to see Paris from the rooftop deck of my apartment."

For More Information:

Digsville Home Exchange & Hospitality Club

www.digsville.com