Not quite overseas - but where do you live in between times at home?

[NeitherShreddedNorSmug]

I was hoping I might find some wise advice from other expats - we're going to be moving from our current posting in the USA to another country next summer, but will need to spend a few months in between in the UK. Our house is let out (and is unfurnished) and we're not going to be back for long enough to make it worth breaking the lease, getting our stuff out of storage and packing up again. Have others had similar experiences, and if so, how have you coped?

Hi Neither! When this happens to us, we either stay with my parents (if it's less than about 2 weeks), and if it is more we rent a room in house. We can do that though, because our base is New Zealand, where renting a room in a house for 2 months is no problem at all. Not sure if it's the same in the UK, I'm guessing not from your post though!

What are you options realistically? Any friends/family with a bigger house that might be willing to let you stay in exchange for rent? Does anyone have a summer house you might be able to use? Do you have lots to organise while you're in the UK? If not, maybe you could rent a caravan/mobile home and do a drive around holiday to break up time staying with relatives... or stay in a caravan park.

We just came back after a 3 month break ( our summer is not normally that long, but I took an extra 6 weeks to go to England to have dd2) and it was hard. Six weeks at the inlaws (without moving) and 6 weeks in Canada with my family. We were back and forth between various family members, and went on a road trip for a week.
Living out of suitcases and never having our own place was a challenge, especially with a newborn. I missed privacy, the ability to cook when and what i wanted and worrying about the mess my dh and dd were making in one relative's home.
Nextyay mer we will only visit family for 3 weeks max, and spend some time traveling around our new home.

It is possible to find short term lets but they are generally aimed at business people are not necessarily suitable for families. They are way over our budget so I can't give you any more info I'm afraid!

We're currently half way through 3 months back in the UK. We're moving round various family members and friends but at the moment are house sitting for someone (who we don't know). It's lovely having our own space and being able to eat what we like when we like . I'm already sick of living out of bags and the car (we drove back so at least we have the car).

I don't have any brilliant solutions I'm afraid - other options might be to find a holiday cottage type place where you'd like to be and approach the owners about a longer than normal let. Other than that, are you in a specific profession that has lots of expats and might therefore have provision for this? eg there are houses available to missionaries in this position.