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Property news - People/Society - Christmas: Far Away But At Home |
Christmas: Far Away But At Home09 Dec 2005 Feature |
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| What could be more Christmassy than a holiday
season in an exotic winter location - think hats and scarves and New York
in the snow; or a barbecued turkey with all the trimmings, cooked on
sizzling Bondi Beach...
Home exchange,
Norway? Whatever your means, it's a dream that's well within reach, as long as
you can stretch to the price of getting there.
Home exchange is a wonderfully simple idea that works to the mutual
benefit of both parties, who simply swap homes in order to enjoy a
comfortable, novel and cost-effective holiday far from home, from Delhi to
Delaware and everywhere in between.
And whether you are on the lookout for a novel Christmas abroad - or to
escape the festive season in all its forms - or if you simply want to be
closer to loved ones for the festive period, Christmas is an excellent
time for swapping homes.
Keen home exchangers  "There's an awful lot of home exchange
traffic over the Christmas period," says Caroline Connelly of Homelink,
one of the UK's longest-established home exchange services.
"I would say that the main reason people travel at Christmas is to meet up with family," she says. "Most of our members who go down under, for example, have got family there. "It's just an ideal way to do it, because if you go all that way you want to stay long enough to make it worthwhile - say, three or four weeks - but you don't want to be a houseguest for all that time."
House in Australia Pic:Homelink  Trevor Owen and his wife Sylvia are keen
home exchangers who spent last Christmas - their third Homelink exchange -
in Australia, in order to be close to their two sons.
"Not everyone wants to swap at Christmastime," says Trevor, "But then again, a lot of people do because they've got relatives over here, and vice versa. So it works out very well. And the people you swap with are generally very nice people - we've been pleased with every one we've done, and they've all taken good care of our home." Not the main consideration of home exchangers, the cost - just the £100 or so for annual membership of a reputable agency, plus airfares - is nevertheless an important aspect. Trevor & SylviaXmas in Oz  "We've been over to Australia for three
months and six months," says Trevor, "and if you can imagine paying for
hotel bills or any lodgings of three-to-six months - and to hire a car for
that time - well, we just couldn't do it otherwise."
And just as they have been delighted with the Australian weather, the large gardens and the occasional swimming pool that they've found awaiting them at their destination, the Owens have found their counterparts equally thrilled with their warm and comfortable Maidstone home. "Lots of Australians, believe it or not, love the cold," he says, "especially the expats who've been there for many years, so it's a great swap for everyone."
Trevor & Sylvia: Australian beach, Xmas day  The benefits of staying near those you are
visiting, yet not being on top of each other 24-7, are obvious -
particularly at Christmastime, which can be as stressful and busy as it is
magical.
"Especially when people have young children, for example," says Caroline Connelly, "what they try and do is to stay up the road from the family they are visiting, so that they can have all day with them, and then go back to their own home. It works out really well." And just as you are taking care of your temporary home from home, your own home is being kept warm, and your plants watered and pets fed if necessary. Trevor & Syvia's houseMaidstone  You might even be able to borrow the friends
and relatives of your counterparts. The Owens have found themselves being
taken out and about, and striking up friendships with the friends and
family of their exchangers.
And if both you and your exchange counterpart have children, then the advantages of having everything you might need to hand, from cots, prams and nappies to car seats, DVDs and Playstations, are enormous. Caroline, herself the mother of young children, believes that the
benefits of this kind of travel, for children, are many and
varied.
Home Exchange house, Italy Pic: Homelink  And if the idea behind travelling abroad at
Christmastime isn't a family affair, then there is plenty of scope for new
experiences and exotic climes.
Simply marking your entry 'open to offers', in a home exchange directory, in order to consider the offers of other members who fancy a stay in your home, can take you to places you never ever dreamed of. From remote, windswept islands off the coast of Vancouver to the flat, dry expanses of the Australian hinterland or the neat suburbs of a typical German town, home exchange takes you off the beaten tourist track almost by definition. "A small proportion of our members do it to save money," says Caroline Connelly. "But I would say that a far greater reason - and the main benefit, really - is being able to go to the places that aren't intended for tourists."
Home Exchange house, Mexico Pic: Homelink  And as Caroline explains, you don't need to
pack the kitchen sink in order to make your stay a comfortable one. "It's
someone's home," she says, "so you have nicely ironed sheets and matching
plates and cutlery - and spices, and olive oil, and washing powder."
And since it's the usual practice to leave the makings of a first meal in the fridge, along with some milk and perhaps a thoughtful touch like a welcome bottle of wine, or the local Christmas speciality cake or liqueur, you can walk in from a long journey and make yourself at home right away. But it isn't for everybody, as Caroline readily admits. If you are uptight about your house, or worried about how your treasured possessions will fare in unfamiliar hands, you might prefer to consider a different kind of holiday - or simply ensure that anything precious is removed to friends' homes for the duration. Trevor & Sylvia:Australian beach, Xmas day  In practice, Caroline explains, people tend
to treat each others' homes with a super-high level of care, conscious of
the way they hope their own home is being treated, and of the fact that
this is somebody's home and not just a holiday chalet.
Tempted? It might be too late to sort out a Christmas exchange for this year - but then again, it might not. Homelink has a special 'Hotlist' section for those wishing to exchange in the following eight weeks; so you could find yourself, before you know it, in the novel and fascinating environment of someone else's home, watching someone else's TV and eating at someone else's table, while they sit at yours.
1. Be Honest: Describe your home honestly in your listing and in all correspondence. You want your exchange partners to be pleasantly surprised when they arrive, not disappointed. Never hide the existence of pets. 2. Clean Up: Leave your home clean. Standards of cleanliness vary, so make sure that floors are cleaned, refrigerator emptied, oven and hob grease-free, bath and shower free of mould and grime, windows see-through, and surfaces dust-free. No need to repaint the house! 3. Give Them Space: Clear away enough of your personal belongings to leave space on shelves and in wardrobes and drawers so that your guests can empty their suitcases, arrange their things in bedrooms and bathrooms and feel at home. 4. Clean Sheets and Towels: Leave at least two sets of clean sheets per bed and two sets of towels per person. 5. Leave A Guide: Compile a clear, useful "Guide to Your Home and Surroundings". This should include local tourist information, instructions for household and electrical appliances, pet and plant care, details of rubbish collection, etc. Phone numbers of a recommended doctor, dentist, babysitter, good restaurants, and helpful friends are always welcome too. 6. Who Pays The Bills? Use an agreement form to avoid all misunderstandings and clarify who pays what in terms of telephone, electric bills, gas consumption, insurance excesses in case of accidents, and staple foods such as flour, sugar, oil, etc. 7. Welcome Contact: If arrangements are such that you cannot meet, arrange for a family member, neighbour or friend to come by and welcome your exchange partners when they arrive. They will certainly have questions, and such a welcome will be much appreciated. 8. First Meal: Leave the makings of a first meal. Nothing fancy, but your guests could be tired and hungry and grateful not to have to go out for dinner. 9. Small Gift: It's something of a tradition to leave a small gift of welcome: a bottle of wine or champagne, a local speciality. Always a special surprise. 10. Relax! Close the door, turn the key, and go off on vacation knowing that your home is in the good hands of another HomeLink member like you. Claire Rigby © Find A Property 2000-2005 |
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See also |
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And best of all, a comfortable, well
appointed and authentic local home to call your own throughout your stay.
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