A home exchange or home swap is the process of swapping your home for someone else's for an agreed period, eliminating the expense of staying in a hotel. Instead of paying high rates for a small hotel room, live like a local, cook your own meals, and make new friends, simply by arranging to swap your home with another home owner for an agreed period.

Let us imagine that you live in Belgium and you would like to travel to Scotland for two weeks. Browse homes in Scotland on a website that deals with home exchange vacations and you’ll soon be on your way to living amongst Scottish people during your holiday.

You will pay a modest to join a home exchange service but this will enable you to browse through their large collection of exchange offers posted by people who want to swap their homes for a certain period, just like you. It is best to avoid free sites as members of such sites may not be fully committed to arranging swaps and so you may waste much time.

After joining an agency, you may decide to limit your searches to exchange offers posted by Scots who want to visit Belgium. However, also look for members in Scotland who are flexible on destinations they will consider (‘open to offers’) and, for the best choice, be as open as you can be on exact locations, dates and length of exchange.

Send your offer and any special requirements to several members of the home exchange website. There should be a private messaging system that you can use so that you only exchange email addresses and phone numbers with other members once you feel comfortable in doing so.

Once you have agreed to go ahead with an exchange, spend time making your arrangements and then share and sign an agreement with your exchange partners, giving full details of all the decisions you have agreed and the responsibilities that each of you accept.

Don’t hesitate to ask anything you aren’t clear about. Your exchange guests will leave an information pack at their home with guidance on using their household appliances, emergency phone numbers, city guides plus suggestions for outings and restaurants. Start your own folder a few weeks before your exchange dates, adding to it as you find more information that may be of use to your guests while they are living in your home.

A home exchange or home swap is ideal for families, especially if planning an extended stay. By choosing to swap your house for another family’s home, you will enjoy much space, you won’t have to worry about noise by hotel guests since your family an entire house to yourselves, and you will also get an insight into on how the local people really live.

Interested in a home exchange http://www.homebase-hols.com or home swap http://www.homebase-hols.com ? Visit our website, browse listings, join and contact members with your exchange offer. Once you find your ideal exchange partner, start to get ready for your exciting vacation. It is that easy.