Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Planning a "Vacation" or to "Travel the World for Free", Try a Home Swap or Home Exchange

What is a House Swap you ask? It is the latest way to travel the world and make new life long friends, all while saving the money you would normally spend on a hotel room.
The concept is simple. You like to vacation in new destinations weather these are exotic, quaint, remote, or filled with attractions. So does everyone else. So what if someone could stay at your home while you stayed at theirs. Even better what if you have a second home, or are away or business from you primary home and want to save up credits for your home for exchange vacation later on - a non-simultaneous home exchange in?

You can do that too. So that way if you have a small vacation condo you can house exchange or house swap this out several times and save up credits for a large villa in Paris when you want to take your vacation. This is a unique concept that allows home swap or home exchange members to trade credits amongst themselves.

Why Home Exchange.

  • A unique local experience. You get to live like a local, meet neighbors and friends and eat at local favorites.
  • Meet new Friends when making a home swap you get to know about the other family, share interests and hobbies, learn about the area and plan a unique vacation.
  • Money. You can save a great deal by doing house swap.

Here is an estimation of the cost of a 3 week vacation for a family of 4 :

  • COSTS HOTEL
    Flight $3600, Hotel $2200, Car $1300, Food $2600
    TOTAL $9700
  • COST HOME EXCHANGE or HOUSE SWAP
    Flight $3600, Hotel $0, Car $0, Food $1100
    TOTAL $4700
    That's a possible $5000 saving on one holiday!!!

You can also save on Internet, have bikes to ride and DVD's to watch for the kids and lots more savings. We have made life long friends and have gotten to travel and see things from the point of view of the locals, all over the world.

I hope this has spared your interest in making a home exchange, or at least to open your eyes to a new way to travel and see the world. Steve Griswold loves to explore new places with his wife and daughter. Home Exchange has made this possible. He is an expert on the subject of Home Exchange Travel.
Steve is the owner of http://www.easyhomeexchange.com/ Drop by his site and learn how to plan your next family vacation by doing a home exchange.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Steve_Griswold

Monday, December 22, 2008

How to list your home for Home Swap or House Exchange

Traveling can be expensive nowadays, especially if you and your family are planning to take a trip to a costly destination. Do not worry, because more and more people are choosing, where you swap places to another family in another state or country.

The first thing that you should so is to post an advertisement in a "home exchange in" listing. Here are some tips that you should consider in posting your home for exchange ad:

  • Plan way ahead – Begin advertising your house for home exchange as much as 3 to 9 months ahead of your scheduled travel time. Searching for homes to swap with usually takes some time to complete since many aspects are considered.
  • List your own home swap – Tell them that you are interested in receiving home exchange offers. What you say in your listing interests others and attracts responses.
  • Post photos of your home for exchange – We recommend that you include in your listing some photos of your home, both exterior and interior.
  • Add your home swap advantages – Include details about your home that would interest potential travelers such as its proximity to tourist spots, shopping areas, safe and quiet neighborhood, and cool climate.
  • Describe your home – Provide a description of the exterior and interior of your house. You may include the architecture, number of rooms, amenities such as a swimming pool.
  • Maybe Offer your car – You may also offer your car for prospective travelers to use during their stay. Give the make, year, and condition of your car. Cars with automatic transmission can be an advantage, especially when the family you would swap with drives on a different side of the road.

List preferred dates for House Swap – Post the dates that you plan on traveling and the length of home for exchange. The more flexible you are, the better chances of having a successful house swap. I you cannot find a suitable home swap location that you are interested to visit you might still offer home rental or house rental to the interested party.

Be honest – Never mince words on your listing.
Visit us to read more about this topic http://www.guideto.com/home-exchange/how-to-list-your-house-for-home-exchange and http://www.atlas.org/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nellie_Graham

What is Home Swap or House Swap?


Also known as Home for Exchange has become the best vacations/holidays alternatives, where two potential family swap home for a certain period of time. You can have a first class vacation anywhere in the world with free accommodation!

With a house swap or vacation home exchange you get the benefit of an entire home or villa at no or little cost compared to paying lots for a hotel. You can always convert your home swap listing to a home rental or house rental if you cannot find mutually beneficial vacation location.

There are various different Home for Exchange options like:

  1. you stay alone with your family in their home
  2. you stay as a guest with your home exchange partner
  3. you accumalate credits with your home swap towards more exclusive holiday in say Parris
  4. Etc.

This temporarily home exchange in different city or country eliminating costs of lodgings from your vacation budget. You also swap advice about local sights, services and bargain shopping.

Benefits of Home Swap or House Exchange

  • Saving lots of $$ on your vacations or holidays by eliminating hotel costs.
  • Enjoy the more comfortable home environment while away from home.
  • Self catering will also save lots more money by preparing & enjoying some meals or drinks from your own place.
  • Servants or childcare can accompany you more easily on your trip.
  • Possibility to experience living in the host country community rather than just as a tourist and experience the difference in culture.
  • No need for house sitter when you're away on holiday. Your home is safer when someone else stays in it.
  • You might be able to bring your pets with you on vacations.
  • Normally much more space and facilities in a home than hotel room. The opportunity to get away to more isolated or off the beaten track locations.
  • Etc...