Home Swappers Newsletter: Issue 8
January/February 2001
http://www.homebase-hols.com
Newsletter Archive: http://www.homebase-hols.com/news.shtml

Home Swappers Newsletter is published bi-monthly to provide information on home exchange for current and recent members of Home Base Holidays, enquirers, Newsletter subscribers and journalists. If you do not want to receive further Newsletters please send us a message with 'Remove from mailing list' in the subject line plus your name in the message:

mailto:homeexchange@btinternet.com

Topics Covered:
  1. Advanced Search - Finding the Most Recent Listings
  2. An Exchange Story in Pictures: Sausalito, California to Edinburgh, Scotland
  3. March 2001 Directory Deadline - 15 February
  4. Special Exchange Request - Sydney, Australia
  5. Recommended Websites and Newsletters - Focus on Families, Seniors and
  Travel Sites
      (a) Family Travel Forum
      (b) The Family First Newsletter
      (c) SLMSeniors.com
      (d) Great Rentals Inc.
      (e) The Only Way to Travel
      (f ) Travel Information
  6. Home Swappers Archives
  7. Newsletter Contributions
  8. Subscriptions

1. Advanced Search - Finding the Most Recent Listings

http://www.homebase-hols.com/ihea/search.cfm?search=Adv

Note: members - log on to the Member Area with your User ID and password and then click the Search Listings link followed by Advanced Search immediately under the country, town, state, continent box:

http://www.homebase-hols.com/login.shtml

There are several ways you may refine your search although it is best to keep your searches as 'open' as possible in order not to limit results. Once you have done thorough searches on all the countries and areas you are interested in (and, if you are already a member, have contacted all members whose offers are of interest), you may like to check back, perhaps once a week, to find all the latest listings (note: these are all new or renewal listings, not simply updates to listings you may have already read). Choose the time period you want to search from the Listings Posted drop down menu and click on Search. Check through the brief listings (10 per page) and click on 'more info' to read full descriptions (and see photos if available).

2. An Exchange Story in Pictures: Sausalito, California to Edinburgh,
Scotland

Home Base Holidays has had some great feedback from members on their exchanges over the years and one of the purposes of this newsletter is to share members' experiences and tips to help particularly readers considering home exchange for the first time. When member Jan Pehrson (HE10017) recently shared her wonderful selection of photos taken while on exchange with her husband Kristyan Panzica in Edinburgh last summer, we set to work on designing a new page for the website for their 'exchange story in pictures'. A report written by Kristyan follows but please do check out the full story and photos on the website:

http://www.homebase-hols.com/exchangestory.shtml
<a href="http://www.homebase-hols.com/exchangestory.shtml">AOL subscribers click here</a>

We exchanged our Sausalito, California houseboat, rather floating home, for an apartment in Edinburgh, Scotland. It was not easy finding someone to swap during the last three weeks in August, because the Edinburgh Arts Festival, the mother and father of them all, takes place at this time. But we were persistant and eventually found Scots who were keen on escaping the variable home weather for the predictable sunshine and cuisine of Marin County, which is just across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco. In our case, we are just beyond the San Francisco fog belt, yet close enough to easily venture into it to enjoy an opera, symphony or ballet.

The high-ceilinged, Victorian apartment in north Edinburgh overlooked the Firth of Forth, a wide North Sea inlet. Another pleasant surprise was its proximity to Edinburgh castle, the hub of the many Festival daily events. There were four ways to reach downtown: we could drive, in that we also had exchanged cars. We could also take the double-decker bus that departed and arrived between "Bath House," the revealing inscription over our  front door, and the convenient Chain Pier pub and restaurant, the second-nearest landmark. We could also take a modestly expensive taxi ride or finally walk along a path passing through a narrow park that almost stretched the entire distance to the city center.

We enjoyed the neighbors, one of whom was rather eccentric and alway dressed in a kilt,  as well as our new home-swap friends John and Carl. We had arranged to meet them upon our mid day arrival. After giving us a thorough, yet whimsical, orientation, they departed in the evening for their journey to San Francisco.

After their very successful exchange to Edinburgh Jan and Kristyan are now looking to exchange their houseboat for a home in Annapolis, MD in June, July or August 2001. Although they love children their houseboat is only suitable for adults. Home Base Holidays members may view their listing by logging on to the Member Area and entering HE10017 in the search box:

http://www.homebase-hols.com/login.shtml

Visitors may find their listing by searching on the town name, Sausalito:

http://www.homebase-hols.com/preview.shtml

3. March 2001 Directory Deadline - 15 February

As all current members receiving this newsletter have internet access, most will use the website to search for potential exchange partners. However, many members worldwide do not have internet access; these members use the three print directories published in early November, March and June to check out listings and make contact with other members. Some members choose to have both, as for many members worldwide there are still high phone call charges which deter lengthy sessions on the internet.

