Cigalechanta......Epsom, Surrey, about 45 minutes south of the centre of London.

Oh, by the way, I am exchanging in Sedalia, Colorado (south of Denver) in a couple of weeks.

I am also working on a deal in Rome for Christmas. We have an agreement but I will not pay for my ticket until the folks in Rome pay for theirs. They are supposed to buy tickets on August 18th. I purchase immediately once the other side does so we are all locked in together.

Fingers crossed that everything involving the Rome deal goes off as planned.

I've done it several times. I now have a longstanding arrangement with someone in Paris (who is like an old friend now but we only met for the first time on my last exchange), once to Amsterdam, and last summer a fantastic double swap to Vancouver and Toronto. I've had enquiries from all over, mainly the US, Asutralia and Canada, but about 20+ other countries as well.

No problems at all, but it all depends on clear expectations, preparation and getting to know the people concerned. The Internet speeds things up no end, not only in using email to get to know each other and what you each expect, but also in finding out about the places you get offered, which you might never have heard about.

I've used both free and paid-for websites, and none of the biggest and best-known subscription sites.

The television series someone referred to above has a website with links to useful advice:

http://www.channel4.co.uk/4homes/ontv/homefromhome/
I'm also on
www.holswap.com
www.peopletraveltheworld.com

And for Judyrem, I think people in the UK would be pretty interested in somewhere near the beach in Fort Lauderdale, and no doubt people from elsewhere in Europe as well!

Thanks Patrick, I think this could be the way to go for us. My DH is quite skeptical about the whole thing...but now I have to convince him otherwise..;-). Lauren , do you nmind if I e-mail about more info? Patrick, you too? Tahnks Judy

Judy, feel free to email me at [email protected] if you have specific questions. I am looking forward to getting together with my Paris home exchangers on Sunday. If the weather is good, I think we are all going to go tubing in West Virginia.

Just linking up the current threads on this topic:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/pgMessa...21&start=0

http://www.fodors.com/forums/pgMessa...=home+exchange

Judy, of course you can email me.

Sorry, I thought you could get the address from the profile:

[email protected]

Topping due to recent query.