Where would you go if could go anywhere in the world? Seriously. Anywhere. This is the question my Hubby and I recently found ourselves asking each other and this time….we gave ourselves permission to dream big! We’ve stayed in laid back Caribbean resorts, been to Florida countless times and made memories on some life changing trips to Europe, the only problem? Instead of our travel bucket list getting shorter it just keeps getting longer.
So where do you start? If you could go anywhere, where would you and how would you do it? Simple.
You start with HomeExchange.
What exactly is HomeExchange?
It’s the world’s largest home exchanging community, it offers a warmer, more authentic, and truly more budget-friendly alternative to staying in traditional paid accommodations. They are currently the #1 worldwide home exchange community and can open up your heart and your mind to an entirely new way to travel.
“HomeExchange is a service that allows people from all over the world to exchange their homes easily, seamlessly, and without money changing hands. As the most trusted home exchange community in the world, HomeExchange offers authentic, responsible, and affordable vacation opportunities for everyone to enjoy, by exchanging their homes for the vacations.”
This is my second time travelling with Home Exchange and the options are endless. From Florida to France, Chicago to Toronto, a villa a in wine country, an apartment at the beach or off the beaten path deep in the wilderness. Whatever you are dreaming of HomeExchange has a place for you. On my wish list for this trip? Warm weather, a gorgeous view, near the ocean and lots of space to call our own. I started my search in Arizona, California, Hawaii and Mexico – trying to focus on places we hadn’t spent a lot of time. I sent out a few requests through the private HomeExchange system until I found the perfect place to call home for a week in Los Cabos Mexico.
I chatted back and forth with the home owner a few times, lined up my flights, and quickly and easily finalized my exchange. Was I excited? Umm yes, this was going to be my view for the week! Squee!
As the date drew closer I kicked the planning into high gear. I’d never been to Cabo before and knew next to nothing about the area. I researched the restaurants we wanted to visit, tours and sites we wanted to see and even a grocery service. I adore the planning part of the trip but part of the joy of a Home Exchange is the owners often provide you with a list of their favourite things to do near their homes – this was a huge help! The owner of this home had restaurant recommendations, tips about how the concierge could help during our stay and local golf.
I booked transportation to the condo unit and a grocery service to make a delivery to our home after we arrived. FYI I found the best service! If you’re ever in Cabo be sure to look up The Prickly Pear for your delivery needs. We were ready to jump into the Mexico life and live like a (very spoiled) local.
We stayed in Quivira – the Copala neighbourhood, a short drive from downtown Cabo. We had a three bedroom, three bathroom luxury condo all to ourselves. This condo was exactly as listed on Home Exchange, perhaps even better.
When we arrived here is what greeted us. Check out this space, that light! The large sliding glass doors opened up the length of the unit to the expansive deck. That deck just happens to be where we ended up having our coffee every morning as we watched for whales off in the distance. Surreal would be the best way to describe this place, this magical condo was all ours for the entire week.
The family and kitchen were clean, warm and cozy. The three bedrooms and bathrooms beyond perfect.
There were multiple pools on site all with slightly different views. Our favourite was the one with the restaurant / pool bar attached. This wasn’t a hard spot to sit and spend the afternoon!
This incredible condo overlooking the golf course, ocean and the mountains was the perfect place to use as a home base and explore from. We made day trips to the epic beach club….
And took advantage of the location close to downtown Cabo to venture into the city and explore all this exhilarating city had to offer. From taco stands to 5 star restaurants, walking tours to boat excursions we tried to do it all!
My only regret on this trip….that we didn’t bring our girls along to experience it with us.
HomeExchange offers a whole new experience: to stay in real, authentic homes, and vacation homes and live like a local. HomeExchange allows you to stay in areas you never could with a traditional hotel experience. Think the most exclusive areas of London England, an area you’ve been dreaming to explore in Paris, an eclectic part of San Francisco or in our case the unique resort condo area a stones throw from Cabo. A HomeExchange also allows for one very big item that regular hotels do not; space. Our particular exchange was perfect for the two of us. However had I been travelling with my kids, or even some other couples, there still would have been lots of room with the multiple bedrooms and bathrooms!
HomeExchange currently has a community of more than 100,000 members in 133 countries that are building the future of travel together by sharing the belief that home exchange is the most authentic, humane, and responsible way to discover new places, new cultures, and new people.
Intrigued? Here’s how to get started?
Follow these 6 easy steps:
- Register at HomeExchange.com There is a fee to sign up. Note The fee is only to be paid once an exchange is finalized. Signing up and contacting other members remain free until you have finalized something concrete for your vacation.
- Complete your listing.
- Choose your destination.
- Contact members.
- Finalize the exchange.
- Enjoy your vacations!
Thanks to HomeExchange we once again had another amazing vacation in a place we otherwise may never have explored. This trip was like none other I’ve ever taken. Not only did I get to see a new part of the world, but via e-mail, I got to connect with a home owner from another part of the world and I’m currently talking to some HomeExchangers in Arizona about a trip next summer! (and trying to figure out how to squeeze in a trip to Paris and London too!) If you’re looking for a different way to travel, perhaps a more authentic way, maybe to meet more people, or to exchange your own home and save some money along the way, take a peek at HomeExchange and see what’s out there in the world just waiting for you. As I often say; Life is short, eat the cake, buy the shoes, take the trip.
This sounds EXACTLY like what we have been wondering about, and didn’t know just where to start!! Thanks for your most informative post….we’ll be sure to look into HomeExchange! Love the fact that two or three couples could travel together and share the expenses, or that you could exchange for enough room to fit our family of 5.
If you’ve been wondering this may be your sign! Have a peek at the HomeExchange site I think you will be amazed at all the options out there :). And of course let me know if you have any questions at all I’m always happy to chat travel!