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'Having now completed three trips in the last six months using our Home Base Holidays home exchange membership, this special travel arrangement indeed seems for us THE ideal "way to go". The following notes arise from our month-long stay in each of Amsterdam and Rome and two-week visit in New York City over Christmas: they underline some of the advantages we experienced in "exchanging homes" and portray the style of vacation we prefer which the exchange method readily facilitates.

Although we have traveled extensively and lived in various countries abroad over the decades, "home exchange" travel has opened new opportunities for us as a retired couple. Paramount is the chance to travel at a relaxed "no-deadline" pace and settle into a single setting to savour the local scene as typical citizens. No pressing goal of covering several countries, cities, sites - just aim to explore the nooks and crannies of the society and experience whatever strikes our fancy or arises during the course of our journey. Certainly we do some advance research, check our guidebooks and maps - but at a leisurely "smell-the-roses-along-the-way" mode with a sense of exploring rather than programming.

Hotel bills, traffic and car parking, and tourbus schedules, of course, are sidestepped which gives a certain extra freedom and independence; specifically, the degree of personal freedom afforded by having one's own "home" enables exchangers to experience a new setting in depth in an authentic hassle-free way. Our particular preferrence is to select a bustling big-city downtown apartment and use public transportation; this is in contrast to our Wild West desert residence in a "golf-course gated community" designed around car travel. While our new surroundings are certainly fast paced, we can explore them in detail as we like at our own pace: artistic window displays in stylish Rome; open air markets along scenic Amsterdam canals; neighborhood bookstores and delis in New York ethnic districts. As a result, even normally irritating inconveniences can become enjoyable opportunities to explore - e.g., finding electrical adaptors for US-standards hairdryer in quaint shops in downtown Rome and Amsterdam led to fun encounters of language, customs and personalities.

Meeting a diverse range of people is for us also a top priority. Engaging in random conversations adds zest to the the usual sightseeing, museums and galleries. Questions to locals on advice and directions is, of course, standard fare. And chat with fellow tourists at sidewalk cafes can lead to encounters both fun and informative; from old time "hippie" from Manchester providing insider tips on Amsterdam cafes to Los Angeles fashion writer with addresses of great shops; from college student couple with myriad youthful insights into local and European politics to art professor in Rome with suggestions of must-see galleries off tourist routes. All memorable characters: cherished moments. For skin-health reasons I wear a western style hat, immediately identifying me as an Australian or American, which readily invokes a conversation opening with curious locals. Whatever works!

We have all seen valuable checklists for preparing our homes and ourselves for an exchange. Basic housekeeping, ready space for "moving in" (e.g., cleared drawers and closet area) and start-up food supply are essentials we experienced and appreciated. A welcoming basket of flowers or fruit adds a friendly touch; personal transportation to / from airport is an especially helpful gesture regardless which city one visits!

In some cases a "special theme" can transform a typical "touristic trip" into an especially meaningful "pilgrimage" of particular personal importance - for example, visiting poignant battle sites, tracing family roots, seeing locations that inspired favourite artist / poet, etc. For us, the wide range of potential home exchanges opens myriad opportunities to explore special places and cultures in a degree of depth and authenticity beyond what most tourists can encounter. For us, it's THE way to go!

Next - exchange in downtown London?' - Doug & Kay Ditto, Tucson, Arizona, HE14523

The home (town home on one floor, wheelchair accessible): 'Modern Southwestern USA city living yet set in authentic Wild-West, Native Indian and Spanish Colonial charm!'

Although everyone who swaps homes decides which homes are likely to suit their needs best (for many the location is more important than the actual home), it really can add to the home exchange experience if you have young children and arrange a swap with a similar family (a child friendly home, lots of toys, books and even local playmates and babysitters).

Katty, a Home Base Holidays member from Tampa, Florida, wrote:

'I just wanted to let you know that two weeks ago we came back from our first Home Base Holidays house exchange and it couldn't have been a better experience.

We stayed for two weeks in the Cooper family home outside of Cardiff in Wales while they stayed in our home in Tampa, Florida. The house was wonderful, the family super accomodating and it was what we deem to be a very successful exchange.

