When a home exchange falls apart
98% + home exchanges go without any major problems. But what happens if your exchange partner cancels at the last minute or needs to return before the exchange is completed?
Accidents and medical emergencies happen. We have talked with an older couple that had a lifetime dream of visiting Australia realized and made more affordable with a home exchange. They planned to be away for five weeks with the first week spent relaxing on a south seas island stopover. One night they went for a walk in a poorly lit area and unknown to them construction was being completed on the sidewalk with no barriers. Our couple fell down a huge construction hole and ended up in the hospital with many injuries including broken ribs and a punctured lung.
Their vacation was ruined and they had to fly back home to Europe immediately. As their home was too small to accommodate both them and their exchange partners, the couple from Australia was faced with either going home or finding other accommodations.
Have an emergency plan in place and talk about this with your exchange partners before you go on exchange.
It is wise to always have back up arrangements available—just in case
Sometimes circumstances cannot be avoided and exchanges need to be cancelled. However, cancellations are only acceptable in cases of real crisis. Not because you found a better exchange. If you must cancel, please inform your exchange partners immediately and try to find your guests alternative accommodation with family or friends. If this is impossible, we will do our best to help you through our network of partner clubs and by publishing availability under our feature listings under last minute exchanges.
Home Exchange Resources
- Swapping homes for vacations
Finding
a home swap partner
Will
anyone find an exchange for me?
Home
exchange help
Is my home
good enough to swap?
Affordable
budget travel
Can
anyone take part in a home exchange?
Factors
that may reduce your home exchange opportunities
Can
swappers from rural areas find swaps to popular destinations?
How
do I trust others with my home?
Traveling
with children
Types
of accommodations offered as home exchange?
What
are the benefits?
How do I
know if an exchange is right for me?
I
don't live in a tourist area.
International
home exchange
Contacting
others regarding a home swap
Not
receiving responses to your inquiries
Are
you a list and run swapper?
Be
a serious about your home exchange commitment
Do
I need to accept offers?
Your home
exchange is arranged - now what?
Steps
to a successful home exchange
How do
we exchange keys?
Do we
need to swap cars?
Are gifts
necessary?
High
speed internet connection
Be
prepared for little challenges
Can
arranged exchanges fall apart?
Housekeeping
issues
Are
there guarantees that I will find an exchange?
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