7. Live Like a Local
There’s something about staying in an authentic neighborhood, as opposed to a generic hotel, that really enhances a travel experience. Whether you’re visiting across the country or across the world, you get a better sense of place and culture if you live like a local. Being immersed in a home environment, you’ll notice subtle differences and similarities that the average tourist might not perceive. You may rub shoulders with friendly neighbors, get to know the baker on the corner, shop away from the tourist fray and observe the daily routines that make each place unique. If broadening horizons, expanding cultural awareness and enlightening world views is part of your pleasure of traveling, house swapping can be an ideal option.
8. Stay In Cool Homes
If you play your cards right, you might get to exchange with an extraordinary dwelling. This could be your chance to experience a week or two in a tree house, a yurt, a log cabin, a castle or an Italian trullo. There are some funky, unusual, eclectic properties out there on the home exchange websites. Granted, most people prefer to swap with homes of a compatible value or similar comfort level, but you never know what kind of an arrangement you can work out until you try. For some people, the dates, size or location is more important than the house itself, so don’t necessarily assume someone won’t be interested in your humble abode. Send them a friendly email and see what transpires. You just might score a major upgrade or a unique residence you’ll never forget.
9. Make Friends With Your Exchange Partners
The uninitiated don’t realize that throughout the home exchange process you tend to develop a friendly bond with your fellow swappers. By the time you actually do the exchange, you don’t feel like random “strangers” anymore. There’s a lot of back and forth between both parties as you test the waters, see if there’s compatibility, work out the details and then come to an agreement. You get to know their families, their interests, their travel style and more. It can take weeks or months to build the level of familiarity, trust and gut instinct necessary to embark on this kind of journey, so close connections are often forged even through language and culture barriers. Many non-simultaneous exchangers actually meet face-to-face and build true friendships that extend beyond the time-frame of the swap. That being said, some exchanges are more business-like, so if you’re not out to make new pals around the world, that’s okay too.
