Home Exchange - A Budget Travel Secret for Families

Are you itching to travel, but think you can’t because of budget constraints?  Before you give up your dream, we’re here to unpack an increasingly popular budget travel option - home exchange! Lodging is usually the largest portion of any family’s travel budget.  Exchanging your home with a family in the city you are traveling to, could make that summer vacation a reality at a fraction of regular costs.

The Benefits of Home Exchange

Home Exchange is a great money saving option whether you’re planning a 1 week or 1 month trip.  Even a weekend away is becoming increasingly popular.  You could exchange your home with other travelers within the 50 states or abroad. It is an exceptional deal because you get the same independence of staying at hotel, more space and comfort than a hotel room, and best of all, the money you save may allow you to do that special activity that may have been out of your budget otherwise.

If you’re concerned about having ‘strangers’ sleeping in your home, cooking in your kitchen and relaxing in your backyard? Well, you will be doing the same in their home, so it’s in their interest to treat your belongings with the same care as their own belongings .  Everybody wants to have a positive experience.

Another little known bonus is that families who exchange homes often become friends. After emailing back and forth with information about your family, your home, and your neighborhood, you develop a relationship with the family you’re exchanging homes with.  Before you know it, they graduate from mere ‘strangers’ to welcomed ‘guests’. 

Photo by: Flickr/Pink Sherbet Photography

YOU MADE YOUR DECISION, NOW WHERE TO BEGIN?

Start early

 As soon as you know your travel dates, begin looking for home exchange opportunities so you have more houses to pick from. There are many home exchange websites and I would encourage you to use one. They have home-exchanges agreements for you to use, tips and  lots of helpful information. The fee is minimal so there is no reason not to go for it.

Be as flexible

Being flexible with dates, type of home and location allows you to be more selective about who you choose to exchange homes with.  In order for an exchange to happen, your dates have to match up and so do your preferences, so if you are flexible, you’ll be opening up more options. Do not think that because you have a small apartment, nobody will be interested in it. Nancy from San Francisco exchanged her apartment in downtown San Francisco with no cable TV for a house in Montreal: the playroom was almost as big as their whole home and they had TVs everywhere. Did the Canadians mind? Not at all, they were thrilled with her central location and Nancy’s family was happy with the extra space.

Stay open to locations just outside your ideal location

Take Paris for example, although I would not recommend staying all the way in the suburbs where you have to take the RER to get in and out of Paris, you might consider great apartments in the XVIIeme area of Paris, an area that is not classified as a tourist neighborhood.  However, it is still a charming place to live and is just a 10 minute metro ride from the center of Paris (still within zone 1).

Contact many home owners at the same time

Do not wait for a negative answer to contact somebody else. Work on several possible home exchanges at the same time as some owners may already have other plans or may not be interested in the days you offer them.

WHAT TO KEEP IN MIND WHEN YOU HAVE CHILDREN

Disclose you have kids right away

When you start emailing prospects, disclose right away that your party has children and how many you have. It’s ideal to exchange your home with families who have children similar in age because they are likely to have the equipment you might need like cribs, high chair, toddler seats, bikes.  You’ll also appreciate having age-appropriate books and toys that can keep your children busy. Although the match up isn’t always perfectly aligned, the fact that children live in the home means that their home is least setup for families and some if not all that you need will be available. Sometimes your host family might be able to arrange to borrow what you need from friends.

 

Find out about Bed Configurations

 Always get specifics on bed configurations. Keep in mind that some families have their children stay in cribs for a long time.  Other families might have bunk beds, something that your children may be uncomfortable sleeping on if they do not have bunk beds at home. If the family does not have a crib for example, you can always bring a portable crib or rent one (Baby Supplies and Equipment rental companies).

Safety For Young Kids

 If you have little ones, always ask your home exchange partner if their pools, hot tubs, and garden areas are fenced in and secure. Otherwise, the joys of having a pool or a large garden, may be offset by constant safety concerns

Pets

 If you have pets, it’s worth asking if the person coming to stay is willing to take care of your pets and if you are you going to take care of theirs?  It is important to clarify what is involved in caring for the pet.  A goldfish could be fairly easy, but would the German Shepherd take easily to strangers in the house?  If anyone in your family is allergic to certain animals be sure to check if their home has been exposed to those animals.

Don’t assume, ask lots of questions

 Our family for example does not own a television set. We watch DVDs via the computer. Maybe watching TV is something you like to do as a family or you are addicted to 24 and just have to have a TV.  Make sure you clarify about all the details that are important to your family and don’t take offense if the other family has a litany of questions for you too.

Related Resources:

• Tips to a Successful Home Exchange Experience as a Family
• List of Home Exchange Resources

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Lydie Thomas is a Travel Whisperer. She loves to visit new places with her two daughters and husband. Follow her blog at www.travelismorefunwithkids.com to know all the tricks to travel in the San Francisco Bay Area (where she lives) and France (where she was born and raised).