Home Swaps for Vacations

Part of fun for most home swappers is trying out
a different lifestyle in a home that may be very different from their own in an area they want to visit (location seems to be themost important factor for most vacation home swappers). It's difficult to compare homes in terms of value by number of bedrooms.

Many feel their own home is not good enough to exchange when compared to the quality of many
homes offered. Most people have modest
homes. Experienced home exchangers will view a house exchange as a bargain and don't worry about size of homes. Besides they will be to busy exploring the community. You will be pleased to find that many
people will be willing to exchange their larger residence just for convenience of not having to pay for a hotel

All that most travelers want is a home swap base that's clean, comfortable and tidy and holds
the family numbers in reasonable comfort. They can then explore the area of their choice from a reliable base which they have got to know about
before arriving through email, letters and sometimes phone calls with their exchange partner.

When would you like to travel on an exchange?
Some home exchangers like to plan years ahead, while others are open to swapping homes within a few days. Most people who are open to swapping homes for vacations, start looking for exchange partners 4 to 12 months ahead of leaving on their trip.  
Where would you like to travel to on an exchange?
Many home exchange members are available to travel to almost any destination, while others are more specific. Perhaps its to some popular worldwide city destination such as New York, San Francisco, Sydney, London or Rome. How about a beach home in Hawaii, the Caribbean, Gold Coast or Spain. Maybe a the country side of France, Canada, New Zealand or the USA appeals to you or maybe it's a ski resort in the Swiss Alps, Colorado, Tahoe, Utah, Vermont or Alberta, that sets your appetite for travel. What ever your destination may be, city, country side or off the beaten path area, there are people open to exchanging homes. Start by exploring the  home exchange listings. Then have fun planning and writing your own listing.

Why travel on a house swap? Who goes on a home swap?
A home exchange is an affordable travel solution

Who goes on a home exchange and why?
The answer is anyone with a home (houses, apartments, flats, villas, ski chalets, camper vans, cabins, condos, motor homes, house boats and even castles have been offered for exchanges).

Reasons to enjoy home exchange travel

1. Exchanging homes for vacations and holidays.
2. Job exchanges such as long term teacher exchanges where individuals trade homes, jobs and often vehicles for six months to a year.
3. Exchanging homes to be near family, friends, kids in college.
4. Budget accommodation while one attends university during summer or regular sessions.
5. To attend sporting events such as the Olympics, Super Bowl, Wimbledon tennis or golf tournaments.
6. To scout for job opportunities in another area of your or another country.
7. Some are considering a community for a future move or retirement. They experience what it is like to live in that community through a home exchange before making the commitment to buy or move.
8 To live in another community as a non tourist and experience the differences in culture.
9. To get away to an isolated or off the beaten track location.
10. Budget Accommodation for a short term job.
11. Exchanging homes for weekend getaway.
12. To save money.
13. A home exchange may allow one the opportunity to bring pets on vacation with them.

Pet Friendly Travel with a Home Exchange
Vacation travel and pet friendly accommodation
For years, smart vacationers have been taking advantage of a unique and friendly way to travel with their pet - at zero accommodation cost with a home exchange. Why travel with your pet on a home exchange?
We have two pets. Whenever practical we take them with us, including on several house swaps. We tried so called pet friendly hotels only to face surcharges of $25 to $110 per night for "room sanitization." Home exchanges are a practical cost effective way to travel with pets.
When all is said and done, a home vacation exchange is the single most logical, reasonable, sensible, indeed brilliant, method of vacationing in travel today. Instead of leaving your pet in a behind and home or apartment empty and unused during the time of your vacation, you derive a benefit from it, you treat it as an asset. You trade it temporarily for a home or apartment, eliminating all costs of lodgings from your vacation budget. Your pet will love the adventure and being able to travel with you.
A home exchange is - you stay at my place while I stay at yours. A home exchange means that two families - either from different parts of the area you live in, country, or the world - agree to exchange homes for a vacation or holiday. Typically home exchanges are made for 1 to 4 weeks with cars an option to be included in the arrangement. There is also the option of exchanging homes for a relaxing weekend getaway to a nearby location. Since no money changes hands between the parties - you can have the a first class vacation anywhere in the world at no cost! It's a terrific way to see another part of your country or the world.
International Home Exchange Travel with Pets
Taking your pet on an overseas trip may be a challenge due to quarantine restrictions. Please check the requirements of the country you plan to visit before deciding to take a pet with you on overseas travel. We were able to take our pet from north America to Europe with no problems. (Needed a Vets certificate for vaccinations.)
Canada-USA Home Exchange with Pets
Most travelers have very little difficulty taking their pets across the US - Canada border. Before going on vacation a traveler should check with their vet to be sure their pet is travel ready, with the proper shots. Be sure to take a confirmation of up to date shots with you. We have never been questioned about our Bichon Frise dog when crossing the border but its wise to be prepared.

