Swapping Homes Anybody?

NOW THAT WE'VE WALKED THE WALK, WE CAN GIVE YOU THE STRAIGHT TALK ON HOME SWAPPING. (Season 8)

Friday, May 18, 2018

Cruise or Home Swaps?

Talked today with a shop assistant about Home Swapping - as I do given the chance. This young lady was well traveled, had in fact seen a lot of hotspots in Europe thanks to her mother who took her on cruises every year. That's the way to go if you have somebody paying for it!
Cruises are not my idea of fun: too many people on too confined a space all out for a good time with all you can eat and drink for free... That's not me. I would consider it, maybe, if I didn't get seasick the minute a ship leaves the shelter of a harbor. My experience with big ships is with Irish, French, or British ferries in and around the Irish Sea and over to France that hold hundreds of cars and trucks plus thousands of passengers. Contrary to popular belief, European ships of that size do have stabilizers as well! So I needn't try any of the cruises that are so beloved by Americans here. Maybe a River Cruise on the Rhine..., however.
It's just my delicate constitution that induces motion-sickness in me just while watching somebody in a hammock or rocking chair.
                                               Image result for motion sickness
Like so many people who hear about houses swapping, this young lady was quite taken by the idea. I gave hr my card to read up on the topic on my blog and also mentioned my little eBook for just $0.99 on Homeswapping on Amazon. I often wonder how many will pursue the idea and try it for themselves.

Our preparations are going according to plan although the recent thunderstorms of last week tempered our projects outside. On the inside, however, I purchased new towels and bed sheets.  Nothing like a fresh look. The cleaner has also been booked for the times we need her on our departure date to get the house ready for our first exchange partners, then again for the change over to the next arrivals and for our arrival date back after the German family has left. It all takes a bit of organizing you you do two swaps or more in a row. But it's so worth it!

Thursday, April 5, 2018

Season 8: South of France & Heidelberg

Welcome to our newest season: No. 8! Yes, 8 years in a row we've swapped homes, sometimes 2, sometimes 3 different places on one trip. You might as well make good use of it while you're over in Europe!
For the first time I chose a picture of the actual house in the south of France where we're going to as the blog main picture. Doesn't it look inviting?
We were so lucky to be approached by a French couple back in November before I even had started looking into this year's exchanges. And seeing these beautiful pictures we went for it! After the usual initial email exchanges, both sides decided very quickly to book our flights.
By the way, the same with our second exchange this year, a house near Heidelberg in Germany. This Germany family approached us first and we were just delighted about it. Pictures to follow...

So where are we going exactly? Near a city called Montpellier which is on the Cote d'Azur. You will have heard of Nice or Marseille, Montpellier is a city of approx. 220,000 inhabitants just west of Marseille.

We're flying via Atlanta, Paris on to Nice, then take a rental car to get to our home exchange. There, of course, we have a car at our disposal, as usual. One of the big perks of home exchanges!
From there we will do many side trips along the coast to the east: Monaco, St. Tropez and all the smaller beautiful resorts of the rich and famous; maybe up to the border of Italy where I have been before. And maybe even to the west towards Perpignan where I have friends.
Being very close to the Provence, day trips there are a must: Avignon, Nimes and Arles. And if we have it in us even take in the Dordogne where I spent a wonderful summer as a student. So much to see! We'll be staying there for 3 weeks and after that for 3 weeks in Germany as well. And yes, our house here will be inhabited for that length of time by our swapping partners. One of the bonuses of home trading!
3 months and counting!