Home Exchange for Travel-Why Do It

Home Exchange for Travel – why do it? Home Exchanging or Home Swapping is when you agree to swap homes, and often cars, with someone; you stay in their home and they stay in yours. Home Exchange for vacations is not a new concept, indeed it was started in the 1950s by a group of teachers, however more and more of us, from all walks of life, are now doing it.

Not surprisingly, we Baby Boomers, seniors, silver surfers (whatever we wish to call ourselves) are becoming great fans of Home Exchanging. We tend to be more flexible on dates with more free time available; we don’t normally have to worry about school holidays as we are often empty nesters. I also think we are of an age when we like the idea of seeing things from a different perspective, we no longer like being seen just as tourists, and often prefer to live more like a local when on holiday.

Home Exchanging

Home Exchanging can take several forms. A traditional Home Exchange is when you exchange homes at the same time. A non-simultaneous exchange, which offers more flexibility, is when one or both of you have alternative accommodation available, often a second home, and therefore the dates for the exchange do not have to link and the exchange happens at different times for each party.

Hospitality Exchange

Hospitality Exchange is the third type and this is when you take turns staying as guests in each others homes. This form of exchange appeals to the more sociable amongst us and I think works particularly well for singles, who are often worried about traveling alone in a different city or country and it also helps to avoid the dreaded supplements that single travelers often have to endure.

Home Exchange for Travel-Why Do It? Home Exchanging is an economical way to holiday and an exciting way to travel, to experience other cultures and see other countries differently, through local eyes, not as a tourist.

Saving money is the obvious benefit,with no accommodation costs, the savings can be substantial. Imagine how much more you will have to spend by not paying hotel bills or villa rental. Other major savings can be achieved by swapping cars, sports equipment and even boats, by not having to dine out every night, even by playing as a guest at your host’s sports/golf club.

You have the freedom to do what you want, when you want, armed with the more intimate local knowledge of your exchange partner rather than just a guide book.

Many potential exchangers have concerns over the security aspect of having strangers staying in their home, which to a degree is understandable, but don’t forget you are staying in their home. What do you think is better, leaving your home empty whilst you are away on vacation or having someone staying in it and looking after it as if it were their own?

Home Exchange is often the beginning of lasting friendships which are built around the trust that is an essential ingredient of Home Exchanging.

Home Exchange is the vacation alternative for Baby Boomers and Seniors and a great way to travel.

Home Exchange for Travel-Why Do It? Is Home Exchanging for you? Why not try it and see? Once you have tried it, I am sure you will want to do it again.

Guest Writer:Brian Luckhurst
www.homeexchange50plus.com