As an economical and interesting travel option, house swaps, also known as home exchanges, are growing in popularity. I run a home exchange program, and from the feedback that we have received from our subscribers who have done house swapping, it was a positive and mutually beneficial experience. All of our subscribers who have house swapped told us that, when it comes to traveling and exploring new places, house swapping provided them with a local resident’s perspective, which they preferred to the typical experience of seeing a new place from the perspective of a tourist.
According to Jean and Mike, two of our subscribers who have participated in house swaps in Europe, the Caribbean, and Latin America, “When we were house swapping, we got to know the neighbors, the local shops, and saw amazing places that were unknown to tourists.” In addition to the benefits of seeing a place from a local’s perspective, many who have participated in home exchanges have told us that they “have saved thousands of dollars” (or euros) that they would have spent on hotels and restaurants. As Sue, another person who frequently house swaps, explained, “I saved $3,500 by living rent-free in a home and avoiding tourist hotels and restaurants.”
Save hundreds of dollars when you swap your home
Below is a list of average hotel rates per room per night in four top cities around the world.
Dublin, Ireland: $130
Cape Town, South Africa: $120
Sydney, Australia: $125
London, U.K.: $150
House swap: FREE
According to Valerie, who has done numerous home exchanges in the USA and Australia as well as in Mexico, Amsterdam, and Portugal, house swaps or home exchanges are “a very nice way to see the world and meet great people in the process.” Mary, who successfully completed many house swaps, primarily in England, Scotland, and Ireland, “highly recommends this form of travel.” Sue, who lives in Portland, has done a successful house swap with an Italian tango instructor who owns a home on Maui. For her next home exchange, Sue has worked out an arrangement with a couple from South Africa who will stay in her home while she travels to India. The next time the couple visits Portland, they will stay in Sue’s house while she will stay in their home in Cape Town.
Four adventures not to be missed in Cape Town
1. Shark diving
Great white shark diving is the latest craze for adrenaline seekers, and what better place to see these magnificent creatures than in South Africa—the largest breeding ground for great whites in the world.
White Shark Projects organizes shark-watching day trips. The sharks are lured to the surface by fish bait, and when they appear, it’s time to don your wetsuit and lower yourself into a cage, which hangs precariously from the side of the boat. When a shark appears, you hold your breath and dip underwater—to see Jaws coming straight for you. Website: www.whiteshark.co.za.
2. Table Mountain—climbing up and abseiling down
Table Mountain, so-called because when clouds come in over the city, they spread across the top of the mountain like a tablecloth, can be seen by air or land long before you hit the city. It’s recommended you climb only up Table Mountain, as the descent can be tough on your legs for days afterwards, unless you hike regularly. The climb takes one-and-a-half to two hours, and the panoramic view of Cape Town and its beaches from the top is worth the hike.
Once at the top, you can abseil down. You’ll find the guides about 20 meters from the upper cable car station. Qualified instructors will provide you with the gear you need and explain the technique. It’s an exhilarating experience as you abseil off the edge on 110 meters of vertical rock face. The descent takes about an hour. Alternatively, you can take a cable car up and down the mountain.
3. Surfing
Surfing is renowned in South Africa, and some of the world’s best surfers are residents here. Magnificent waves come in from the Atlantic, and with sunshine all day long, it’s a great way to spend a day. Ardi’s Tours provides surf lessons, board rental, and wetsuits. For more information, see: http://ardis.co.za/cape-surfing-tours.
4. Sand boarding
Downhill Adventures will take you to the biggest sand dunes in the Cape, situated an hour’s drive from Cape Town. Day trips include transport to and from the dunes, drinks, and a fun (if somewhat sore) day of downhill adventures on a board. They provide the boards, boots, and binders—so you don’t need to take anything with you but your nerve. See: www.downhilladventures.com.
For those who are contemplating a home exchange, it is helpful to plan ahead and to be flexible with regard to destination and time frame. House swaps are not always simultaneous. In other words, a position in Tuscany may not always be available during the time that you plan to be there, and you might not find someone with a home in Tuscany who will be where you live at the same time that you will be in Italy. Some of our readers who have done house swaps told us that they may stay in the home of another while that person travels and, at a later date, that person may stay in their home. When Mary lived on an island in the Pacific Northwest, she participated in several house swaps. She explains, “I was offered a home in Devon many years ago for a month and the owners had the opportunity to use mine at any time. They never did but graciously met my husband and I, showed us their home, and left. We stayed for a month and left it in sparkling condition. While there, we had the opportunity to see much of southern England and Wales.”
In another house swap, Mary and her husband, along with their son, swapped their house, car, and sailboat for a month with a couple and their son, outside of Edinburgh, Scotland. Mary’s sister and brother-in-law joined them there. Mary recalls, “It was immensely successful and we were treated by their friends and neighbors to dinner, cocktails, tea, and such.” Mary’s subsequent exchanges involved staying in a five-story house in Notting Hill, London, and “a lovely home in Dublin, Ireland, although neither couple ever used our property.”
For those who are new to house swapping, questions about safety and security usually arise. House swapping veterans have told us that they get a feel for the person with whom they are doing a house swap by exchanging e-mails and then phone calls and providing references and emergency contact information.
For more information, e-mail: caretaker@caretaker.org; website: www.caretaker.org.
