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Learn
how to travel... differently and discover this new
way of spending your holidays.
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letters and thanks from visitors and former
exchangers expressing their satisfaction with this
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First
steps in Home Exchange ? Here are some practical
advice from a former exchanger.
.....
Frequently
asked questions. All about us and all you ever
wanted to know about home exchanges.
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Members
entrance
info@Another-Home.com
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The
advantages of exchanging
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We
are a teacher couple living in Montréal.
Louise, my partner, and myself, Serge, are
travel freaks. Not that we've visited every
country in the world, or the most remote areas;
or that we've been to Europe at least 15 times
and know all the countries. Just the opposite!
Beside having visited Spain, Portugal and Italy,
we go to France every year.
 We
have (time and salaries permitting), driven all
over France. We would rent a car for a month, sleep
in a hotel every night and eat at restaurants. The
Canadian dollar had a favourable exchange rate
against the French Franc in those days, so our
vacations were affordable. But when the Loonie
dropped, prices shot up in France, our salaries
froze, and our purchasing power decreased, we had
to find another way of spending our vacations. So
we decided to try something new: home exchange.
This concept allowed us to travel to different
regions of France.
Thanks
to this inexpensive formula, we were able to
enjoy the house and use the car of our French
counterparts for 4 to 6 weeks, while they stayed
at our house and borrowed our car in
Montréal. We drove from Provence to
Landes, the Massif Central to the Rhone Valley.
In all these regions we discovered quaint little
villages, met many people and soaked up the
surrounding landscapes. We visited few churches,
chateaux, abbeys and fortresses. Instead we swam
near shady hills, strolled along roads under
rows of majestic plane trees, and sat on sunny
terraces to enjoy the French
joie-de-vivre.
At
night, instead of looking desperately for a hotel
or bed and breakfast, you can come back to your
home, without tons of baggage in tow, sit on the
terrace and enjoy they evening. You can discover
the restaurants and nightlife of your "adopted"
village, knowing that a comfortable bed awaits you
that doesn't cost a cent -- all the more reason to
splurge on good food and a good bottle of
wine!
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Many
advantages, few disappointments!
First,
the financial advantages: How much does an exchange
cost? Answer: no more than the price of a plane
ticket, or $500-$800 per person, or $1,500 per
couple, depending on the going rate. Many things,
like food, gaz and clothing, are more expensive in
France, or are about the same -- but not in Paris!
Some delicacies are cheaper, such as wine, cheese
and prepared foods. Here is an example: one couple
spends a month's vacation in an exchanged home in
France and another in Canada (assuming they don't
spend all their time indoors!). I am convinced that
both couples will spend less and profit more in
different ways than if they did not
exchange.
More
advantages? Maybe you are dreaming of a small
chalet in the countryside, but certainly not the
rental price of $1,500 per month. And would you
ever leave the chalet? Would you really feel
comfortable there? Would you familiarize
yourself with the particular customs of the
region? Wouldn't you miss the pleasures of
flying?
 In
France, you could invite the acquaintances you make
to your French summer house -- and next year to
another house! This is what we did to host our
guests Jean-Pierre and Monique, René and
Lorraine, Claude and Marianne, Daniel and Lilianne,
Geneviève and Louise. They all enjoyed their
stay in our "summer homes"
Disadvantages?
A bad exchange can happen, especially if you aren't
well prepared. Ask to see photos of the house, the
car , and of the surrounding area where you will be
immersed for several weeks, and you will avoid any
surprises.
The
Canadian dollar is slowly gaining ground, but
its weakness is disadvantageous for Canadians
and more advantageous for Europeans. Because the
cost of living is higher in Europe (gaz costs
about $1.75 a litre!), you have to limit
yourself to exploring the region where you are
exchanging. On the other hand, Europeans
visiting Canada can go wherever they want!
Despite the long distances, Europeans will gain
overall.
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The
Qualities of a Home Exchanger
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Lending
your house to total strangers for five or six weeks
is not something everyone would do. Therefore,
having faith in others is key to home exchanging.
But don't forget that while they sleep in your bed,
use your television and drawers, you are doing the
same thing at their place.
Respect
for personal property is also an essential
quality to being a good exchanger. You probably
wouldn't like it if whomever you are exchaning
to would finish your jam or bottle of scotch.
And they surely wouldn't like it if you ate all
their homemade foie gras or their collection of
Margaux wine. Finally, you will be using
eachother's spices, perishable foods that will
not be good upon their return, and even their
soap, detergent, etc. Of course, before leaving,
you will replace everything.
I
have a cousin would not exchange because he was
afraid of having other people drive his car, his
"chariot". A friend of mine would not let let
anyone sleep in her bed and was afraid of anyone
going through her drawers and seeing her underwear.
Another friend didn't want anyone using his
bathroom, and another his clippers. Other friends
were afraid that their valuable objects would
"disappear". You therefore have to be more
open-minded to exchange.
Living
in someone else's house is not easy either:
often you won't be able to find where the owners
keep things, or you miss having your own car, or
you don't know how to use the washing machine
and dryer -- until the day you leave! However,
you will see that it was worth it, because you
will want to go back next year and do things
right!
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