With a home exchange your pet can travel with you without you trying to find and pay for a pet friendly hotel.
It is always wise to advertise in your home exchange listing that you have a pet. Also indicate whether you wish to have your pet travel with you. By including this information you will help potential home exchangers with pet allergies to be aware of the situation so that they can make a wise choice regarding pursuing a home exchange with you.
As pet owners we have always been upfront and have found many travelers that did not mind looking after our pet in our home or allowing us to bring our pet to their home. On our last home swap, we did both. We took our dog on exchange with us and looked after our exchange partners cat as well.
Enjoy your next vacation with your pet while paying zero for accommodation.
A home exchange experience with pets

Home Exchange Quiz

Home Exchange is a fun way to see the world
If you score less than 10 correct you really need to start going on home exchanges. Build your world knowledge and vacation with free accommodation.
 
We have two fun quizzes for those that want to test their travel knowledge.
No cheating!!!  

(Passing requires 4 correct answers) 

Quiz 1

1) How long did the Hundred Years War last? 

2) Which country makes Panama hats? 

3) From which animal do we get catgut? 

4) In which month do Russians celebrate the October Revolution? 

5) What is a camel's hair brush made of? 

6) The Canary Islands in the Pacific are named after what animal? 

7) What was King George VI's first name? 

8) What color is a purple finch? 

9) Where are Chinese gooseberries from? 

10) What is the color of the black box in a commercial airplane? 

All done? Please check your answers below! 

ANSWERS TO THE QUIZ 

1) How long did the Hundred Years War last? 

*116 years 

2) Which country makes Panama hats? 

* Ecuador 

3) From which animal do we get cat gut? 

*Sheep and Horses 

4) In which month do Russians celebrate the October Revolution? 

*November 

5) What is a camel's hair brush made of? 

*Squirrel fur 

6) The Canary Islands in the Pacific are named after what animal? 

*Dogs 

7) What was King George VI's first name? 

*Albert 

8) What color is a purple finch? 

*Crimson 

9) Where are Chinese gooseberries from? 

* New Zealand 

10) What is the color of the black box in a commercial airplane? 

* Orange , of course.
 

If you scored less than 10 correct you really need to start going on home exchanges. Build your world knowledge and vacation with free accommodation.
Please see Global Home Exchange for more home exchange ideas and information.
Sign up today with Global
 
Quiz 2
 
Test your reasoning skills against some of the top professional minds from around the world.
 
Question #1: How do you put a giraffe in a fridge?
  
Correct answer: Open the fridge, put the giraffe in, and close the door.
This question was a test of whether or not you have a tendency to do simple things in a needlessly complicated way.
 
Question #2: How do you put an elephant in a fridge?
  
Incorrect answer: Open the fridge, put the elephant in, and close the fridge.
Correct answer: Open the fridge, take the giraffe out, put the elephant in, and close the fridge.
This question was a test of your ability to understand the consequences of your actions (i.e. the giraffe filling the fridge, and therefore having to be removed before the elephant could be put in).
 
Question #3: The Lion, King of the animals, has called a conference of animals. All the animals are expected to attend. Which animal will not be attending?
 
Correct answer: The elephant.
Why? The elephant is still in the fridge.
This question was a test of your memory.
 
Question #4: There is a river which you have to cross. However, the waters are crocodile infested. How will you cross?
 
Correct answer: Swim across.
Why? The crocodiles are at the animal conference.
This question was a test of your ability to learn from your mistakes.
 
According to Anderson Consulting Worldwide, approximately 90% of professionals tested answered all the questions incorrectly.
However, most of the children below school age answered at least some of the questions correctly.
Anderson Consulting disputes the logical conclusion from this information that the ideal profession would have the mental age of a 4-year-old child.