Home Exchange - Vancouver - In progress
Sep 2nd, 2008, 09:38 AM
#141
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Thanks for your interesting report. It seems we have quite a bit in common. We are from Southern CA (Dana Point). My husband and I are now in Vancouver for one month. We've rented an apartment right in the heart of downtown - this is our first day here and so far we are very happy with the condo and its surroundings. Your report has given us many ideas for our stay here. We are also weary of long plane rides (although we are heading to Austalia next month). It was so nice to arrive by car and not face any language difficulties. We've just returned from 6 months in Europe and stayed at various apartments, B&B, hotels during our stay. We are interested in home exchange and were always a bit skeptical, but your report made us rethink exchanges as a great opportunity - my question, which home exchange do you use? I think I'd be more comfortable exchanging through a company/site that someone else has dealt with.
Sep 2nd, 2008, 06:58 PM
#142
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Hi rewirement (clever reworking of retirement!) We fell in love with Vancouver. It turned out to be one of our favorite exchanges and we considered ourselves lucky that we were able to arrange it.
The difficulty with home exchanging is that you cannot count on getting the exact exchange you might want, but if you are flexible, and are open to lots of places, something will come through than appeals. Sometimes that exchange you always wanted shows up a couple years later. You, also need to do a bit of work, that means e-mailing people whose homes/locations appear attractive to you. If you sit back and wait for people to contact you, you may not have as many options.
We have used both Intervac.net and Homelink.org for exchanges. They seem to be the most popular exchange networks out there, though if other people are reading this, they may have used other websites they prefer. I think it costs about $120 a year now. You can visit both websites and view homes and general locations. Although, both websites have their advantages in terms of ease of use, I like Homelink a bit better since it has a Discussion Forum which is very helpful for the novice and the experienced exchanger. I belong to both since it gives you more options, although there is occasional overlapping where people belong to both like myself.
Enjoy Vancouver and good luck with home exchanging as well!
The difficulty with home exchanging is that you cannot count on getting the exact exchange you might want, but if you are flexible, and are open to lots of places, something will come through than appeals. Sometimes that exchange you always wanted shows up a couple years later. You, also need to do a bit of work, that means e-mailing people whose homes/locations appear attractive to you. If you sit back and wait for people to contact you, you may not have as many options.
We have used both Intervac.net and Homelink.org for exchanges. They seem to be the most popular exchange networks out there, though if other people are reading this, they may have used other websites they prefer. I think it costs about $120 a year now. You can visit both websites and view homes and general locations. Although, both websites have their advantages in terms of ease of use, I like Homelink a bit better since it has a Discussion Forum which is very helpful for the novice and the experienced exchanger. I belong to both since it gives you more options, although there is occasional overlapping where people belong to both like myself.
Enjoy Vancouver and good luck with home exchanging as well!
Sep 3rd, 2008, 05:07 AM
#144
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Hi Annetti- I am pleased to find your post about home exchange- I just recently joined a home exchange club- not yet done an exchange- yet looking forward to doing many in the future. I just found this post this morning- I will read it completely when I get a chance- I am packing for a trip of my own to Vancouver and Banff- Jasper---of course I will take my laptop along and can read the post later.
Hope you can give me some guidance- you are doing exactly what we plan to do- (recently retired- and waited a lifetime for this opportunity)-- My QUESTION --- as I am researching places I want to travel- I am having problems finding folks who want to exchange for more than a week or so.
Is there a particular site that is best for this method? I am a member of homeexchange.com. We would like to do exchanges for a month at a time or more also- Where are you finding the best results for lenghty exchanges?
Also- if you will be so kind-- are there other sites available that you are aware of where we can chat or read other long term exchange posts? I did not understand what you were saying about the "thumbnail report". Thanks for any advice. We have several ideas of exchanges we want to do in the future- we live in a beautiful area- Myrtle Beach SC and hope that we can find some good exchange partners who wish to see our beautiful area as much as we want to see theirs. Thanks for the great travel post - I would really like a change to talk with you for tips about our future travels. Thanks
Hope you can give me some guidance- you are doing exactly what we plan to do- (recently retired- and waited a lifetime for this opportunity)-- My QUESTION --- as I am researching places I want to travel- I am having problems finding folks who want to exchange for more than a week or so.
