Vacation rental accommodation. House exchange: is it possible to trade housing for the duration of the vacation. Ways and forms
time to go
Both my husband and I always liked to travel - we also met on a trip, and continued to travel. When they got married, they continued to live in the same mode. With my eldest daughter, I still listened to the advice of Russian pediatricians, like “do not take them anywhere until the age of three”, and the next children are already much more fortunate - they just live at our pace, the same life that we consider correct and interesting, they practically travel with us since birth.
Our whole unusual travel story began when our third daughter was born. We realized that we could no longer rent one room in a hotel - we couldn’t fit in, with such a composition and with such restrictions, travel became very expensive. I didn’t want to travel less, this is the main joy for us, we realized that we had to look for another way.
I thought after the film "Exchange Vacation". How easy and simple everything is - two girls corresponded, they pressed the button, and now one is in England, the other in America. And she went to look for information - how is it that we still did not know this? Turns out the house swap movement has been around since the 60s. Since we are, let's say, active, even adventurers, I got very excited about this idea. In some families, as it happens, the wife will come up with something, offer her husband, and he will tell her: “What are you, crazy ...” And my husband says: “Oh, cool, let's try.”
find "your"
We were so excited about this house swap idea that we immediately registered on one of the sites. Eyes, of course, run up, the feeling that the whole world is in your pocket - just pack your bags. But the feeling is deceiving! It may seem like there are a hundred options, but in order for you to match people, you first need to do a huge search. You can send a hundred letters, but coincide with only one family - so that everything really suits everyone. I always advise to be flexible in your requests.
For the first time we started the search in the spring with thoughts about the summer - well, do you need to go to the sea? I started writing letters to Greece, Spain, France and quickly realized that most people plan their lives well in advance. “Yes, great,” they answered me, “but let’s try next year, shall we? Everything is already planned…”
I also began to receive letters, one of them was from Iceland, from Reykjavik. Of course, we didn’t have such plans, we seemed to be going to the sea, in warmth. I looked at the photos and felt like I was in my own childhood. That Chukotka where I lived, which my children have never seen in their lives - and probably never will. It was all in the photographs of Iceland - fells, tundra, northern lights. I say to my husband: “Listen, here is a strange option, of course ...”
As a result, on the first "exchange" trip, we went to Iceland - and that family went to us, to London. Before the trip, we put things in order at home, my husband fixed everything that needed repair for a long time - an excellent reason, by the way, to do everything postponed.
We leave a folder with the necessary information for guests - where everything is, where to go, where to eat. And in the fridge there is a minimum set - a snack, a welcome bottle of wine.
We arrive in Reykjavik - and there is the same set! We did not agree on this, but in the "northern" refrigerator there were the same cheese-yogurts-a bottle of wine. Then I realized that people who are ready to go on such adventures are just alike. Music and books in the houses are similar, paintings, little things are different. Not on purpose, it just happens.
It's been six years since that first trip, and we can't stop, it's like a drug. We finish one trip, start planning another, and we already have a third in our heads. Now we go about every two months.
People are the same
My non-profit project Home Exchange Vacation and Other Unconventional Travel started with a blog with travel tips, interviews with people who prefer unusual ways to travel the world - couchsurfing, housesitting (housekeeping). For people who want to spend little money on this, there are a huge number of opportunities. My dream is that the children will grow up and take on a life of their own, and Killian and I will travel around the world even more often - we will live in Venezuela in the mountains, in Australia in a villa ...
For us, travel is an experience, it is an opportunity to see how different people live. Different countries, different religions - but we are still all the same! It is so painful now to feel that many things that are happening in the world are dividing people, diluting them. Politics, sanctions, fears associated with it. It's all dangerous, wrong, so any idea that will unite, and not alienate people from each other - I'm for it! And I am sure that for children this is the most important and valuable thing: when parents show them the world.
Our children already know that there are different traditions that need to be respected. Everything may be different, but the world as a whole is still kind, and everywhere you will find people like you, with the same values and principles. Sharing is a wonderful principle, you give and you receive in return. We want our children to be happy and the world they live in to be good and friendly.
ride and learn
Traveling with a child is a huge opportunity for development. He can get a lot more than a month in a traditional school with boring textbooks. Now things are different! We prepare for trips together: a little geography, a little history, a little religion, architecture, we plan walks. Everything is unobtrusive - and knowledge, benefits are much greater.
