I have been dreaming of traveling lately…okay, actually I am always dreaming of traveling :) Some of my most treasured memories are travel experiences that have been indelibly printed in my mind – swimming with wild dolphins in the Caribbean, riding horses bareback in secret at night with my best friend on a Colorado ranch, burying my nose in heavenly hundred year old roses in Florence, hiking in the Swiss Alps in the spring with my husband and eating delicious meals with my Mom and sister overlooking the sea in Amalfi.
Travel can be an extraordinary, unpredictable experience. It can also be expensive. But what if you didn’t have to pay for a hotel or apartment rental? And you could still stay in a gorgeous, private space (not a shared bunk-room hostel!), for free? That is the purpose behind HomeExchange.com, a website devoted to connecting home-owning travelers from around the world; and after browsing through some of their listings, I must say I am intrigued:
With over 28,000 listings (the most listings are in the United States, France, Italy, Canada & Australia), there are an enormous range of travel possibilities. Of course, you must agree to participate in a swap (listing your own house or apartment on the site costs about $100 per year), so you would need to be comfortable with the idea of people you’ve never met staying in your home while you’re gone! I think I would give it a shot – the savings alone seems to make it well worth it, and there are some gorgeous properties listed – but I’m not sure how much international interest there would be in my home in Providence, Rhode Island!
What do you think? Would you ever try this? What’s on your list of destinations you would love to visit?
{images: HomeExchange}
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
It worked out well in the movies! hehe – I would do it but my little home in MN probably wouldn’t be a huge draw…you might as well give it a try – you never know!!! If I did it I would want to trade with someone in London or Paris!
Amy´s last blog ..Monday Etsy 5 – blue (this is traumatic!)
My mom has been looking at this site to put their Cape house up for swap. I’m def going to tag along to Ireland or Italy or wherever they end up! We know a few people that have used it and it has worked great. Sounds like a wonderful idea to me!
Hmmm I’ve thought about this and knew a cpl people who did this…but am still a bit weary about it myself. I don’t keep any large amount of $ in my home, so that I wouldn’t worry about.
But here’s a short list of what i would worry about:
My computers,
my expensive -commercial printers,
furniture,
bank statements,
books,
private photos,
etc.
I guess you have to put all this stuff in a room and lock it. I would love to hear testimonials from people who have done this. What do they do with all their personal items etc. How well do they prepare?
Jen Ramos
‘Cards & Prints You’ll Love…’
http://www.madebygirl.com
madebygirl.blogspot.com
Is that being paranoid? hehe
jennifer ramos´s last blog ..Once again, Chez Sucre Chez….by Kimberly Scala
I would be worried about that, too! But yes, on the site it said most people keep one room locked and put anything they’re really concerned about in there.
my friend swapped his tiny Brooklyn apartment for one somewhere in Italy for a couple weeks. He had a wonderful time. I don’t know what he did with his stuff– he has computers, etc etc, and I no “extra” room to lock. I’ll ask him.
gaia´s last blog ..We Are Wizards News
i have been wanting to do this, my desire to travel is like a magnetic force, always beckoning me. i would most definitely consider a home exchange, surely there are ways to know that the people are safe? i live in college station, tx, where i know that NO ONE wants to do a home exchange. so for now, i am going to try out couchsurfing.org. its another way to stay free- but you stay with people, on their couch or extra room or whatever. greece has been my dream destination for years, so i’m going to make it happen this fall. :)
Tahni´s last blog ..café au lait. life + {project revamp}
Hi there,
We are currently on our 5th home exchange to Mont Tremblant, Quebec. I highly recommend this form of travel! We have traded homes twice to France, once to Thailand, once to Williamsburg, VA, and now, to Quebec all for a month or longer. We have had wonderful home exchange partners who we are still in contact with and have built wonderful memories for our family. We use homeexchange.com and love it…if you are adventuresome and want a very different travel experience from hotel travel, this is for you!