Is there a particular site that is best for this method? I am a member of homeexchange.com. We would like to do exchanges for a month at a time or more also- Where are you finding the best results for lenghty exchanges?
Also- if you will be so kind-- are there other sites available that you are aware of where we can chat or read other long term exchange posts? I did not understand what you were saying about the "thumbnail report". Thanks for any advice. We have several ideas of exchanges we want to do in the future- we live in a beautiful area- Myrtle Beach SC and hope that we can find some good exchange partners who wish to see our beautiful area as much as we want to see theirs. Thanks for the great travel post - I would really like a change to talk with you for tips about our future travels. Thanks
Sep 4th, 2008, 05:23 PM
#145
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Hi Debra1955,
I do not know of a site that offers home exchange experiences, although I know there is one (or used to be one) that I looked at several years back. As I noted above Homelink.org has a discussion forum which is very helpful and interesting, but you must be a member to access it. Scroll up a couple of posts and you will see the two home exchange sites that I have used. I am not familiar with the one you chose.
There are plenty of people on these two sites that want long exchanges. We have done 13 exchanges and the shortest exchange has been a month and the longest about 7 weeks. When we have exchanged in Europe, I have always looked for a long exchange, because it takes us so long to get over the jet lag, and also because you are paying so much for air fare.Of course, once you are settled in to a home exchange, there are no hotel bills, unless you choose to take excursions.
Marketing bills are similar to those at home. We usually spend some of our trip on short weekend type excursions, averaging often 1-2 weeks away from the home exchange. Our Vancouver trip was an exception, the first time, we did not leave the home exchange.
One last thought to leave you with, which I mentioned above, you really need to do some e-mailing to prospective exchangers, seldom can you sit back and just wait for the offers to pour in, unless of course you live in Provence or NYC! Best wishes, and pls follow up with any questions you may have.
Annetti
I do not know of a site that offers home exchange experiences, although I know there is one (or used to be one) that I looked at several years back. As I noted above Homelink.org has a discussion forum which is very helpful and interesting, but you must be a member to access it. Scroll up a couple of posts and you will see the two home exchange sites that I have used. I am not familiar with the one you chose.
There are plenty of people on these two sites that want long exchanges. We have done 13 exchanges and the shortest exchange has been a month and the longest about 7 weeks. When we have exchanged in Europe, I have always looked for a long exchange, because it takes us so long to get over the jet lag, and also because you are paying so much for air fare.Of course, once you are settled in to a home exchange, there are no hotel bills, unless you choose to take excursions.
Marketing bills are similar to those at home. We usually spend some of our trip on short weekend type excursions, averaging often 1-2 weeks away from the home exchange. Our Vancouver trip was an exception, the first time, we did not leave the home exchange.
One last thought to leave you with, which I mentioned above, you really need to do some e-mailing to prospective exchangers, seldom can you sit back and just wait for the offers to pour in, unless of course you live in Provence or NYC! Best wishes, and pls follow up with any questions you may have.
Annetti
Sep 4th, 2008, 05:45 PM
#146
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Debra1955:
Susan Allen Toth in one of her travel books on England, talks about picking a small area of England to explore. She calls it the "thumbnail" approach to travel. She picks her location, in her case, a rental cottage, puts her thumb on the map where the cottage or small town is located and explores the small area that her thumb covers.
I suggested above that is what we do, too, when we do a home exchange, we only explore a small area as we did in Vancouver and try not to be concerned about what else we are missing two hundred miles away.
