Home Exchanges Enrich and Extend Travel Abroad

By Shelley Seale
Resources updated 12/12/2023 by Transitions Abroad

For those who love to travel abroad, frequently or for extended periods, the most considerable expense aside from airfare is typically accommodations. Although many options for traveling cheaply and saving money on hotels are available, home exchanges are one of the best ways to arrange free accommodations. Now is the time if you have never considered or tried a home exchange. With a worldwide economic recession, die-hard travelers are reluctant to relinquish their wanderings. Yet, interest in saving travel dollars has never been greater.

The Basics of Home Exchange

The basics of exchanging homes are simple: you offer your home for a fellow traveler to stay in while you stay in theirs. Frequently, this is done simultaneously, although only sometimes. Many experienced exchangers have second vacation homes or travel for extended periods, offering opportunities to "bank" exchange time or set up non-simultaneous exchanges. Numerous formal home exchange membership networks exist (usually requiring a membership fee). With hundreds of thousands of members worldwide, the possibilities for locations and periods, from a few days to long-term exchanges of months, are almost limitless.

The Many Benefits

Home exchange allows travelers to save a tremendous amount of money by completely eliminating the considerable expense of accommodations — but the beauty of the concept does not stop there. Exchanging offers many other benefits which are, in my opinion, just as important as the monetary consideration. Staying "local" in a home or apartment instead of a hotel on the tourist trail adds to the travel experience, allowing you to stay in a neighborhood and live the way people live. Most exchangers leave extensive information for their guests about the local area, full of insider tips about their favorite restaurants, little-known art exhibits, or other "secrets" about their city that a typical tourist would never have access to. Having a proper home with a real kitchen also saves you money on other items, such as food. It offers the capability to store and cook meals at your leisure instead of eating out constantly.

Getting to Know the Locals

And then there are the people you get to know through exchanging, whether in person or virtually. I have personally experienced more than ten home exchanges, half of these internationally, and have met some interesting people in this way, from painters and art curators to film producers and wine merchants.

Memorable Exchanges

My first international exchange was in Paris, where I stayed for two weeks in a charming little 1-bedroom flat in the heart of Le Marais. Sophie, my exchange partner, was traveling on business — but her boyfriend, Jean-Marie, met me at the apartment and chivalrously carried my bags up the five flights of stairs. At the time, I had temporarily left an apartment in Prague, which I exchanged with Sophie and Jean-Marie as they enjoyed their Czech holiday.

In Venice, I took my mother and daughter to stay in an artistic 2-bedroom apartment while its owners were on holiday. The windows looked down upon a side canal. In one of the most expensive cities on earth, our hosts provided a list of their favorite restaurants frequented only by locals while being reasonably priced. That same month in Berlin, I lived in a funky flat in an avant-garde town full of live music and exciting graffiti art.

A year later, it was beautiful Vancouver, Canada, where I stayed in the second home of a retired, constantly-traveling couple. It was a renovated loft in the trendy Yaletown district — and I could even take my dog! As I write this, I am nestled in a quaint studio apartment in Barcelona for a month, overlooking the Ramblas and only steps from the opera house, the Boqueria market, and Casa Gaudi. My exchange partner Katherine, a photography curator, is currently staying in my house in Austin, where she is on a fellowship at the University of Texas.

Practical Precautions

Often, when I talk to others about home exchanging, my first response relates to the safety of opening up your home to strangers. For many, their home is a sacred place full of valuable or sentimental possessions. I have always had a good experience; almost everyone I have exchanged with is a seasoned, experienced exchanger. Of course, there are some tips and tricks to make your own exchange experience go smoothly.

Taking advantage of membership in a large, reputable company like HomeExchange.com is the first and foremost action you should take. Such sites provide tools such as applications and background checks. You can also ask for references from potential exchangers and use your own common sense. Keep valuables and personal/financial information locked away in filing cabinets or closets. Be clear and upfront aWhere you live and what type of home you have contribute to the available exchange offers. Imagine you do not live in a place many people would want to visit, or you have a home that needs cleaning or is more conducive to visitors. In that case, exchanging is more difficult than for those who live in highly desirable locations. I have never had a bad experience and will keep home exchanging as a way to travel to places — and for lengths of time — that I might not have the money to do otherwise. I can spend two weeks in Europe or Asia for the exact cost most people might pay for a long weekend in Vegas.bout expectations from your exchange partners about clean-up and critical information. Of course, there is an element of trust involved. Yet, assume you talk to the people beforehand through email and telephone and get to know them. In that case, you can verify their references and ascertain certain information. The truth is that a theft or bad travel experience could conceivably happen under any circumstance — even while staying in the most prestigious 5-star hotel.

Where you live and what type of home you have contribute to the available exchange offers. Imagine you do not live in a place many people would want to visit, or you have a home that needs cleaning or is more conducive to visitors. In that case, exchanging is more difficult than for those who live in highly desirable locations. I have never had a bad experience and will keep home exchanging as a way to travel to places – and for lengths of time – that I might not have the money to do otherwise. I can spend two weeks in Europe or Asia for the exact cost most people might pay for a long weekend in Vegas.

Shelley Seale is a travel writer living in the Seattle area.