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Swap Homes for a Free Vacation Home Away from Home
Words
 A home exchange is - we trade places,  you stay at my place while I stay at yours. By  trading places two families, couples or singles - either from different parts of the area you live in, country, or the world - agree to exchange homes for a vacation or holiday. Typically home exchanges are arranged for 1 to 4 weeks with cars an option to be included in the arrangement. There is also the option of exchanging homes for a relaxing weekend getaway to a nearby location. Some travelers use a home exchange as a means of affordable longer term free accommodation.  Since no money changes hands between the parties - you can have  a first class vacation anywhere in the world and free home accommodation!
Because, when all is said and done, a home vacation exchange is the single most logical, reasonable, sensible, indeed brilliant, method of vacationing in travel today. Instead of leaving your home or apartment empty and unused during the time of your vacation, you derive a benefit from it, you treat it as an asset. You trade places temporarily for another home or apartment,  eliminating all costs of lodgings from your vacation budget.

to swap échanger
to trade échanger
to stay séjourner
the couple (-s) couple
the single (-s) célibataire
either...or... soit ... soit
the area zone, région
the country pays
the world monde
to agree se mettre d'accord pour
to exchange échanger
a vacation vacances
the holiday vacances
typically typiquement
to arrange arranger
a getaway échappée
nearby proche
a location endroit
affordable abordable
a traveler voyageur
a means moyen
free accommodation logement gratuit
the money argent
to change hands changer de main
the parties les parties
to derive from tirer de
the asset capital
the apartment appartement
the lodging hébergement

Where do I start?

This page is for you. To learn about a vacation home exchange, about trading spaces for short term holidays and perhaps to join the thousands of individuals and families that travel on a vacation home exchange each year.  Here are some ideas on how to arrange and prepare for a successful home exchange. 

Home exchange has been around for decades.  It might take a few e-mails, faxes or international phone calls to arrange the swap, but once you have agreed most things fall into place.

Together with exchanging homes you may swap cars - brilliant for low-cost touring or day trips. You also swap advice about local sights, services, pubs and bargain shopping.
to start démarrer
short term à court terme
the individual (ts) individu
the family (-ies) famille
prepare for se préparer pour
to be around exister
the decade (-s) dizaine d'années
to fall into place se mettre en place
together avec
brilliant brillant
low-cost à bas prix
the touring tourisme
day trip (-s) excursion à la journée
advice des conseils
the local sights les curiosités locales
services services
pubs pubs
bargain shopping les bonnes affaires



People unfamiliar with the process are often concerned that their home won't be suitable - perhaps too small, or in an unfashionable location.
These concerns are rarely obstacles to a successful swap; after all, home is home, and if you're happy with your place, chances are someone else will be, too. Home swappers can be singles, family groups or retirees. Teachers have embraced the concept more than any other profession, perhaps due to their holiday or work-exchange opportunities, and self-employed people often have the flexibility to take holidays.

Not that holiday home swapping is purely for international travel. Many travelers happily trade homes around their own nation.

"Once bitten by the vacation home exchange bug, many people choose to swap homes in different locations every year. Some have made over 50 vacation house swaps over several years.  Although the majority of home swappers trade once a year, it is possible to fit two or three swaps in a typical year. Even local trades are possible–and practical–for those who don’t want to travel far." 

From a home exchange article featuring Global by Arthur Frommer, world renowned travel writer.

the process procédé
to be concerned that être inquiet à l'idée que
to be suitable être convenable
unfashionable peu recherché
the concern (-s) inquiétude
the obstacle (ts) obstacle
successful réussi
the retiree (-s) retraité
to embrace adopter
the opportunity (-ies) opportunité
the self-employed people indépendants
the flexibility flexibilité
not that ce n'est pas pour autant
around their own nation dans leur propre pays
once bitten by. the..bug une fois mordu par
to choose choisir
the swapper (-s) échangiste
to fit in intégrer
featuring caractérisant
renowned réputé
a travel writer écrivain et explorateur
single seul, unique
vacationing prendre des vacances
in travel en voyageant
to derive a benefit from tirer un bénéfice de
the asset le capital
the lodging le logement

How Do I Begin?