I remember years ago, when we did our first exchange in Brittany, I told people at work I was going to France, they were amazed it would only be France and more flabbergasted when I told them it would only be a small region of France. We spent 6 weeks on that exchange and we saw so much and yet left so much unexplored. Seven years later, we returned to Brittany again for a five week exchange, saw some of the same places we had loved and found new places to enjoy all in the same region. I know we could return for a third trip to Brittany (and I hope we do!)and we would be able find new places. Also, we get a great deal of pleasure returning to places we remembered and enjoyed.
Susan Allen Toth in one of her travel books on England, talks about picking a small area of England to explore. She calls it the "thumbnail" approach to travel. She picks her location, in her case, a rental cottage, puts her thumb on the map where the cottage or small town is located and explores the small area that her thumb covers.
I suggested above that is what we do, too, when we do a home exchange, we only explore a small area as we did in Vancouver and try not to be concerned about what else we are missing two hundred miles away.
I remember years ago, when we did our first exchange in Brittany, I told people at work I was going to France, they were amazed it would only be France and more flabbergasted when I told them it would only be a small region of France. We spent 6 weeks on that exchange and we saw so much and yet left so much unexplored. Seven years later, we returned to Brittany again for a five week exchange, saw some of the same places we had loved and found new places to enjoy all in the same region. I know we could return for a third trip to Brittany (and I hope we do!)and we would be able find new places. Also, we get a great deal of pleasure returning to places we remembered and enjoyed.
Sep 4th, 2008, 07:14 PM
#147
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Hello Debra1955 and annetti
I hadn't realised that our approach to travel had the name of 'thumbnailing' - but now that I know, I will be adding it to my vocabulary!
We are also experienced home exchangers, and I think this form of travel means you to don't have to think of each location as a 'once in a lifetime' visit; we too have returned to favourite far-flung places.
If you are looking for longer exchanges, I suggest you look for retirees. They don't have the same time constraints that those in the workforce have. Our other exchangers who have been able to travel for longer periods have been European families who have taken advantage of their workplace system whereby they can work at a reduced salary for a number of years, then take 12 months leave also on reduced income. These, of course, are harder to identify, and have always approached us rather than the other way around. They tend to travel on a round-the-world airline ticket rather than organising just a to-and-from trip to one place.
Happy travels, Di
I hadn't realised that our approach to travel had the name of 'thumbnailing' - but now that I know, I will be adding it to my vocabulary!
We are also experienced home exchangers, and I think this form of travel means you to don't have to think of each location as a 'once in a lifetime' visit; we too have returned to favourite far-flung places.
If you are looking for longer exchanges, I suggest you look for retirees. They don't have the same time constraints that those in the workforce have. Our other exchangers who have been able to travel for longer periods have been European families who have taken advantage of their workplace system whereby they can work at a reduced salary for a number of years, then take 12 months leave also on reduced income. These, of course, are harder to identify, and have always approached us rather than the other way around. They tend to travel on a round-the-world airline ticket rather than organising just a to-and-from trip to one place.
Happy travels, Di
Sep 5th, 2008, 04:45 AM
#148
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Hi Annetti,
Just finished your report ... wow ... it's been wonderful revisiting Vancouver through your eyes and really interesting to read about your experiences as they were happening. There are so many things you can see and do when you're actually living in a place that a 4 day stint in a hotel won't allow.
We often opt to rent a cottage in an area ... thumbnailing? a new term for me too. We've rented mostly in England and France ... for 2-3 weeks at a time but are now in a position to consider longer periods. We live on Canada's east coast and now feel motivated to begin checking out home exchange more seriously. Thank you so much for such a lovely report!
Just finished your report ... wow ... it's been wonderful revisiting Vancouver through your eyes and really interesting to read about your experiences as they were happening. There are so many things you can see and do when you're actually living in a place that a 4 day stint in a hotel won't allow.
We often opt to rent a cottage in an area ... thumbnailing? a new term for me too. We've rented mostly in England and France ... for 2-3 weeks at a time but are now in a position to consider longer periods. We live on Canada's east coast and now feel motivated to begin checking out home exchange more seriously. Thank you so much for such a lovely report!
