Save Money withHousing Exchange ServicesA housing exchange scheme can save you up to 50% off your next holiday. How would you like to visit Paris in the spring? Sample local wines in Tuscany in September? Enjoy the English countryside in the summer? Travel to some of the world's most exotic locations. Stay in an Italian villa, a Parisian pied-a-terre, or an English manor and only pay the cost of your airfare, meals and sightseeing. How? By using a housing exchange service. 
Some of these companies have been around for more than 50 years, and are widely used in Europe, Asia and Australia. It works like this. You pick what country you would like to visit, decide when you want to go and how long you want to stay. Then the exchange service will arrange for you to exchange homes with someone who would like to visit your area. In addition to the savings you make on accommodation, there are other cost-saving benefits like use of the owner’s car, parking, internet, meals and laundry. You also have the peace of mind that comes from knowing that your home is occupied, your plants will be watered, and your pets taken care of. This is a great way to significantly cut costs, yet see exciting new places. Imagine arriving at your destination and being welcomed by your next door neighbour, who gives you the house keys, invites you to dinner the next evening, and tells you to call if you have any problems. In addition to this, when you enter the front door, there's a bottle of wine and fresh flowers on the table to welcome you. You find a note on the fridge, telling you how to heat the light meal that has been prepared for you. On the kitchen counter is a pile of brochures and maps, giving you insider information about where to go and what to see. All of this helps you to blend in, make friends and immerse yourself in the culture. So, how do you get started? Do an Internet search for "housing exchange”. Find a company that you are comfortable with. Sign up and join the housing exchange list (some companies have over 10,000 members). Decide where you want to travel, when and how long you want to stay. Then find information on other like-minded travellers who want to visit your area. You can view pictures and read short bios about the homes, and then contact the owners to reach an agreement. You will want to agree on: - total number of adults and children staying in the house, - use of the vehicle and it's maintenance, - care of pets, - long distance phone calls, - linen. Your exchange company can help you put a list together, and give you ideas for preparing for your guests. You are entrusting your home to strangers so this is not for the feint-hearted. But on the flip side, you can have the vacation you have always dreamed of, and save money in the process!
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