Home Exchange - An Affordable Vacation Alternative
Vacations can be tons of fun, but they sure aren't cheap. By the time you shell out for travel to your
destination, the hotel, hotel surcharges, taxes, meals, attractions, entertainment, souvenirs, and all
those other miscellaneous expenses, you might feel like your wallet's just been run through a shredder.
A home exchange is a practical and affordable family vacation idea. So what is a home exchange? You trade homes
with another individual or family for a set period of time for a vacation. By eliminating accommodation costs,
swapping homes for vacations is sensible vacation alternative.
We have exchanged homes with other families in Australia, Europe, New York, Disneyland area and many other
destinations for vacation periods of a week to several months. We have also traded homes for vacations an hours
drive from our own home for a just few days. You don't need to make long distance travel plans to enjoy a home swap.
We have completed more than a dozen home swaps over the past few years. Nothing has ever been stolen and our home has never received damage. We have enjoyed all the attractions of an area without having to pay a dime for accommodation.
Last summer we completed two separate exchanges. The first was with a couple from Tustin California near
Disneyland in early July for 8 days.
Debbie and Michael contacted us through our home exchange listing After a
few exchanges of emails, viewing photos and sharing information about our homes and respective areas,
travel dates were set and soon we were on our way.
During our stay in this comfortable two story 3 bedroom home we enjoyed trips to many major attractions as well as
taking in a major league baseball game. We ate many of our meals at home, thus saving the added expense of restaurant
meals. Our exchange partners left us several coupons to Southern California attractions and for discounts on groceries.
This thoughtfulness was greatly appreciated. Our family also had some valuable quiet time lazing around home and really
appreciated the atmosphere of staying in a house, multiple rooms, use of their computer, three bathrooms and use of their
laundry.
A month later we were off on a second exchange near New York City to Montclair New Jersey. This time it was us
who initiated the contact and within a day of swapping emails and photos the exchange was arranged. We were met
at Kennedy airport by our exchange partners who drove us to their home, only 12 miles from Manhattan. The next day
Ken and Judy left for their vacation in our area and to our home. As we swapped cars, something that we have only
done once before, the cost of our holiday was just the airfare and minor costs to get to and from NYC. The commuter
train to Manhattan was only a few blocks walk from their home.
On this trip we chose to eat all breakfasts at home but ate out for most other meals while we traveled to the many attractions. Having a car, gave us the freedom to also explore some of the Jersey Shore and we even spent a day in Amish Country in nearby Pennsylvania. One really classy idea, on the day we left to return home, Ken and Judy arranged for a maid to come to their home to clean and get the home ready for their return. This was greatly appreciated as it saved us time that we would normally have taken to clean up before leaving.
Because we choose to vacation with a home exchange, we have saved thousands of dollars on not having to pay for accommodations.
You are welcome to find out more about home exchange by visiting
Global Home Exchange.
By
Dennis and Joanna live on Vancouver Island British Columbia and own Global
home Exchange
Ezine Home
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