One of the first questions to ask is when would you like to go? Some home exchangers like to plan years ahead, while others are open to swapping homes within a few days.  Most home exchangers, however, start looking for exchange partners 9 to 12 months ahead of going. Start by exploring the  home exchange listings.  Then have fun planning and writing your own listing.

IDEAS ON HOW TO GET  AN EXCHANGE

List your home.  Be sure to include photos of your home or area you live in.  Give yourself some time to find an exchange.  Many experienced home swappers plan to start seeking an exchange 6 to 9 months before they travel.

Creating the initial "sell" letter 

The first letter you send to potential exchangers should express your tentative interest, pending further correspondence.

  • Introduce your family, the ages of your children, careers, hobbies and special interests. Especially when teens and kids are involved, including a family photo is a good idea.

  • Outline the advantages of your home–i.e., its proximity to tourist attractions, shopping, safe and quiet neighborhood, climate.

  • Provide a detailed description of the interior and exterior of your home, listing features like working fireplace, oriental carpets, antiques, childproofing, barbecue and outside eating area

  • If offering a car, give the make, year and condition. An automatic makes driving on an unaccustomed side of the road much easier.

  • Provide references if you are an experienced exchanger.

  • List your preferred dates and length of exchange. The more flexible you are, the better your chances.

  • Be honest. Your abode may be humbler than that villa in Tuscany where you’re hoping to go, but if the time and the place are right, your potential exchange partners would probably prefer your home to a hotel.


ahead d'avance
within a few days en quelques jours
however cependant
ahead of going avant de partir
to start by + ing commencer par
the listing listing
to have fun + ing prendre du plaisir
to get obtenir
to list s'enregistrer sur une liste
the sell letter la lettre de "vente"
to express exprimer
tentative interest intérêt pour un essai
pending en attendant
further complémentaire
to introduce préssenter
the career (-s) carrière
the hobby (-ies) loisirs
the interest (-s) intérêt
the teens teenagers
the kid (s) enfant
to be involved ête impliqué
to outline souligner
the advantage (-s) avantage
the proximity proximité
the attraction ('-s) attraction
the shopping shopping
the neighborhood voisinage
the climate climat
the interior intérieur
the exterior extérieur
the feature (-s) caractéristiques
the working fireplace cheminée en état de marche
the oriental carpet (-s) tapis oriental
the antiques antiquités
the childproofing sécurité enfant
the barbecue barbecue
outside eating area salle à manger d'extérieur
if offering... si vous offrez...
the make le modèle
the year année
the condition état
unaccustomed inhabituel
the abode domicile, demeure
humble humble, modeste

CONGRATULATIONS -YOU HAVE A HOME EXCHANGE! SO NOW WHAT?

Here are several "class" ideas that experienced home exchangers have contributed.  You may have other helpful ideas. You are warmly welcomed to share these with others.

  • No need to redecorate, but leave your home spotless. Dust, mop and vacuum floors, clean out the refrigerator, scour the stove and oven, and clean the windows. Make sure bathrooms are free of mold and mildew.

  • Clear away enough of your own things in drawers, closets and bathroom cupboards so your guests have room to empty their suitcases and make themselves at home.

  • Leave at least two sets of linens and towels.

  • Arrange for people to tend the garden and pool, as well as clean the house if you and your fellow exchangers have not agreed to do these chores yourselves.

  • Write your house and car insurance companies to inform them of the exchange dates. Your home insurer is likely to consider the presence of house guests to be a plus, since an empty home is a target for burglars. (In fact, some insurance policies are nullified if the house is left empty for more than 10 days.) Let your auto insurer know the names and driver’s license numbers of those who’ll be operating your car.   Car exchangers might want to consider increasing their automobile coverage during the exchange period by lowering the deductible and raising the third-party liability.

  • Ask a friend, neighbor or family member to welcome your guests and answer questions.

  • Make sure all appliances are in good working order. 

  • Lock away any valuables and important papers, preferably away from your home.

  • Compile a guide to your home and surroundings, including recommended local restaurants and attractions, nearby public tennis courts, swimming pools, golf courses, pool and garden maintenance, when trash goes out, phone numbers of doctors, dentists, plumbers, electricians, babysitters, the nearest hospital.

