How a Home Swap Vacation Could Save You Thousands of Dollars

Maybe it’s time to inflate the cushions? These days, we’re all looking to save on our vacation bills as prices skyrocket: hotel and accommodation rates, airfare, car rentals and more. But for thousands of Irish holidaymakers, the solution to beating the getaway budget could literally be very close to home.

Home swaps are becoming an increasingly popular option for travelers – this week I sought expert advice from Sharon Holland, East Cork home owner, home renovator and, for over a decade-long home swapper who more recently has been using social media to inspire more people to experience the concept of home swapping.

First step, make a list.

“We started investigating home swaps 14 years ago after we got married,” she begins.

“We were really a typical story: newly married with new mortgages during a recession and little disposable income for the holidays. A colleague mentioned home swapping as an option for vacations, so I started researching the idea. My husband, Jer, and I were both teaching at the time [Sharon is Deputy Principal of St. Aloysius’ College in Carrigtwohill] and had great flexibility around the summer months in particular. We both liked to travel a bit off the beaten path and Jer was also open to the idea of ​​swapping. So we registered on a home exchange site and did our first exchange in the beautiful Parisian district of Auteuil for two weeks in the summer of 2009, when our daughter Miah was 6 months old.

For future home exchangers, there are a number of website options. Sharon favors homexchange.com for ease of use, security, and ad selection. The mechanics are simple, a process somewhere between browsing Airbnb and Daft.

“Look at the web options and select the one that best suits your needs,” advises Sharon.

“Then you list your home with some photos, a description of your home’s facilities, and some details about your family and the area.

“You can also list the regions or countries you wish to exchange with as well as the times of the year or date ranges when your home would be available for exchange.

“Then you wait for expressions of interest from other members or search for your own dream vacation and finally, once the dates and all the other details have been agreed, you can confirm your exchange and start booking your flights!”

A home exchange in Los Angeles.

What is the problem?

Home exchanges can vary from reciprocal agreements, where both parties exchange homes on the same or very similar dates, to non-reciprocal agreements, where stays are arranged at different times.

“[Non-reciprocal] guests can come to your house at Christmas and you go there at Easter,” says Sharon. “Then there is also what homeexchange.com calls a guest points redemption option. You can host people in your home on dates you are away or be hosted in their home the same way. You can earn guest points for each night of accommodation which can then be used to stay with other people. This is mostly the case for an entire house but some people are also either happy to host or be hosted in a bed and breakfast, whereas [owners are still] at home.”

Sharon herself lives on an enviable Georgian farmhouse, her restoration of the property garnering her 10,000 Instagram followers.

However, she is quick to point out that you don’t need a vintage stack in the country to pique the interest of potential guests.

Sharon's house in East Cork,
Sharon’s house in East Cork,

Every house has a plus

“The system doesn’t assign any value to your property, so you’re free to contact anyone on the site,” she explains. “We have completed exchanges with one bedroom apartments in the city center while our home is a four bedroom detached house. It all depends on the location and where you would like to be based. Homes vary in size, style and standard, but we were lucky enough to swap our current and previous home for some great locations and wonderful properties. Many Irish people also forget how small and accessible Ireland is for travelers compared to many parts of the world. Some of our visitors do not hesitate to stay with us in East Cork for a few weeks and visit Kerry, Limerick, Galway, Dublin, Belfast and Cork in one trip. Each house and each location has its own pros and cons,” she adds.

Peace of mind

Many people may be a little apprehensive about welcoming a group of strangers into their home, but it’s good to remember that the road goes both ways.

“Security is always an important topic when people talk to me about home swapping,” she explains. “The key is to remember that it’s an equal leap of faith. I’m a little worried and I remember worrying before our first exchange about what might happen if things went wrong. To this day, nothing worrisome has ever gone wrong. Sure, a few cups or glasses broke, but that usually happens with us on a regular basis. We don’t have much real value in our house, but we lock up some possessions in a small room or in the attic and many other families do the same. We are also lucky that my in-laws live nearby so they are available to help if our visitors have any questions while we are away. It is also a facility for us knowing that they are nearby. Most home swappers would have a neighbor, family member, or friend available for this type of support. We also maintain a WhatsApp thread with our exchange family and have usually ‘met’ them briefly on a video call before the exchange was confirmed or certainly before it took place.

The family on an adventure back home in County Antrim.
The family on an adventure back home in County Antrim.

Insider tips

For starters, Sharon suggests starting with a “home from home” vacation swap.

“Take the leap,” she said, “and you won’t regret it!” Doing a home swap is the best way to travel in my opinion and has allowed us to travel to some fascinating destinations for a fraction of the cost of a package vacation. We wouldn’t give up house swapping even if we won the lottery! There’s nothing quite like having a home away from home and making friends in different parts of the world. It was great for our three children too to experience the world as locals. I would suggest starting with an exchange in Ireland which seems easier and safer in many ways. We’ve done as many exchanges in Ireland as abroad so far and have met some great people along the way too!

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