If you’ve never considered a Home Exchange Vacation, the thought can be a little daunting.  After all you are letting a family you don’t know live in your home while you live in theirs.  However, when you consider the benefits, you just might be tempted to try it at least once.

Remember that your potential exchange partner is likely to have the same concerns as you do.   Having someone in your home at the same time you are in theirs gives each of you a great incentive to treat the home entrusted to you with respect and care.

As it usually takes several weeks to arrange an exchange, you will be exchanging information, photos, etc. with your exchange partners and generally getting to know them. By the time your exchange takes place you should feel happy that you are leaving your home in good hands.  Some exchangers arrange an overlap so that they have the chance to meet at the beginning of their vacation.

Some of the benefits of a home exchange family vacation include:

• Obviously the cost of staying in someone’s home will be lower than staying in hotel accommodations and are also much more casual and relaxing.
• Usually an exchange is arranged between families with children of similar ages.  Therefore you won’t have to travel with so much baggage, (especially if you children are infants and toddlers)
• Oftentimes you are also able to exchange cars which will save on car rental fees (check with the insurance companies first)
• If your children are older, once the exchange is finalized, you may find them emailing and IM’ing each other.  By the time family vacation rolls around, they may already have made friends with the other neighborhood kids on Facebook or other social media sites.
• Home exchanges are interesting because you can slip right into the local lifestyle and see glimpses of how people live, the best local places to eat, get invited to local events that you would never get to see or do as a tourist.
• If you are someone who worries about leaving an empty home, having someone stay there while you are away will relieve your concerns.
• If there are pets involved, arrangements are often made for pet care and this can eliminate expensive kennel costs.

For more information on exchanging family homes, check out the websites below:

Home Exchange
Home Base Holidays