13. Flexible Travel Schedules Open Up Possibilities
There’s no one way to home exchange. With peer-to-peer arrangements like this, you are only limited by what you and your potential swap partners agree upon. Straightforward simultaneous exchanges are the norm, where both parties live in each other’s homes during the same time frame. However, non-simultaneous exchanges are also common, where you might stay there during the Christmas holidays but they come to you in the summertime. Usually both parties get a similar amount of time in each place, but not always. Maybe they’re happy to give you three weeks while they only take one. Many retirees, for example, are quite free and flexible to travel anytime and are willing to negotiate a range of possibilities. You never know what kind of travel scenarios may unfold until you reach out and start the dialogue.
14. Slow Travel Becomes Possible
One of the best benefits of house swapping is that it opens you up the concept of “slow travel” – the antidote to tourist burnout. Many of us have only experienced a standard week or ten day vacation. These are often hectic holidays where you cram one must-see after another and return home more exhausted than refreshed. But if you want to stay away any longer, the hotel/car/restaurant expenses can be prohibitive. With home exchange, suddenly the budget opens up, so maybe you can arrange to stretch things out to a few weeks or more. Exploring a destination at a leisurely pace is a richer experience that lets you dig deeper, make stronger connections and savor the pleasures of the place. While away the morning at a sidewalk cafe, or take a day off to relax with none of that pressure to pack in all in. With slow travel, you open yourself up to serendipity and spontaneity that are the essence of the best travel experiences.
