home exchange Global Home Exchange  BC vacation rentals  Canada vacation  rentals  house swap  Vancouver Island  Okanagan home swap

Testimonies  |  Scambio Casa  |  Site Map  |   About Global  Contact Global 

Exchange Homes for Vacations

Home Exchange Information Guide

 When staying in a private home for a home exchange your family will enjoy more space, privacy, comfort and freedom. You will have  the convenience of a fully-equipped kitchen, living space, bathrooms and bedrooms for all family members.

Home Exchange types

Simultaneous Home Exchange.  you and your exchange partner travel at the same time and stay in each other's homes
Non-Simultaneous Exchange. You stay in your exchange partners home on one date, later they stay your home. Typically this is arranged by two members with second homes. If you have a second home, the flexibility can really help with arranging an exchange. 
Hospitality Exchange. Guests come and stay with you as a guest in your home. Later, you visit them as a guest in their home. 

What is a home exchange?

By swapping homes for a vacation, two families, from different parts of the area you live in, from other regions of your country, or the world - agree to exchange homes for a vacation or holiday. Typically home swaps are arranged for 1 to 4 weeks with cars an option to be included in the arrangement. There is also the option of exchanging homes for a relaxing weekend getaway to a nearby location. Some travelers use a home exchange as a means of affordable longer term free accommodation.  Since no money changes hands between the parties - you can have the a first class vacation anywhere in the world and free home accommodation! 

 

Why exchange homes for vacations?

Over the many years that we have worked with other house swappers, we have come to appreciate that one can not predict why someone would want an exchange to a particular area. We have had members from remote areas find exchanges from people who loved fishing and hunting.  We also have had members in Hawaii that exchanged homes with exchange partners that didn't even go to the beach and yes even members from a warm climate that just wanted to experience living for a week or two in snow.   Many Global members are open to traveling to new places, so don't let your area be a limitation to you finding a home swap.

Home exchange: how do I get started?

Register your exchange plus go out and let others know that we are open to a home exchange. If your home is in an out of the way area or not tourist oriented, we encourage you to send out heaps of inquiries, and put a bit of effort into explaining about your home, neighborhood and area. As Global is network of several home exchange clubs, we suggest you take advantage of the worldwide membership offered and send our lots of inquiries to support your listing.

 

Finding a home swap partner

Besides listing your home, send out heaps of contact emails to others wanting home exchanges. You are inquiring about the other members interest in an exchange with you. Be positive and tell then a bit about your home, your family and community.

 

Will anyone find an exchange for me?

Almost all home exchange services offer "do it yourself"  home exchange.  That is, you arrange to swap homes for vacations yourself.  Why?  Because how swapping is a personable experience.  Home swappers want input in whose home they will be staying along with who will be staying in their home. Besides, most people enjoy planning their own vacation.  There is an excitement in listing your home and sending out inquiries.  

 

Home exchange help

Did you include photos and have you shared enough about your home.   Be sure that you ad includes the size of your home including the number bedrooms, bathrooms, whether you have a fenced yard, your access to transportation and did you mention something about attractions in your area.


Is my home good enough to swap

All that most travelers want is a home swap base that's clean, comfortable and tidy and holds the family numbers in reasonable comfort. They can then explore the area of their choice from a reliable base which they have got to know about before arriving through email, letters and sometimes phone calls with their exchange partner

 

Affordable budget travel

Most people enjoy the concept of saving money while vacationing. Home exchange or house swap is a no cost way of using each others' home accommodations.

 

Can anyone take part in a home exchange

Anyone with a home can take part in a home exchange. If your home is rented it's best to check first for permission from your landlord.

 

Factors that may reduce your home exchange opportunities

Sometimes circumstances make finding a home exchange a challenge.

 

Can swappers from rural areas find swaps to popular destinations?

Over the many years that we have worked with home swaps,  we have come to appreciate that one can not predict why someone would want an exchange to a particular area.

 

How do I trust others with my home?

There is no guarantee that your guests won’t wreck your house, but there is no reason that they would—after all, they’re trusting you with their home, too. Global has never had a report of theft related to a home exchange and having someone stay in your home can actually be safer than leaving it unoccupied while you go on vacation.

 

Traveling with children

What are the positives of traveling with children on a home exchange? From our families own experience, we have found traveling with children on a house swap quite practical. In fact, it's vacationing in a home away from home. A family has all the conveniences of home with space to breathe, something most hotel rooms can't offer. 


Types of accommodations offered as home exchange?

Accommodations offered for exchange can vary from primary residences to second homes, from one bedroom apartments, condos, time shares, flats, cottages, castles, villas, houses of all sizes, shapes and colors to luxury mansion home swaps. 

 

What are the benefits?

No hotel bills or hotel surcharges. Enjoy all the space and convenience of staying in a home rather than a room in a hotel

How do I know if an exchange is right for me?

Each home exchange is unique; a bond of trust must be built as you get to know your home swap partners and their family through e-mails, letters or phone calls. Most people traveling on an exchange love the idea of no cost accommodation especially because through their communications ahead of time, they find themselves not staying at a strangers home, but at new found friends, and they will be staying in your home.

 

I don't live in a tourist area.

Many Global members are open to traveling to new places, so don't let your area be a limitation to you finding a home swap.