Both our families have children and to be able to go to a family friendly home was beyond our wildest dreams.'

Katty hadn't expected to arrange another home swap until after her second child was born and a few months old but ...

'We just received an email about exchanging next summer in Scotland, so we shall see if it works out!'

See Katty's home exchange listing in Tampa, HE17273, and the Coopers' listing in Wales, HE17248.

I was pleased to be asked recently to write a family-oriented article on home exchange for kidscantravel.com. The article begins:

'The idea of travelling abroad with a baby, toddler and even older children can be daunting. Think of all the "essential stuff" you take along when you head out of the house for just one day! Swapping homes can alleviate much of the packing related trauma often associated with a family holiday. In addition, it provides a familiar environment for children and circumvents the constraints of a hotel.'

If you have children (or grandchildren) do check out kidscantravel.com. Although fairly new, the website already provides comprehensive information on travel for families.

While researching additional sources of information to include in the Resources section of the article, 'A house swap affords the comforts of home' for kidscantravel.com, I chanced upon a very informative new, well written personal blog, home exchange travels.

I am delighted to report that, having done some detective work to track her down from earlier correspondence, Nicole, the New York home exchange blogger, is now a member of Home Base Holidays!

Here is an extract from one of Nicole's recent posts on her blog:

'The need to have access to a home's amenities while traveling greatly increased when we had children. What changed was our emphasis. The destination was no longer the most important factor to consider. Our children are more demanding travelers than we are. We've found that we can do something quick and active in the morning, but we then need easy access to our exchange home so our toddler can nap in the afternoon. In the evening we need there to be restaurants nearby, preferably within walking distance.'

Check out Nicole's attractive exchange offer in New York, HE18495.

In the June/July issue of Home Swappers, I included some comments from an anonymous member on some aspects of the facilities in a home she had exchanged to for a lengthy period which she found disappointing. I had written:

'As this member had a lengthy exchange, there were issues (such as the state of mattresses and pillows - hard to really show accurately in photos) and cooking facilities (especially for a keen cook), that needed to be addressed with exchange partners more than is usually necessary with a shorter holiday exchange when it's easier to overlook small deficiencies (or, at least to see these balanced against the advantages of the home and location). Even when addressed outright, there could still be misunderstandings of course as, for example, someone else's battered saucepans may look unfit for use but, to the owner, they may still seem perfectly serviceable.'

Two Home Base Holidays members responded. First, Cathy, an experienced home exchanger, wrote:

'One of the things we now do when we travel to the US is take our US electric jug which we bought over there on our first US exchange. We have yet to find a jug in an American house, they tend to heat their water in the microwave - not so good for that cup of tea.' See Cathy's exchange offer in Auckland, New Zealand, HE12437.

and, Armin, a member who swaps his holiday home in Spain:

'Even though what we exchange is only our second home, where subsequently equipment undergoes rather more wear and tear, we try and keep it in good working order. It does not make sense to provide all new or very high quality though since some people seem to lose their wits when on holiday - pans get overheated, Teflon scratched with forks (who would dream of using metal on their own Teflon cookware?)

We tend to travel to our many exchanges with a box loaded with our kitchen essentials, i.e. among others, good kitchen knives, two tea mugs, two large drinking glasses and one high quality Teflon frying pan. So far, this has covered whatever needs we had or we simply acquired a missing item at a nearby supermarket and are now cherishing this as a souvenir from this particular holiday.'

At the time of writing, Armin was about to spend six weeks at various places in Britain ('and this for the second year running') and so was not able to consider further exchange offers at present for his popular holiday home.

Jan, a new Home Base Holidays member (who has already arranged a combination of two hospitality/non-simultaneous exchanges), was in touch recently:

'Just thought you might be interested to hear how much I am enjoying home exchange. I am really enjoying contacting many of the home exchange members and have linked up with two exchangers in New England, one is going to stay with us for a few days whilst they are doing a home exchange in Exeter and we are going to stay in their home in the Berkshires, the other we are going to meet at Stonehenge and then we are going to stay with her in Boston. Through email you can build up such a good rapport with people. It is wonderful!