  • Avoid misunderstandings by having a written agreement about exchange dates, the number of people involved, use of the car, and who pays what in terms of utility and long-distance bills, etc.

  • Leave the makings of a simple meal and a small welcome gift–for example, a bottle of wine or a guidebook on your area.

    Gifts are a nice touch but aren't a necessary part of a home exchange.

    Have fun planning your trip. 

IDEAS TO HELP MAKE AN EXCHANGE A BETTER EXPERIENCE

  • Arrange for a number of friends to contact your exchange partners.

  • Arrange to leave your partner enough provisions to get them through the first few days. Things like toilet paper, facial tissue, a few food items, some tea or coffee, bread and juice are practical.

  • NO MATTER HOW CUTE AND LOVEABLE, PETS, PLANTS AND ROOM MATES may be; it is best to make these arrangements with your home exchange partner ahead of time so that both families understand the potential challenges and agree to accept these possibilities.

WHAT ABOUT AN EXCHANGE WITH CHILDREN ?


spotless sans aucune trace
to dust faire la poussière
to mop passer le balai 
to vacuum passer l'aspirateur
to clean out vider (le réfrigérateur)
to scour récurer
the stove cuisinière
the oven four
the mold moisissure
the mildew mildiou, rouille
to clear away faire de la place
the drawer (-s) tiroir
the closets toilettes
the cupboard (-s) placard
the guest (-s) hôte
the suitcase (-s) bagage
to make oneself at home s'installer
at least au moins
set (-s) jeu
the linen (-s) drap
the towel (-s) serviette
to tend entretenir, s'occuper de
the garden jardin
the pool piscine
the chore (-s) travaux ménagers
the insurer assureur
the target objectif
the burglar (-s) voleur
to nullify annuler, invalider
empty vide
to operate utiliser
the coverage couverture
to lower abaisser
to raise augmenter
the third-party liability la responsabilité des tiers
a neighbor voisin
to welcome accueillir
the applicance (-s) équipement
the working order état de fonctionnement
to lock away mettre en lieu sûr
the valuable (-s) les objets de valeur
preferably de préférence
away from home en dehors de la maison
to compile composer
a guide guide
the surroundings environs
recommended r"commandé
the swimming pool piscine
the tennis court court de tennis
the golf course terrrain de golf
the maintenance entretien

when trash goes out en cas de problèmes
to avoid éviter
the misunderstanding (-s) malentendu
a written agreement accord écrit
involved impliqué
the use utilisation
utility  service
long distance bills notes de téléphone pour appels à longue distance
the provision (-s) provision
the making (-s) ingredients
the gift cadeau
the touch attention
to
have fun + ing prendre du plaisir à
to arrange for s'arranger pour que
a number of un certain nombre
to get someone through aider qqn à passer
toilet paper papier toilette
facial tissue kleenex

food items nourriture

tea thé

coffee café

bread pain

juice jus de fruits

no matter aucune importance
cute mignon
loveable attachant
pets animaux familiers
plants plantes
roommate (-s) camarade de chambre
ahead of time d'avance
it is best to c'est mieux de

   


Read what others are saying about their home exchange experiences


Global  has been serving home exchange and vacation rental customers on the internet for over 7 years and has been featured in the New York Times  Wall Street Journal  Los Angeles Times   San Francisco Chronicle   San Diego Union-Tribune   Sacramento Bee  Palm Springs Desert Sun   Consumer Reports Newsletter   Orange County Register  Albany New York Times Union   Vancouver Sun   Edmonton Journal   Halifax Chronicle - Herald  Winnipeg Free Press  Denver Rocky Mountain News New Zealand Herald  Sydney Morning Herald  Bottom Line Personal   Frommers Budget Travel Magazine as one of the world's 20 best travel bargains  US News and World Report as news worth reading  Chatelaine Magazine  and hundreds of other quality world-wide newspapers, travel magazines and Internet travel news articles.  We have also been featured on national and regional television in Canada (CTV and Access) and in the USA (ABC TV) as well as on radio station talk shows.