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Original poster

Holiday house swap??- mad idea

19 replies

unicorn · 30/07/2004 20:59

I don't know if this has already been suggested anywhere- apologies if it has -
but I just a mad thought today.... given that so many MN'S live all over the place, couldn't we save ourselves loads of money by holidaying in a MN Swap..??
ie you come here for a week- and we go to yours(that type of thing).
Too late probably for this Summer- but worth thinking about for next?

Anyone interested?

OP posts:
Yorkiegirl · 30/07/2004 21:06

Message withdrawn

Piffleoffagus · 30/07/2004 21:07

bloody good idea, I know the NCT do a houseswap register which is popular!

Original poster
unicorn · 30/07/2004 21:15

we're in London.. so a fairly interesting place.. but would love to go to Seaside/coast etc that is just like a family home.
I just thought- why pay for "holiday cottages" when there are loads of family friendly (ish!) places available on mumsnet.
I reckon - judging by the people on here it could really work (and save a fortune)

OP posts:
WideWebWitch · 30/07/2004 21:18

Great idea. I'm interested (but in Bristol so doubt there'll be huge demand tbh!)

Aero · 30/07/2004 21:21

Me too, though can't imagine anyone wanting to come to sunny Chatham. Its a good base for Kent though.

Piffleoffagus · 30/07/2004 21:37

I/we am shortly to move to Sleaford, am not sure that offers any holiday options but if anyone from the French Riviera wises to come to Sleaford...
we'll duly consider it....

Wallace · 30/07/2004 21:43

Anyone fancy an small village in the Highlands of Scotland? Rural but close to some major tourist attractions.
I don't know how I'd feel about somebody else in my house unfortunately...it would have to be a swap with people who didn't have high standards

Original poster
unicorn · 30/07/2004 21:46

wallace- I think that's the whole point-
we are a bit of a family here- and can be honest with each other- so I reckon a house swap could be a distinct possibility (for those who aren't totally precious about their house that is!!!!.)

OP posts:
acnebride · 30/07/2004 22:04

great idea - but would have to be totally honest about houses and state of them...
i've always fancied house swapping but on the mainstream swap sites it always seems to be six bedroom fabulo homes in Florida with pools and whatnot.
not a bad location here in Oxford, quite central, but it's a teeny tiny house with an ant problem and attractively retro woodchip so it might be a specialist market

spacemonkey · 30/07/2004 22:16

I think this has been discussed before, but I think it's a great idea - I'd certainly be interested anyway, as I'm planning on doing a house swap next summer anyway (using this site

lavender1 · 30/07/2004 22:39

What a great idea!! IF THERE WAS A RULE THAT YOU HAD TO HAVE A CLEAN/TIDY HOUSE AND HAD TO SWAP WITH THE SAME SIZE HOUSE IF NOT LARGER THAN YOURS AND HAD A LEGAL DOCUMENT COVERING DAMAGES ETC(STANDARD FOR ALL BUT EVERYONE MUST HAVE THEM) and STATE THE FACILITIES/ DISTANCE OF SEA/RIVERS/ ROADS ETC!! How do we begin ANY LAWYERS ON BOARD PLEEEASSEEEEEE???!!!

Angeliz · 30/07/2004 22:48

spacemonkey, just had a neb on that site!!!

WOW, you'd never get me out of the mountain home!!!!(I'd hide in the cellar)

spacemonkey · 30/07/2004 22:49

no need to shout lavender

lavender1 · 30/07/2004 22:57

lol, only meant to Caps Lock some of that btw.

midden · 30/07/2004 23:03

whereabouts in the highlands wallace???

lavender1 · 30/07/2004 23:06

Wallace would you fancy a wee cosy cubbyhole in the fenlands?? (Cambridgeshire)

Original poster
unicorn · 31/07/2004 00:09

Maybe we should ask for a strand of our own - like the swap shop one...... house swop??

So for instance- you could state your holiday dates... and then see who is interested in your property, and whether they have one that you are interested in.

I see a reality televison programme in the making!

OP posts:
tallulah · 31/07/2004 12:46

My mum & dad used to do this back in the 60s & 70s through a company called Hinloopen. We did several mutual exchanges with Dutch families & a lot of other years we went elsewhere & rented out our house to Dutch or german families. (mum's only condition was that she wouldn't rent to the French!)

Going to someone else's house was fun, especially as they invariably had pets (the condition is you have to look after any pets), but I hated the upheaval of having to leave our house, especially during the drought of 76 when we spent 3 cold wet weeks in North Wales & couldn't go home

We had to lock away anything private and/or valuable & clean the house to within an inch of its life. I did meet one family when I was 16 & left behind with relatives. They asked me where the flannels were... (yuk!), & also the daily paper, which my parents had obviously postponed for their absence.

zanmum7777 · 08/03/2016 20:59

Hi just wondered if you are still thinking of a holiday house swap. I have a 4 bed house in Southwell, Nottinghamshire and trying to swap for a holiday house swap in the school holidays maybe Easter. Cheers Rosanna mum of 4

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