Para praticar sua língua e suas próximas férias

Stay Anywhere in the World for Free
By Katherine Tom, Senior Editor, Yahoo! Travel
July 24, 2007


With current gas prices soaring and plane fares following suit, many people are looking for creative ways to save money on their vacations. That could be one of the reasons the trend of house swapping has been on the rise in recent years. Last year, house swapping officially hit the mainstream with the popular romantic comedy, "The Holiday," in which Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet exchange their houses in California and England for a holiday getaway, and naturally find true love and grow as people (actual results may differ).

According to a recent survey conducted by HomeExchange.com (the site that was featured in the film, incidentally), over 98.9% of members surveyed would recommend the concept of home exchange to a friend. Here's how to make your swap go as smoothly as possible:

Tips for First-Time Home Exchangers

1. Set up the exchange
As eBay has proven, the Internet is well-suited for matching people from around the world with reciprocal needs. There are dozens of web sites that charge an annual fee (usually $50-$100 per year) for access to their home swapping database. Once you meet someone willing to exchange, the swap itself is free, and there's no limit on how many times you can swap. To get started, try visiting:

* HomeExchange.com
Cost: $99.95/year (if you don't successfully swap within the first year, your second year is free)
Coverage: 17,000+ listings

* Digsville.com
Cost: $44.95/year (offers a free year-long extension until you find a successful swap)
Coverage: About 2,400 listings

* Craigslist.org
Cost: Free
Coverage: A search of the San Francisco site showed about 100 listings under housing swap, New York City's site had about 250. Currently there are sites for 450 destinations worldwide, and listings are added daily.

2. Protect yourself
Though the incidence of theft, vandalism, and fraud is extremely low, it's still wise to lock up private documents, valuable jewelry, and/or priceless family heirlooms. Be sure to check references, both personal and business, prior to exchanging. Most house swapping sites also provide a sample contract that you and the person you're exchanging with can both sign. If you do your homework, a well-researched house exchange can actually leave you with more peace of mind, knowing that someone you trust is essentially housesitting for you while you're away.

3. Enlist a friend
As a further safety precaution, it's a good idea to enlist a friend to check in on things. Arrange for your friend to hand off the keys — they can report back if anything seems amiss. Try and choose a friend who lives nearby — they can keep an eye out for suspicious activity like a moving van in the driveway or wild parties.

4. Set house rules
Make sure you communicate expectations clearly with the people you're exchanging with. Will you be exchanging cars? If so, double-check that your insurance covers any accidents. Are there pets that need to be taken care of, or plants that need to be watered? Is your house nonsmoking? (This can be a real issue if you are exchanging with non-American travelers.) Many seasoned house swappers rely on Post-Its to explain the quirks of their house (e.g., this remote operates the DVD player, jiggle the handle if the toilet keeps running).

5. Enjoy the exchange
So, we've covered some of the risks involved — now how about some of the benefits? First of all, you can save up to thousands of dollars on your stay (no hotel costs, being able to eat in, no car rentals, etc.). Staying in a home also gives you space and privacy that most hotels can't provide. But the best benefit of all is the opportunity to live like a true local. With that in mind, be sure to leave a list of some of your favorite neighborhood spots, and ask for a similar list in return. (Tip: If you create yours on a site like Yahoo! Local, you can easily update and reuse the list for any future guests.)

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