House Swap (Holidays)

[mr magnolia]

[foxy]

[mr magnolia]

[Nelson Hatstand]

[mr magnolia]

[Epykat]

[Nelson Hatstand]

[Maria]

Would imagine that you'd get folk very interested at Festival time. We had a couple of friends house sit for us last October and it was only as I started to see our abode through their eyes I realised what a truly sluttish housekeeper I really am. Oh well, who wants to live in a sterile, minimalist showhouse anyway?

*Apart from Poppy obviously*

[Porty]

My ex-neigbours at WBC house-swapped several times and so did another neighbour who still lives in the street. Both had great experiences and vowed ot was well worth it. Think they both used an outfit called "invisible village" or something like that, from San. It is a long-term established business that also catered for UK swaps. Never heard a bad thing about them.

[Poppy]

[Sandra]

[Black Mamba]

[mr magnolia]

Nice one Mamba!

The Magolian Clan have just signed up at 'cos it's free!

Go on Nelson - we could attract some sort of weird extended family to stay!

[Porty]

I joined but have not taken the plunge yet. I have had offers from several places in the USA, Spain, France, England Mexico, Brazil and lots from Austrailia. I'm not quite ready to commit yet.

[mr magnolia]

Family magnolia joined up with which costs £120/year.

We went away to Burgos, Spain in the summer for our first exchange adventure, combined with a mini break in madrid (we flew there with easyjet) and 4 days on the north coast.

It was great to be away as a family in accommodation that had all the family type stuff in it already, and to be living somewhere that wasn't a standard tourist accommodation zone. Made it feel a little more of an adventure for the big peeps and for the little ones. Saved a whack of money on accommodation (thus allowing some other hotels for our madrid / coastal stays) and we swapped cars also so no car hire fees.

Potential downside: Car insurance - never really got this sorted to my satisfaction as Spanish insurance seems to be largely 3rd party and occupant cover, so we agreed a deal with our swappers that they would pay the first 300euros of any damage to their car and we would split the difference for any further damage. I'm sure the insurance market has a product for me out there and next time we will research that properly.

We are off to London on another one for Hogmanay and fending offers now for next summer.

We were taken by surprise (stupidly, perhaps) at the number of folk keen to come to Edinburgh.

Recommended.

[Porty]

[rapunzell]