 

Housekeeping issues 

Most home exchangers are prepared to overlook minor differences in housekeeping standards (after all, homes are a place to relax, kick off your shoes and enjoy life. Homes simply are not  all up to five star hotel standards). 

 

 

How To Guide

A home exchange allows you to enjoy all the benefits of a house accommodation at no cost, instead of vacationing in an expensive hotel room. Home exchange for vacations offer more amenities than hotels, such as multi bedrooms, fully equipped kitchens, fireplaces, and private hot tubs and pools.  House swaps give you tons of space.

 

Family Vacation swaps

A family has all the conveniences of home with space to breathe, something most hotel rooms can't offer.  The conveniences that come to mind besides a whole lot more space than a hotel room are separate bedrooms so parents can still move about the house after their children's bedtime without disturbing them.

 

Teacher Home Exchange

Exchanging homes for  teacher vacations and family holidays  is attractive and affordable. You may exchange homes with another teacher or with someone from a totally different vocation.  Through a home swap travelers can enjoy an entire home to stay in free rather than paying for an expensive hotel room.

Seniors

All too often, the cost of traveling gets in the way of having a good time. For years, smart vacationers have been taking advantage of a unique way to see the world — at significantly lower costs.
Exchanging homes involves swapping your home with someone else’s for an agreed upon period of time. It’s free accommodation for both parties, with each side still getting to enjoy the comforts of home.

Singles  apartment and house exchanges

Apartment home exchange for singles, couples and families. Most single exchangers are  open to exploring new frontiers, enjoying a beach, being near relatives or just welcoming a change of pace.  All single travelers on an exchange enjoy the savings with free accommodations.

International home exchange

It's still possible to travel on what's left in that almost empty wallet by eliminating one of the most expensive part of a vacation - the cost of accommodations. Travel on a shoestring budget with a home exchange.

 

Contacting others regarding a home swap

Some members like to send out one or two inquiries then wait for responses while others mass contact with 50 to 100 inquiries sent the same day. Which ever method you choose please make you emails appear personable. Just be precise in what you want and what you are offering in the exchange. 

 

Not receiving responses to your inquiries

Request that they reply to your message as soon as they can as you are waiting to hear back even if they can't consider your offer at this time.

 

 

Be a serious about your home exchange commitment

Home swaps are not like making a reservation at a hotel where you can change your mind and cancel your reservation by 6 pm. 
Once you start corresponding with a potential exchanger, sooner or later you will need to make a commitment to pursue the exchange or leave it go. If you pursue the exchange, purchase air tickets together, if air travel is applicable and be committed to the exchange.  Many home exchange members ask for written confirmation of the exchange along with dates that each others homes will be available

 

Do I need to accept offers?

Home swaps are not like making a reservation at a hotel where you can change your mind and cancel your reservation by 6 pm. 

Once you start corresponding with a potential exchanger, sooner or later you will need to make a commitment to pursue the exchange or leave it go. If you pursue the exchange, purchase air tickets together, if air travel is applicable and be committed to the exchange.  Many home exchange members ask for written confirmation of the exchange along with dates that each others homes will be available


Your home exchange is arranged - now what? 

Here are several ideas that experienced home exchangers have contributed.  You may have other helpful ideas. You are warmly welcomed to share these with others.

 

Steps to a successful home exchange

Steps you will need to take when arranging your house swap vacation. Register your home, browse and send out inquiries, Iron out the details in arranging your home exchange, prepare for your home swap


How do we exchange keys?

From our own home exchange experiences and the experiences that others have shared with us regarding exchanging of house keys:

Do we need to swap cars

Together with exchanging homes you may swap cars brilliant idea for low-cost touring or day trips. Please check with your insurance agent before you agree to swap vehicles. 


Are gifts necessary?

Many people leave a small gift for their exchange partners to enjoy upon arrival. On swapping homes, we have had our exchange partners leave us fresh flowers, home made cookies, bottles of local wine, a travel package of maps and picture booklets of their area.



Be prepared for little challenges 

The unexpected can and does happen. It is always best to have back up arrangements available—just in case. 


Can arranged exchanges fall apart?

99% + 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? 
 

Are there guarantees that I will find an exchange?

Home exchange agencies can not guarantee that all members will find an exchange. The reality is that any agency can bring people to their website through advertising or media publicity, they can register large numbers of people wanting exchanges, they can even feature your listing so others will view it.  What an agency can not do is make others reply to your listing.  

You can help your chances to find an exchange by including photos and a good description about your home and community, by being active in your home exchange club through sending out inquiries and being flexible with your travel dates and specific destinations.

 

 

 

Global is a North American based home exchange service offering home exchange  for vacations  across the USA, Canada and  worldwide.

 

 

Global Home Exchange

250-740-1740

Home | Home Swap Listings  |  Long term Swaps Scambio Casa  |  Site Map  |  Media and Press

Disclaimer  |   Privacy  | Contact Global  |  About Global

Home Exchange | House Swap | Home Swap | Vacation House Exchange | House Swapping | Echange de Maison | Vacation House Swaps | Senior Holidays  | Scambio Casa | Luxury Home Swaps |

Global Home Exchange has served vacation travelers since 1998.

Use of this website constitutes acceptance of Global Home Exchange and Vacation Rentals Terms and Conditions and  Privacy Policy.