I do have a question to ask you though. Whenever I tell people about home exchange they always ask how are people belonging to home exchange vetted? I tell them that home exchangers are all professional people and that you can look at references for them, although I don't know how to do this. What would you give as an answer to people who ask you this question?'

My reply to Jan:

That's great to hear that you are enjoying corresponding with other members. 'Building up a good rapport' - that's what it's all about and so much easier to do with email than it was in the past.

The reaction you have got when mentioning home exchange to your friends, is a very common one - many people react negatively to the idea of having 'strangers' in their homes, without considering that the other party will consider you a stranger too until they get to know you through regular correspondence, asking and answering all the questions that crop up during the lead up to agreeing to exchange.

References: In the tick box options on the membership form (under Miscellaneous) there are two options, 'Have you exchanged before?' and 'Exchange references available'. This shows up in listings (as 'Experienced Exchanger' and 'References from previous exchanges available'). Most members who have had previous exchanges should offer to provide references or offer to give you the name and email address of previous exchange partners who have agreed to be contacted. If they don't offer, or the member hasn't had an exchange before, it is fair enough to ask but, to be more subtle, it is better to first offer to supply references yourself.

Although previous exchange partners are the ideal referees, when you haven't exchanged before, a neighbour, colleague or mutual member of a local organisation who knows you and your home, would be fine (but ask them first of course before passing on their names/email addresses!) It is best to do this (i.e. offer references) in initial exchange offer messages as, by the time you have agreed to an exchange or hospitality exchange, you will need to be careful if raising the subject in order not to worry your exchange partners that you may be having doubts about your plans. However, it could well be the case that your exchange partners are having the same thoughts and could welcome you breaking the ice by perhaps mentioning that it hadn't crossed your mind to offer a reference earlier but, if they would like a contact name/email, you would be happy to supply one (and hope that, if they take you up on this, they will offer the same in return).

Once you have done an exchange, let your exchange partners know that you would be happy to supply a reference or to have your contact details passed on to future potential exchange partners and ask if it will be alright with them if you do the same. Then, tick the boxes on your form so that members will see from your listing that you are an 'experienced exchanger' and can provide 'references from past exchanges'.

Note: Jan wrote back to say that she had already contacted many home exchangers offering hospitality in the UK and Europe and, after receiving my reply, would like these members to know that she can provide references if they would like to take her up on her hospitality breaks.

See Jan's full home exchange/hospitality/B & B offer in the historic city of Salisbury, Wiltshire, HE18465

Newsletter Contributions: We are always pleased to hear from members and subscribers and to receive contributions for the newsletter and weblog - short reports on your exchange experiences, tips you feel would be useful to those new to the idea of home swapping and any questions you have on home exchange. Please include 'home exchange' in the subject line when contacting us as messages with no subjects (or dubious sounding subject lines!) or unexpected attachments may end up in our spam folder and deleted unread.

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Scammer Alert! If you are a current member, and should ever receive an unsolicited message from an unknown agency which you think may have got your name and email address from your Home Base Holidays listing, please forward it to us. The private member area on our website is for one-to-one exchange offers between members only, not for any other solicitations. It is important to be alert to potential scams on the internet (reputable businesses prominently display phone numbers and postal addresses on websites). A member, who had also listed his home with a free home exchange site (with only an email form for contact), recently found that his complete 'free' listing had been illegally copied on a second, anonymous free site! He commented: 'The lesson I have learned from this is that we should stick with one or at most only two agencies, and be prepared to pay for the service, rather than be tempted by free listing sites.'

Copyright: All Home Swappers content is copyright and cannot be used in any form without written permission from Home Base Holidays. However, please feel free to forward the newsletter (in full) to friends and colleagues who may be interested in home exchange (use the Forward Email link below the newsletter).

Further Information: Check the archives to read past issues of Home Swappers Newsletter. Also, don't forget to visit the Travel the Home Exchange Way weblog for regular information and updates plus special exchange requests. To receive notices by email whenever a new post is added (generally no more than three a week), add your email address to the box above 'Get email updates' in the left hand column of Travel the Home Exchange Way.

Home Base Holidays, London, UK 1985-2006: 21st year providing a home exchange service worldwide

Contact Lois Sealey, Editor, Home Swappers Newsletter