Sep 5th, 2008, 05:59 PM
#149
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Thank you, NLspirit, I am not sure that Susan Toth intended to coin a new phrase -- "thumbnailing," but it works. Apparently there are more adherents to the slow mode of travel out there, than a casual reading of Fodor's threads would suggest. If you have the time, it really is a wonderful way to get to know a place, far more satisfying than a four day stint as you so aptly put it, however it is hard for many travellers to be so close to an attractive area and slow down and not visit it. This was especially true when I was younger, but maybe now my "thumbnailing" becomes something positive I can point to instead of lack of energy!
Sep 20th, 2008, 05:52 PM
#150
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Hi everyone,
I could not find an exchange in Victoria, but I think we have nailed one in Toronto for late spring. Looking forward to asking questions when it is confirmed and we have done a bit of research -- so we will know what to ask!!
annetti
I could not find an exchange in Victoria, but I think we have nailed one in Toronto for late spring. Looking forward to asking questions when it is confirmed and we have done a bit of research -- so we will know what to ask!!
annetti
Sep 20th, 2008, 09:50 PM
#151
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I have exchanged on Vancouver Island but 2 1/2 hours north of Victoria in Qualicum Beach. It was a lovely swap and occurred 2-3 years ago for about 10 days. We used the SEATAC instead of Vancouver because it was cheaper to fly through there. I picked up the car from my exchangers and then drove to the ferry that went to Nanaimo. Going back to give the car back to them, I went from Victoria. It rained a lot but I had a fine time. I always enjoy my exchanges.
To the person who asked about longer term exchanges, those are difficult to find. Recently I went to Australia and NZ on swaps for a little over 2 months. I had 3 exchanges, one right after the other. Obviously, something like that is a huge headache to work out, but it was worked on over a year before the trip. It was my first time down under. My exchanges came from Homelink, but I also belong to Intervac and have got exchanges from them as well.
I have exchanged 37 times. About 15 of those exchanges have been in Europe (England, Scotland, France, Germany, Italy and Austria). I have been to some of those countries more than once on swaps.
Annetti and I have a difference of opinion on swapping cars. I will not do an exchange without a car included unless I drive to the exchange or am in the downtown area (or reasonably close) in a major city with good public transport.
To the person who asked about longer term exchanges, those are difficult to find. Recently I went to Australia and NZ on swaps for a little over 2 months. I had 3 exchanges, one right after the other. Obviously, something like that is a huge headache to work out, but it was worked on over a year before the trip. It was my first time down under. My exchanges came from Homelink, but I also belong to Intervac and have got exchanges from them as well.
I have exchanged 37 times. About 15 of those exchanges have been in Europe (England, Scotland, France, Germany, Italy and Austria). I have been to some of those countries more than once on swaps.
Annetti and I have a difference of opinion on swapping cars. I will not do an exchange without a car included unless I drive to the exchange or am in the downtown area (or reasonably close) in a major city with good public transport.
Sep 21st, 2008, 09:18 AM
#152
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That was a nice rpeort.
This is neither here nor there, but it occured to me that when three young women ON Granville Island asked where Emily Carr was, they were actualy looking for directions to the Emily Carr institute, which is one of the organizations located ON Granville Island and named for Emily Carr...just in case it should ever happen again!
This is neither here nor there, but it occured to me that when three young women ON Granville Island asked where Emily Carr was, they were actualy looking for directions to the Emily Carr institute, which is one of the organizations located ON Granville Island and named for Emily Carr...just in case it should ever happen again!
Sep 22nd, 2008, 03:05 PM
#154
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That was definitely my intention...and thanks for the kind affrimation on the "other' Vancouver post. I read your report having just returned and always wishing for more than a few days at a time for Vancouver...maybe next summer....
Happy Travels!
Happy Travels!
Sep 30th, 2008, 07:22 PM
#155
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Hi Anetti- we have just returned from a few weeks on West Coast- when I get caught up- I am looking forward to reading every bit of your post. I signed up for home exchanges a month or so back and as yet have not done this- but hope to be able to in the future- thanks for replying to my previous message.