If you have not yet joined or renewed your membership for 2001 do join well ahead of the dates you would like to exchange (10% discount rate for on-line renewals) to give the longest circulation for your exchange offer and the best chances of finding exactly the exchange you want.

Members - forgot your User ID or password? Contact us:
homeexchange@btinternet.com

All listings are released on the website within hours and also published in the next directory (final deadline for March 2001 directory: 15 February).

http://www.homebase-hols.com/join.shtml

4. Special Exchange Request - Sydney, Australia

Occasionally members with specific exchange needs will find it difficult arranging the exchange they want. We are pleased to give extra circulation for such requests in this newsletter. Recently member John Quartermain (HE10841) from Nuneaton, Warkwickshire, England contacted us with his request for help finding an exchange (or other accommodation) for a trip to Australia:

'I am a single middle aged (semi retired) person with a two bedroom apartment which, although well presented and furnished with all appliances, may not match the large properties many Australian members with families have. However, my home is in an ideal location for anyone who would like a base in the centre of England to visit the many attractions easily accessible from Nuneaton (home of the poet George Eliot). Attractions include the historical Cathedral at Coventry (14km), Shakespeare heritage at Stratford-on-Avon (45km) and Blenheim Palace at Oxford (80km). Having visited east coast Australia in 1999 and 2000 I would like an extended stay of possibly two months, preferably in the Sydney area. Usually I travel at short notice as I travel on a budget. I am prepared to travel early in 2001 or from April 2001 onwards. I would like to hear from members interested in either an exchange or who could offer me hospitality or B & B accommodation.'

Home Base Holidays members may view John's listing by logging on to the Member Area and entering HE10841 in the search box:

http://www.homebase-hols.com/login.shtml

Visitors may find his listing by searching on the town name, Nuneaton:

http://www.homebase-hols.com/preview.shtml

5. Recommended Websites and Newsletters: Focus on Families, Seniors and Travel Sites

(a) Family Travel Forum
Subscribe online at http://www.FamilyTravelForum.com/e-news.html for your free copy of e-FTF, a monthly bulletin of tips, destination advice, and special deals on holidays with children, from FamilyTravelForum.com, the Internet's largest family-supported site dedicated to travel with kids.

(b) The Family First Newsletter
Subscribe to the free weekly newsletter dedicated  to YOUR family:  The Family First Newsletter!  Each week you will receive family-friendly articles, recipes, home ideas, fun activities, and more! To subscribe, send a blank email to:
familyfirst-subscribe@egroups.com   Or visit:
http://members.aol.com/BMValen/index.html

(c) SLMSeniors.com
We're not just another seniors web site!  With special channels for Home, PC Help, Senior Resources, Special Offers, Fun and more, SLMSeniors.com will be your Favorite place on the World Wide Web.  Join seniors 50+ and signup for your Free membership to the SLMSeniors.com online community.  New members-only contests every month. http://www.slmseniors.com/

(d) Great Rentals Inc.
International guide to vacation rental homes, condos, cabins, cottages and bed and breakfasts available for rent directly from the owners or agents. http://www.greatrentals.com

(e) The Only Way to Travel
http://www.onlywaytotravel.com
The Only Way to Travel will help you plan your Cruise, Tour or Land Packages to the Caribbean, Europe, Universal Studios, or any Disney location, to fit your travel budget and family needs.  We also will arrange honeymoons and cruises for families, organizations and affinity groups. Our specialists are committed to helping you plan all your travel needs. If you are looking for last minute deals on cruises and tours sign up for our daily emails at http://www.onlywaytotravel.com/last_minute_deals.htm  or to receive our Monthly Travel Tips Newsletter, just email towtt@onlywaytotravel.com and put 'Newsletter' as the subject.

(f) Travel Information
http://www.e-lynks.com/travel.htm
Your one-click source for travel information.

6.  Home Swappers Archives

If you miss any issues of Home Swappers you can read back editions on the website:

http://www.homebase-hols.com/news.shtml

8. Newsletter Contributions

If you have had a home exchange we would be pleased to receive your contributions for the Newsletter - short articles about your exchange experiences and tips for those new to the idea of swapping homes. Members' articles include HE reference numbers to give added publicity for their exchange offers. We also welcome questions from all considering home exchange for the first time. Information on travel related websites or other travel bargains which could be of interest to readers of Home Swappers is also appreciated.

Happy Home Swapping and Best Wishes for 2001!

Lois Sealey

mailto:homeexchange@btinternet.com

8. Subscription Information

We are very happy for you to forward Home Swappers to friends and colleagues
who may be interested in home exchange but the newsletter must be sent in full. All Home Swappers content is copyright and cannot be used in any form without written permission from Home Base Holidays.

To subscribe, send us a message with your name and e-mail address and 'Subscribe' in the subject line.

To unsubscribe, send a message with your name and e-mail address and 'Remove from mailing list' in the subject line.

mailto:homeexchange@btinternet.com

Copyright © 2001 Home Base Holidays

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1985-2001: 16th year providing a home exchange holiday service worldwide