You should get some interest in San Antonio. If you are willing to be flexible, you always get something. Almost anywhere in Europe has things to see.

I finish my 61st home exchange tomorrow and head into Barcelona for 5 nights bbc.co efore heading home to McLean, VA. I started home exchanging in 1990.

McLean VA is just outside of Washington DC, and an easy train ride to other historically interesting places like Annapolis, Baltimore, Philadelphia, which attract Americans from the West or Midwest, and educated Europeans. Texas is a whole 'nother story ... and not one well known to Europeans, who mainly have seen "Dallas" on TV.

Another thing to consider Dilane, if you are hoping to exchange with European residents, is that Texas has a reputation of being very right-wing, something reinforced by the state's recent GOP presidential aspirants, and that is not particularly attractive to even conservatives in Europe.

It isn't just that, it is also that it is very isolated, so not a good place to base yourself to see other things. And it's a long long trip to get anywhere else, except maybe New Orleans (one of the places my European friends want to go). The Europeans I know are interested in the national parks, the East Coast (NYC, Washington DC and maybe Boston), Florida and California mainly, and New Orleans. There are probably some that have some vague ideas of the West or ranches, but wouldn't want to settle in San Antonio for any length of time. And why would they, it doesn't have anything of any particular interest to draw someone. AUstin at least has music.

Anyone who home exchanges knows that you use the home exchange to beat the hell out of your location. If you want to go elsewhere before you go home and it is too far for a day trip, you book some days at a hotel before or after the exchange and go there. I do have a friend in San Antonio who exchanges. She has to hustle a bit but she does get some interest--and she demands cat care.

I never take home exchanges with pet responsibilities. People who want that generally end up exchanging with each other.

Lauren, your enterprising friend in san Antonio may be able to hustle up some exchanges, but I'll bet they are with other people in the US, NOT Londoners, or Welsh or Scottish or Germans. That's the difference.

One downside to home exchanging is, however, the laundry.

There's the laundry you didn't have time to do before you left, the laundry you didn't feel like doing while you were away and the linens your guests used. I'm just back from Barcelona and I know whereof I speak.

(But then, I iron my sheets, unlike a certain unlucky exchanger:
http://www.fodors.com/community/fodo...use-guests.cfm)

I haven't looked into it in a while, but I think some of the home-exchange websites allow you to search on people who have shown an interest in your area. So, in your case, you would enter "San Antonio, TX," and get a list of people who have entered SA as one of their desired spots. Then you would note the locale of their swap and see if it's on your list.

Also, offering the use of a vehicle is almost a must if your house is in an area that's dependent on a car for transportation (unlike NYC).

My enterprising friend in San Antonio has had a couple of home exchanges in Europe. Home exchange means many Europeans are repeat visitors to the US and more interested in places beyond the East or West Coast. No, she does not get as many offers as I do (especially since she has two cats that need care), but she has had deals outside the US. No, she does not get as many offers as I do living in the DC area, but she gets them.

I always include my car. You do have to include a car unless you are in walking distance from the Metro in DC. I am about 2 1/2 miles from Metro without bus transportation. So, I include the car.

Each home exchange deal is subject to negotiation. One reason I am successful is that I am totally open to going anywhere. First one through the gate with a deal gets the gold ring. Anywhere in Europe can be interesting. Even if Salou recently was not an ideal place for an exchange, driving around ensured that I saw plenty. If you wait for an ideal exchange, you could end up empty handed.

Once I cut a deal, moreover, I do not back out. My recent France-Spain holiday occurred due to the exchange I had in Salou. After I got that exchange, one came in in Martinique. Had I gotten the exchange in Martinique first, I would have bagged going to Europe this summer. However, my home exchangers already had airline tickets, so backing out was not even thought of by me.