From movies to reality - home exchange/swapping

Do you remember "The Holiday" movie where two women exchanged homes for a hopefully quiet vacation away from ex-boyfriends? When I saw it some years ago, I thought the idea was simply hilarious and clever plot wise. I couldn't imagine people would risk having complete foreigners in their homes although it would be the same for the foreigners having other foreigners, and so on. :)) However, over the past few months I've been researching extensively home exchange websites, blogs and articles as it became one of the hottest trends worldwide.

With the global recession knocking on many doors and the never disappearing longing for vacation, home swapping proved to be the right answer to thousands of travellers. Considering the average price of accommodation in Western Europe, even the owner's direct prices, the amount saved via home exchange would be not less than 350-400 Euro per week, and this is a very conservative approach. This money could easily buy two low-cost (last minute) tickets to major European city, or ten lunches for two in South Western France, or five pairs of designer shoes on summer sale in August. Not bad, eh?

There are hundreds of home exchange websites available on the net but I'm giving you some of those I have checked myself:

http://www.homeexchange.com/ - probably one of the biggest

http://www.ivhe.com/?gclid=CIuhrLi855sCFSMeDQod1UWB5Q - advertised as luxury but you can find everything there

http://www.homelink.ca/?gclid=CLTqgt-855sCFRPyDAodBwxQ6A - this website is 50 years old already!

http://www.seniorshomeexchange.com/ - especially for seniors

http://www.homebase-hols.com/ - Lois Sealey is a Canadian living in London, very personal and helpful

http://homeexchangetravel.blogs.com/ - this is Lois's blog which provides very valuable information, tips and hints

http://www.homebase-hols.com/news44.shtml - a great newsletter by another of the big websites

Finally, never forget to leave an extra pair of keys to a friend/neighbour; sign after you have read well a written agreement; arrange carefully pet care, appliances repair, etc. No doubt home exchange can be an unique way to get close to the local people and culture while saving a lot of money, but you can make it an easy way too by preparing your trip carefully thus avoiding troubles for both yourself and your partners in this adventure. Enjoy with a bottle of good red wine and, who knows, you may even meet Jude Law! :)