Swap houses with a stranger and learn how locals live

Sep 01, 2009 4:05 PM by Nina Spitzer

Posted in Living / Travel / Road Trips & Air Travel

Economical Way To Travel

The hottest new trend in vacations is house swapping. It's economical, fun and offers an opportunity to live like a local. Find out if house swapping is for you.

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Welcoming your guests

Ways to make your guest feel at home are...

A vase of fresh flowers on the table
A welcome basket of cookies, fruit, and local jellies
A greeter upon their arrival
A collection of favorite restaurant menus
An address book of places like manicurist, pharmacy, supermarket, and auto repair

Mutual niceties when swapping homes

Keep each other abreast of changes like an additional person or change in arrival time
Leave the host family a thank you gift
Send a postcard from their hometown
Leave the names of cleaning services with an understanding to have the house cleaned at the end of the stay

Some home exchange sites to explore

Hospitality Exchanges

Still not comfortable with the idea of a home exchange? Consider a hospitality exchange where one family visits the other and the host family acts as a guide. Hospitality exchanges are another way to enjoy wonderful vacation experiences at minimal cost.