Home exchange for holidays

ellee

Hi

We are thinking of doing this next year. We love camping in France but it is just so expensive this seems like a possible alternative.

However, there seem to be a multitude of sites out there and I am wondering if anyone has experience of any of them and would you recommend one in particular?

Also v interested to hear from anyone who has actually done it before?!

Tks

Exiled1

Pluses of Home exchange
+ Cheaper because of free accommodation
+ Very sociable, meet families, neighbours help etc.
+ Choices of location other than usual costas etc.
+ you will have available everything you have at home, so a home away from home (though we discovered on two occasions there was no tv in the house, disaster with kids!)
Minuses
- Risk to your property (very remote in fairness)
- You have to clean for Ireland and fix all of those things you have not bothered to fix before now, making sure everything is working as it should.
- Huge preparation
- Can take a while to arrange an exchange, they are not as many as a few years ago.
- You need very flexible holiday times, otherwise very limited. Suits teachers and retirees best.
- People often don't like / are apprehensive about others staying in their homes
- Airport transfers

If you can manage the negatives, then you could have a great holiday.

Have used Intervac for many years. Pay about €110 and use their site. No guarantees.

ellee

Ah, we already do airbnb so I don't think the prep or having strangers in the house would phase us.

Bit tied around holidays alright plus France is our preference so we can bring our own car.

Does the intervac site let you search for people interested in coming to your country specifically?

Exiled1

France is a good option as long as you are not too choosy about your area, eg. Provence is almost impossible (but Languedoc is a good alternative).
Works well with own car, though car exchange is a worthwhile option.
After joining Intervac, you then search and be proactive about a possible exchange. Don't wait to see who turns up for your gaff.

BrianL50plus

Home Exchange is a great way to travel but it does not suit everyone. We have done three this year so do recommend it but you have to plan ahead as it takes longer to organise compared to a normal holiday. I suggest you browse a number of websites that offer this and look for destinations that you wish to go to and then join up and it may be worth joining more than just one depending on membership costs. I agree that you must be proactive dont just wait to be contacted by others and also communicate with your potential swap partners to get to know them and arrange details prior to a swap. Good luck and enjoy

Brian

ellee

I've been trying to search the homelink site and it is driving me daft. Constantly giving different results and making me re-enter information. Is it worth persisting with it? I'm was thinking I would join it and homeexchange...

Yamanoto

ellee wrote: »

I've been trying to search the homelink site and it is driving me daft. Constantly giving different results and making me re-enter information. Is it worth persisting with it? I'm was thinking I would join it and homeexchange...

www.homelink.ie / http://homelink.org/en/

Homelink has an agent in Ireland, Marie Murphy - see site for contact details.