It’s the latest trend in travel and an easy way to cut down on vacation expenses. It’s called “Home Exchange” and it’s gaining in popularity with travelers who fancy visiting Europe, the Caribbean, and Hawaii, but don’t have the money or inclination to spend thousands of dollars on accommodations.
The premise if simple: Find someone to switch places with you. They stay in your house, you in theirs. Dozens of companies like Intervac offer services that allow you to swap houses with someone on vacation. For example, say you want to take a trip to Peru, but don’t want to blow a month’s salary picking up the tab for a hotel stay. You simply contact a company specializing in home exchanges or vacation exchanges and representatives will find you a home to stay in for free. You in turn then must “sell” someone (vacation exchanges typically have members throughout the world) on a visit to your city.
The advantages of the program include: Having an entire home to spread out in instead of a tiny hotel room. Also, some home swappers make arrangements for their “guests” to be picked up at the airport. In addition, you are immersed in the local culture by staying in a residential area versus a hotel in the touristy part of town. You have neighbors to assist you in finding the best places to eat and visit. Plus, you get to learn the nuances of the place you are visiting instead of sticking to a package tour, which most vacation exchange members say is something you can’t put a price tag on.
Europe, Central America, Ireland, Mexico, and Hawaii are the top draws in the home exchange program. Some vacation exchange services are free. Intervac charges $75. That charge includes a thick book of rentals and access to an interactive, user-friendly website that allows you to browse and pick your vacation spot.