Traveling differently: Exchanging houses

Text written by Sarah Witty @Cinqalaventure

The home exchange has grown in recent years. More and more travellers are turning to this convenient and advantageous concept. After experiencing this unique way of traveling many times, I give you my impressions. The house swap will have no secrets for you!

1. It’s cheaper! With your annual subscription, you can redeem As many as you want during the year. 

2. You have much more space than in a small hotel room and especially more privacy.

3. When you trade with another family, you arrive in a house that already has everything you need for your children, it means less to bring.

4. Children love discovering the new games in their exchange house. 

5. You teach your children the values of openness, sharing and hospitality.

Not too bad for a view, eh?

1. Sign up for HomeExchange, create your profile and complete your home card. When you register, you receive points in your account. 

2. In the search bar of the site, you enter the city where you want to go and your travel dates. All available houses are displayed. You can refine the results using filters. For example, you can filter houses that have a pool or a jaccuzi.

3. You send exchange requests by courier to the owners of the houses you are interested in. 

4. You expect a positive response, approve the exchange and pay for the annual membership. 

5. You finalize the details by talking to the owner. Can they pick you up at the airport? Can they lend you their car? Will they be there when you arrive to show you the house? Where will they leave the keys?

Unforgettable memories

• The exchange with GuestPoints:

On HomeExchange, each house is worth a certain number of points per night. With the points you receive during toninscription, you can book a home by giving points to its owner. With his points received, the owner can in turn book a house in the place of his choice. For example, when I register, if I receive 1000 points, I can give these 1000 points to the owner of a house worth 200 points per night in order to go 5 nights. The owner now has 1000 points, so he can also look for a house. When your points are exhausted, you need to welcome people into your home to earn points. While you’re away 5 nights, your house is free, why not make it available on the site?

• Reciprocal exchange:

You don’t need a point to make that kind of exchange. While you’re going to someone’s house, that person comes to your house. You can decide to trade on the same dates or different dates.

Having everything we need for all the family

• HomeExchange has a 24/7 hotline.
• Membership includes theft/damage insurance.
• If the house you have booked is not compliant, HomeExchange can relocate you or compensate you.
• The identity of the people registered on the site is verified. At the end of each exchange, you can write down the house you went to. Your comment and your number of stars are accessible to all.
• So before you talk to someone, you can see the number of exchanges they’ve done in the past and the comments of people who’ve been in this house before.

An experience to try!

In the last six years, we’ve done over 20 home swaps. As a family or couple, we went to France, Norway, Costa Rica, western Canada, a few American states and several houses or cottages in Quebec.

We also welcomed a Norwegian family with whom we made a reciprocal exchange and several French families against GuestPoints. Each time, it is a small happiness for us to prepare our house for the arrival of our guests. When the schedule allows, we love to take the time to meet them, pick them up at the airport, prepare them for supper and make them
discover the flavours of Quebec. Each time, they are enriching and memorable encounters.

A Smile that says a lot

In 2017, I remember my children playing with Ingvild and Hallvard, two young Norwegians their age who, despite the language barrier, were able to make themselves understood and build friendships with our children. 

In 2021, I still remember Eric and Heidi, a couple from Alaska who welcomed us home and invited us to supper at their favorite restaurant the day before we left. Laughter and happiness in abundance!

In 2022, I remember Philippe, Jolana and their two wonderful children who were welcomed for a few days. It was wonderful to see my boy Noah make a new friend to jump on the trampoline and play table football.

Home exchange is not only about opening your door, it’s also about opening your heart. I wish you as many beautiful encounters and moments as we have experienced in the last 6 years thanks to HomeExchange

Click here to learn more : 

• GuestPoints
• Types d'échange
• Adhésion annuelle

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