So, thanks to the exchange, we decided to leave for Nice for six months - we took the children from school, loaded them into new language, a new culture - "good" stress is useful, a person is mobilized. The modern world is so changeable, the difference between what my childhood was and what the world is now is huge. Our children will grow up and they will need completely different skills, not those that the school gives. They need high adaptability, the ability to adapt to rapidly changing conditions, developed emotional intelligence, creativity, knowledge of languages, empathy, understanding of foreign cultures. They will be more courageous, more open, they will understand that constantly learning, relearning and relearning is what is very important.
WILL COMMUNICATE
My blog, Facebook group - all this is slowly growing. I saw that few people in Russia knew about such an opportunity - I began to talk about it, to promote the idea. Yes, this method is not suitable for everyone, but there are definitely those who need it. I wrote where to start, how to make sure, why you should not be afraid. House exchange is safer than renting an apartment, because when you are in someone else's house, you also have guests, you are on an equal footing. In addition, while the exchange is being prepared, you have already exchanged letters, talked on Skype, looked at each other.
The process is not fast, and in these few months you are no longer strangers to each other. But it is also important to trust your intuition: if you feel uncomfortable, do not hesitate to say: “Sorry, circumstances have changed.” There are reviews on the sites, and the owner cannot remove the negative one, for example, this is a reputation, honest feedback.
My home exchange group now has over 3,000 people from Russia and other countries. It is important for me that we have comfortable communication, trust, and a safe space. And I see that despite the fact that we do not have the protection that paid exchange sites have, people are happy to use the opportunity, change, and negotiate. The project practically lives its own life - because the very idea of \u200b\u200bsharing is cool. I hope to write a travel book someday
Accommodation exchange travel, i.e. holiday with the exchange of houses or apartments - a phenomenon not new to Western countries.
This movement is more than 50 years old, but it began to gain global popularity only in the era of the Internet.
Today, there are dozens of popular sites offering temporary housing in various parts of the world.
If you are ready to give your apartment to tourists from Japan or Argentina, then in return you will receive the keys to their house for free.
If you nevertheless decide to exchange housing with foreigners for the duration of your vacation, then specify the terms of stay, additional conditions (for example, watering flowers, cleaning the apartment before leaving) - and you can go to another country.
There are two main reasons why people around the world choose to travel in apartment exchanges.
- The first is significant cost savings.
After low-cost airlines made the cost of air travel accessible to literally everyone, the most significant expense item has become rental housing. “How wonderful it would be if you could travel around the world without spending money on staying in hotels or renting an apartment,” people thought at some point.
REFERENCE: Indeed, if you cross out this item of expenditure, then vacation becomes not a luxury, but simply an alternative pastime. You no longer need to save money all year to go to the sea for three weeks. Travel is now easy to organize without breaking the piggy bank.
- The second reason for the popularity of vacation apartment exchange is the opportunity to immerse yourself in the ordinary life of the host country.
You can endlessly prepare for the trip: read guidebooks, study the ratings of the best entertainment in the city and communicate with other tourists on forms, but then the spirit of adventure disappears.
For those who are not interested in walking the beaten paths, a vacation with an exchange will be the perfect solution.
pros
The exchange of apartments during the holidays has additional bonuses, which include:
Minuses
But there are some disadvantages of traveling with an exchange of housing. The main ones are:
ATTENTION: With a thoughtful approach, apartment-sharing vacations can be a way to travel around the world without spending a lot of money.
Where to look for vacation rental exchange options in different countries?
Before you start looking for an apartment for your vacation, it will be useful to learn about the main ways to exchange apartments between cities during your vacation or in other countries.
The first is the conclusion of a lease. You and the owner of the other house sign agreements to rent out the property for a certain amount. In the event of a conflict, the agreements will become the basis for litigation in court.
The second option is to draw up an agreement on the exchange of houses. Agreements of this kind are not provided for by the legislation of our country, but can serve as evidence of the very fact of the exchange.
It is better to search for an apartment on trusted sites dedicated to this type of tourism:
IMPORTANT: On the World Wide Web, you can find many similar sites for exchanging vacation apartments. Registration for some of them is paid, while others require payment only for additional services. In any case, the amounts requested by the sites will be significantly lower than booking a hotel room.
Procedure for renting an apartment for travel
So, you've decided to look for alternative accommodation for your vacation. In order to implement this plan, several steps must be taken:
- Register on one or more apartment exchange sites.
