About House Exchange Vacations

About House Exchange Vacations
A house exchange vacation is when two families swap homes for the duration of their trip. Travelers have been exchanging houses to save on vacation costs since the mid-1950s. It also gives them a feel for what it's like to live in a particular city.

How It's Done

Several websites are available to bringing people together for house exchange vacations. Each allows you to choose the state or country you are interested in, check listings and submit an inquiry.

Duration

A house exchange vacation can last anywhere from a few weeks to a few months.

Safety

The house exchange websites report few problems with vandalism, damaged property or more serious issues.

Communication

Each website says that communication is key to a good house exchange. To ensure the quality of the swapped home and location, you should exchange e-mails and photos. If the exchange doesn't feel right, cancel it.

Rules

You should agree on ground rules for the house exchange in advance. Spell out the rules for things such as cleaning, pets and car use.

Article Written By Sara John

Sara John is a professional writer and copy editor living in Des Moines, IA. She has worked professionally for seven years, and written articles for the Long Beach Press-Telegram, as well as other local publications. She is a graduate of Grand View University and holds a B.A. in journalism.

Write for Trails.com
  • Editor's Pick

    5 Top North American Wildflower Hikes

    5 Top North American Wildflower Hikes

    Springtime brings a sense of new beginnings and new life as flowers begin to bloom and fill the air with their sweet and pleasant fragrance. Luckily we can see wildflowers all summer long, since spring hits at different times throughout North America. See flowering cactu...

    More National Parks...
  • Popular Article

    National Park Substitutes: Great Spots Without the Crowds

    National Park Substitutes: Great Spots Without the Crowds

    Coping with crowds at national parks can get tiresome, especially during the peak tourist season. If you want to escape from the herd, or just take a breather from the bustle of bigger attractions, the United States has plenty of less-visited but still worthwhile spots t...

    More National Parks...
  • Featured Destination

    Prevent Yourself from Getting Lost While Hiking

    Prevent Yourself from Getting Lost While Hiking

    When you're hiking you're going to want to make sure you stay found. What I mean by that is that you've put an itinerary in the car, you know the area that you're hiking to, you know the route and the trail you plan on being on, you know what the trail markers are going ...

    More Camping Basics...

Hotel Finder

Destination
Check-in
Check-out
Adults (18+ yrs)
Children (2-17 yrs)
Get Rates and Availability

Outdoor Gear & Equipment

ALL NEW Trails Gear Store powered by:

Trail Finder

US Map

Search by Keyword