Several years ago we started home exchanging. You know, that movie with Carmen Diaz and Kate Winslet where they swap houses and lives while on a vacation? My sister and brother-in-law have been participating in home exchange for over 15 years. One year, they invited me to me to join them in northern France. Initially I didn’t think I could do it. You know, work, kids, dogs, husband, life? In my signature, last minute fashion, I decided what the heck? I booked a flight to Paris a week before departure and headed to the City of Love with a small carry-on bag. 

Picked up upon arrival by my people -- with the car they also swapped -- we drove two hours north to our exchanged house in Brittany.

We stayed in the small countryside town of Pacé. From there we drove absolutely everywhere, yet nowhere in particular. We meandered into small charming villages and wriggled through the gorgeous coast line of Brittany. We met generous and gracious friends who made our experience more than just a vacation to a distant land. We were invited to people‘s homes for dinner, accompanied on walks and to places of interest. We laughed and became friends with strangers; people we would not have otherwise ever met. We’ve continued many of these relationships and value them immensely.

Thoroughly hooked on home exchanging after my first trip, I quickly listed our home in Northern California and somewhat obsessively (ok, obsessively) searched for new destinations. Since that first trip to northern France, we've (I say we because my husband is now hooked too!) swapped in Ireland, Italy, Spain, France, Portugal, Hawaii, Santa Barbara, Lake Tahoe, Oregon, Texas and more.  Our Italian swap, however, changed it all for us. We returned three times in 24 months and even obtained our Elective Residency Visa to live there in 2021. This was a lengthy, bureaucratic and beautiful experience and one I highly recommend. (More on this later) Our very favorite home swap community is www.peoplelikeus.world - It's not as big as the others, but the people are committed to fostering the true spirit of home swapping.

The Basics-

• Sign up on a home exchanging website - pay the yearly fee (which is nominal) We use People Like Us and Home Exchange.
• Get your home tidy and ready to post photos. Describe what makes your home unique focusing on comforts, location and attractions. Add any details you would like the potential guest to know. Homes on swapping platforms come in all shapes and sizes. You do not have to have a fancy place. Our requirements are clean, comfortable and well located.
• Search desired destinations for an available home.
• Coordinate the trip with your potential swap partner - Choose simultaneous or non-simultaneous dates to travel, iron out all the details of home and possible car.
• Plan your trip! This is the fun part.
• Live like a local, meet new friends and get hooked on affordable travel!

For More Information on how this works, check out the People Like Us FAQ section at: 

https://peoplelikeus.world/en/blog/how-does-people-like-us-home-exchange-work

Note: We always travel light, carry-on only! Since most of the homes we exchange with are equipped with a washer and dryer and most of the comforts of home, we have a very minimal packing routine.  Packing lightly enables us to freely jaunt around via plane, train or bus and makes travel so much more enjoyable. In addition, you can save quite a bit of money on airline tickets! 

P.S. - I use Audible on repeat- not only to listen to books, but help learn Italian. I had great success with learning enough Italian (still learning) to help navigate the some of the basics. I'll link a free trial for Audible as well as some of the downloads I use. I also utilized Pimsleur, which has great structure and lessons. Pimsleur has a trial as well. 

Click on my Home Exchange link for more information and for a free trial