- Take photos of your house or apartment and the surrounding area.
- Fill out the questionnaire as detailed as possible, add a colorful description of the apartment and the city in which it is located.
- You can wait for responses or look at the available options and write to the hosts yourself.
- When there is a suitable option with the owner of another apartment, you should discuss the terms, conditions for using housing, sign lease agreements, and exchange keys.
Key exchange can be done by mail leaving the keys with neighbors or in person.
Features of housing exchange tourism
Foreign and domestic exchange tourism differ significantly.
In Western countries, this is a common occurrence, travelers are already accustomed to trusting their homes to enthusiasts like them.
On the sites you can often find not only modest apartments, but also spacious private houses, the owners of which could well afford a hotel room.
In Russia, this type of tourism is just beginning to develop. As a result, we still have a rather modest selection of houses for exchange, and unusual options come across rarely. This situation does not promise great prospects for tourists who want to relax within the country.
On the other hand, Russian homeowners receive a large number of offers from foreigners who dream of visiting a still exotic country for them. So if you decide to put up an offer on an international resource, you will get the opportunity to visit many countries.
REFERENCE: Contrary to popular belief, housing exchange tourism is not only for owners of luxury apartments located in the center of the metropolis. Of course, the house must meet certain standards, but a lot depends on your ability to present it.
Describe life in your city, add high-quality photos, listen to the advice of community members. Perhaps you will receive an offer from the owner of an apartment in Venice, who wants to feel the atmosphere of the Russian hinterland.
Many people have seen the film "Vacation by Exchange", but few are ready to put themselves in the place of its heroes: we have not yet accepted to change housing for the period of vacation. Although, by analogy with Western sites offering to find a suitable option for exchanging houses, such resources also appear in Russia. “In the future, this way of finding housing will be especially in demand,” says Maria Barabash, a journalist and mother of three children. “Prices for vacations are rising, but you still want to travel abroad.” Mary leads the community "House Swap" and wrote a book in which she tells how to decide on an exchange, what needs to be done for this, and also gives stories of successful exchanges of our compatriots. Here is some of them.
Leisure at sea: exchange with Russian emigrants from Cyprus
I accidentally read about this type of recreation on the Internet. I registered on a foreign site and did not even send letters to anyone. Waiting for requests.
The offer to exchange houses came from a family of Russian immigrants who live in Cyprus. We talked several times on Skype - they turned out to be easy to communicate with, they were ready to meet us at the airport, show us the sights. There were no difficulties (except for the fact that it took a long time to decide on the handover of the keys and check-in).
Alas, we were unable to arrange a car exchange due to the high price of including a new driver in insurance. We lived near the sea, which is what we originally wanted, we liked everything very much. The guests were also satisfied, talked with all relatives and friends. Enjoy the cold and rainy weather.
For those who are thinking about an exchange, I would first of all advise making the apartment comfortable for guests. Install water leakage sensors so as not to worry, tell neighbors about the arrival of guests and get their approval.
Everything about the movie is true!
Olga Kuznetsova, Moscow
I watched the movie "Exchange Vacation" - everything is clearly shown there! My husband and I have each exchanged apartments with our colleagues at one time or another. Recently, the economic situation in Russia has changed, the financial situation of our family has become more complicated, but there is still a desire to travel. Accordingly, home exchange is seen as an opportunity to save money and at the same time gain new experience when meeting new people and their lifestyle.
We registered on the site in March 2014. The letters themselves have not been sent out yet, but have already received two offers from Italy, two from Spain and one from Cyprus.
Previous exchanges were with familiar people, our friends. The usual way of communication is correspondence. For clarity, instructions in pictures were attached to the letter - how to get to the house from the metro, what the entrance and stairwell look like, what key to unlock, how to use household appliances, etc. In the future, I intend to use the video instruction - you can upload it directly to youtube and send the link.
Everyone is happy. The desire to come to Moscow was shown by people who have already been in Russia, have some connections here, or Russians living abroad.
Comment on the article "Vacation Abroad - Cheaper: Home Exchange Vacation"
More on the topic "Exchange of houses for the holidays. How to exchange housing with foreigners?":
Need to take care of your grandma? in exchange for the right to inherit housing. When meeting, you can discuss rights and obligations. Not only mothers, but also fathers or other relatives, as well as guardians who actually carry out ...
