Have you seen the movie "The Holiday"? It is really great...definitely a chick flick. But what I love about it is the part about swapping houses for a vacation. To me this seems like a great way to take a vacation and have the lodging part for free. Plus, you get a whole house (or apt) with the person's stuff in it, some times even a car to use. You can cook meals and therefore save on food too! So, theoretically, you could take a vacation for only the cost of transportation.
My question is, have any of you ever done this? I am interested but not sure how to go about it. Yes, there are some good websites but how do I get people to want to come to my humble abode. This area has many things to offer: NASCAR, shopping, culture, sports. Plus, I have a place that would be great for families with small children: big yard, swingset, toys, etc.
I'd greatly appreciate any thoughts on this. Tis the season for vacation planning!
Happy Trails,
-As American as Apple Pie
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15 comments:
I've read about this a few times, but I've never known anyone who actually did it. It does look like it would be fun though, especially if I could house swap with someone in England or Ireland!
Of course, I'd have to move to a much cooler place to do something like this.
Ummm...there is no way I want a stranger rifling through my house while I am on vacation. This is not for me. I have a beach house at the shore and I even feel strange letting people I know stay there when I am not around.
I don't know. Maybe I am in the minority on this one, but the idea doesn't appeal to me at all. My house is MY HOME and the idea of strangers in my home when I am not there creeps me out. I'll pay for a hotel. :)
Well, supposedly, the people who stay at your house would not do anything that they wouldn't want you to do to their house. And, you are swapping with them so if their house is someplace you'd want to stay, it is generally someone you wouldn't mind staying at yours.
I gotta say that would be tough!
Great in theory, but a stranger in the house without being there, we couldn't do that. Nothing to hide, but just to much personel stuff.
We just agreed we'd trade boats with somebody, but not the home.
I agree with you Karen. I don't think you are in the minority at all. Heck Mic doesn't dig it either. I can afford it and would love to have someone clean my home, problem, I don't want them in it ha ha ha. Company is ok because you know them and they repect your stuff and boundries, lets hope.
Well Apple Pie, just so you don't start thinking you are some freak of nature, I'd do this too! I think it's a great way to have a vacation while decreasing the cost of lodging!
Unfortunately, I can't imagine anyone wanting to come visit Corn Crops, Illinoiis - although we do have a commuter rail train stop (to Chicago) about 10 miles away!
lu' - a housekeeper is the exception in my book. I trust that woman with my life and I would not want to live without her. LOL. That is just because I am more lazy than phobic about her.
Anyone who knows me knows that I woudl never go for anything like this... I am with Lu. I can't stand out cleaning lady being in the house while we aren't there. Especially when we were away on vacation. This is no joke, she is allowed to clean every room in the house EXCEPT my office space. She doesn't touch it... LOL!
There's no way on this spinning earth that I would do this. I don't like being in other peoples houses when they're HOME! LOL
Seriously though, I wouldn't feel as if I were on vacation knowing that someone was in my home doing who knows what.
I'd never even hire a cleaning lady. She wouldn't do things MY way anyway! :p
Hey Dana, Ill-annoy has quite a bit to offer....
okay I can't even type that with a straight face, nevermind.
I've never swapped houses, but I have rented one on the coast once. Not sure if I could trust strangers living in my only home.
I gotta tell ya. There is just NO WAY IN HELL I would want some strange person to come to my house while I wasn't there, or even someone I KNOW for that matter. My house is my sanctuary, and to have that invaded, knowing people will probably (most definitely) look through everything and scrutinize everything would very likely give me a frigging heart attach.
But that's just me.
Daddy--Thanks for stopping by. Check back often.
You guys sure are pessimistic about this. I appreciate your thoughts and opinions and will definitely take them into consideration.
I have a friend who does this. She swaps her house in Australia for a friends home in England.
They have a ball and make 1 room out of bounds....In this room they just store personal items like paper work etc...
It works for them...
I think I would also do this knowing how much fun my girlfriend has had...
Silence--thank you for chiming in with a personal story. It makes me feel better. Good idea with making one room off limits.
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