Home Exchange Holidays – A Basic Guide for Beginners

Home exchange programs are an increasingly popular vacation option in the current economic climate the world finds itself in. Cost is the main advantage, as the charge for a family for a week’s accommodation will be only the price of a year’s subscription to a website or the cost of a booking fee, usually between US$100 and US$100. $200. Other benefits are having the comforts and facilities of home instead of a hotel room, and having the local experience of a place instead of just a tourist’s perspective.

How do they work?

The idea is that you offer your property (it can be your main home or second home, but usually you have to own it) for a period of time each year for others to stay in it, and in return you can use other properties in the database. The types of properties offered and their locations can vary greatly, so they must follow a variety of exchange requirements.

There are hundreds of home exchange programs online and they all vary slightly, but the way they operate falls into just a few general types:

1) A direct exchange with someone who wants your location and the same dates as you. This is usually an inexpensive option, but it can be more difficult to find and coordinate a home exchange. Most online home exchange businesses work on this system, and sometimes you can check the listings before joining. A large number of properties listed will obviously increase your chances of a successful exchange, but there are many home exchange companies that have a smaller number of more active home exchangers, which could make it easier to organize vacations.

2) A ‘non-simultaneous’ exchange where you choose from a database of properties and book to stay at one when it becomes available. This is easier to coordinate and organize as there is no direct exchange involved, but it usually means you have to have a second property that is guaranteed to be empty at certain times. The cost of membership or making a reservation is usually higher with this system, but you are paying for the convenience and higher success rate of organizing a vacation.

3) You can create your own extended network of friends to use each other’s properties during the holidays. Offer your house for a couple of weeks to your friends, their friends and theirs too, and in return you can book to stay in any of their properties when they are available. This system eliminates many of the risks that come with trading with strangers, but it will restrict your vacation options until your network grows.

There are difficulties and risks with each type, but most website services will tell you that problems are few and far between. Normally they will have systems and guidelines to cover the risks of damage, insurance, no show, etc. which, while not foolproof, should help make the experience easier.