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Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

House swap - has anyone done one?

6 replies

paolosgirl · 16/09/2007 22:04

I've had a look at the NCT website, and I'll probably sign up for theirs - but wondered if anyone had actually ever done one, or knew of anyone who had?

OP posts:
rookiemum · 17/09/2007 21:05

Yes we have done two now, enjoyed both of them and are planning to swap again with this years swapees in 2009 despite them having diabolical weather all the time they were at ours.

Fantastic for children because they will have toys at the other house, if you can try to pick a family with similar or older children.

Cleaning and tidying up beforehand is a pain but think of it as an annual spring clean, certainly the only time our oven gets cleaned. Tidying up to leave again a bit of a pest but we were pretty speedy this time.

The website has photos of some of the houses so you can see before you go, might be worthwhile as this years swoppers said that this years was the best swap they had done and I don't know if that was down to the quality of accomodation that they had before or not.

Also good if you want to stay somewhere that isn't a touristy destination because you have friends there like we did this year. Means you are not imposing on your friends for too long. Last year we swopped cars at the airport as well.

Its kind of weird as you get to know a lot about the family without having met them, but weird in a nice way.

We enjoyed it so much that we are thinking of joining an international network so that when rookietodler starts school we can still go on nice holidays abroad because we will just have to pay for airfares.

I say go for it, even if it doesn't work out its only £29.99 going to a good cause.

paolosgirl · 17/09/2007 22:11

Thanks for this, rookie. Is there any sort of vetting - dh is muttering about how you don't know who you'll get in your house, but I don't think the NCT is likely to attract too many nutters!

OP posts:
rookiemum · 18/09/2007 18:55

There is no vetting its on a trust basis. If you have concerns best thing is to pick people who have swapped before and get references from the people they swapped with.

theprecious · 25/09/2007 19:10

We used to house swap when I was a child, and it was great - mind you I didn't have to do any of the cleaning!

My parents used www.homelink.org and used to write letters to the prospective swapees.

What is the NCT house swap site - is it UK only?

grannyslippers · 01/10/2007 15:55

I have friends (they live in London suburb) who regularly swap with homelink, they have had no problems, been to UK and Europe on swaps over the last 5 years or so. they certainly recommend it! I'd be interested but DH a bit sensitive as he works from home & has stuff here.

CountessDracula · 01/10/2007 16:01

I have done to San Francisco
Am doing for half term to wales but through MN, with moondog

And trying to line one up for summer term half term atm with someone else on mn....

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