An international exchange student... ...difficult to choose a section. Teenagers. Education and relationships with adolescent children: transitional age, problems at school, career guidance, exams, olympiads, the Unified State Examination, preparation for a university.
Maybe you can tell me forums for many children, or just an exchange vacation. I have an apartment in Moscow that allows you to accommodate up to 6-8 people, and in A repair of a broken house and laundering a house by a team from a cleaning company will not bother you? Like you visit them with the whole family in the house, they ...
Holidays abroad are cheaper: home exchange holidays. Olga Kuznetsova, I watched the movie "Exchange Vacation" - everything is clearly shown there! The desire to come to Moscow was shown by people who have already been in Russia, have here ... the problem of living in Moscow on vacation.
Vacation by exchange! At the request of a friend, I am looking for those interested in such a holiday. There is a 3-room. a large apartment with an excellent renovation in Moscow, next to the metro. Need an apartment of the same level in St. Petersburg for Vacation abroad - cheaper: home exchange vacation.
foreign trifle. Money exchange. Finance. That's the question, that in the next couple of years there are no business trips to Europe, and we go on vacation to Asia. Section: Money exchange (meloch66.ru). offny question about where to hand over a trifle.
I will look through my grandmother in exchange for an apartment or a house! I promise good care! A young family is ready to take care of a grandfather or grandmother in exchange for a donation of housing. And how to pay months/years of care for an apartment in case of termination of the contract?
Homestay exchange. ... I find it difficult to choose a section. Foreigners are always interested in something local. For example, a good set of postcards with views Holidays abroad are cheaper: a home exchange vacation. 3 weeks in France with kids and big plans.
budget holiday. for the lower middle class. who likes life on earth, who knows how to do without servants, and has no desire to bash for country hotels and package tours. us and at the dacha Holidays abroad are cheaper: home exchange holidays.
Forgive me, you sinful fool, I threw questions at you .. This one is the last one. Is it possible to make it so that in the agreement on the division of property we will prescribe that the husband gives us his share of the apartment with the child - in exchange for our refusal of alimony.
Conference "Real Estate" "Real Estate". Section: Exchange (how best to change an apartment with a surcharge for a large one). A new one in an elite house - I won’t pull it for sure, and even scrap to do repairs from scratch. Is there such an exchange now? And how much do you need to pay extra?
the problem of living in Moscow on vacation. - get-togethers. About his own, about a girl's. Discussion of questions about the life of a woman in the family, at work, relationships with men. It consists in the fact that we cannot rent an apartment in Moscow for this period.
Recently, we talked in detail about the very first stage of travel - about where and how it is profitable to book plane tickets.
In the article we will describe both simple and familiar to many tools, as well as more extravagant ones, which not everyone can decide on - but nevertheless, they have the right to exist.
Let's start with the most extravagant option.
6. Booking systems
This is perhaps the most standard way to find hotels. There are many booking systems that have at their disposal a database of hotels for which the search is carried out.
Moreover, often the cost of the same number in different search engines can differ significantly.
Most popular systems:
- http://www.agoda.com
- http://hotels.com
- http://istrovok.ru .
7. Meta search engines
This method can be called the simplest, most convenient and often the most effective, especially if your goal is simply to find an acceptable hotel in the right city.
Meta search engines are search engines that do not have their own database of hotels and do not offer booking services, but search through a variety of booking engines.
The obvious advantage of this method is the ability to compare many different options and the absence of the need to study each reservation system separately. For each hotel found, a list of options with prices is provided, from which you can choose yourself.
In addition to prices, descriptions, and photos, some of these meta search engines also collect discount offers and hotel reviews, so you can explore everything in one place.
We have tried many similar sites, many of them are similar, but in our opinion, the most convenient and complete are www.hotellook.ru and.
When choosing a specific hotel, you will be asked to go to the booking system website for booking - you can try to go to different systems and compare the results.
Sometimes it happens that the difference in price is not significant, but in one of the options, for example, you do not need to make an advance payment, or just some system will seem more convenient to you.
So, to summarize all of the above: if you are just going on vacation to Europe or the USA, want to live in comfort, but not overpay and at the same time not spend a lot of time looking for housing, then it will be most convenient to use one of these services:
- www.hotellook.ru
We hope that this review will allow you to find accommodation for the soul and for the budget and have a great vacation!