Don’t like your home? Trade! Not really … but you can shake up your family vacation with a home swap. Sure, Airbnb and hotels are readily available, but there’s something fun about having a built-in house sitter while your family is away, and feeling like locals in a new locale.
Search available homes in a destination your family has been meaning to visit and see if there’s one enticing enough to trade yours for a week or two. This site is also great for travel inspo. Just browse incredible houses worth traveling for and see where the kids want to call home, even if only temporary. Destinations include nearly every corner of the world, including villas in Thailand, ski-ready apartments in Quebec, farm houses in British Columbia or rustic stays in Huachuca City, Arizona. The tough part will be deciding who gets what room.
Another option your family might want to consider, trading spaces with homeowners around the world using Home Exchange. You can find the perfect apartment for two in Paris; a lofty space in New York or London; or something that can accommodate your whole group in Sydney, Rome and Portugal.
For true luxury seekers, Third Home is an upscale way to vacation. For families who already have two homes in their repertoire, Third Home is a way to swap with fellow travelers in “the club” — literally, you have to join a club. Swap the family beach house with one across the country, or rent out the cabin for a 5-star stay abroad. Not exactly roughing it, but your family will just be out of their element in someone else’s vacation home for a change. The only catch, users have to apply for a membership, get accepted into the club and pay a minimum $395 fee for swaps. Ahh, the cost of luxury.
Swapping homes for that last summer vacation can be an easy way to save some cash. Your family will still feel completely immersed in a new location, but with a built-in house sitter and sense of general security you can appreciate. Typically, rates are more affordable during peak seasons, unlike many of the competing home-away options — just a few reasons to consider a house swap.
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