Home swaps offer a great way to save money

Fancy a holiday but can’t afford pricey accommodation?

Well, why not holiday at home well, someone else’s home with a home exchange vacation?

For more than 25 years, Home Base Holidays has been helping holidaymakers across the globe achieve their dream vacation by simply swapping houses.

And the benefit is that not only do you save on hotel bills, you also have peace of mind that your own house is being looked after while you’re away.

Home swap holidays are still relatively new but are becoming an increasingly popular choice with people in the UK.

They offer an opportunity to enjoy a break, either in your home country or abroad, and even to exchange cars so you have transport when you get there, as well as get inside information about the best bars, restaurants and even babysitters nearby.

Home Base Holidays arranges vacation swaps, weekend breaks and even long-term sabbaticals from home swap offers in more than 70 countries across the globe.

There are options from Africa and Asia to Australasia, America, Alicante and even Argyll.

Lois Sealey, 68, set up the London-based company in 1985, initially as a printed directory for B&Bs in the US and Canada, but when the add-on home swaps became more in demand and the web became more available, she decided to concentrate more on home exchange.

Her son Mark, 38, is now a partner in the business.

Lois said: “Arranging a home exchange is a great money saver, especially during busy summer holidays and events when hotel rates are high.

“It gives them the space and convenience of a home, but also a chance to experience the ‘real’ city or town by integrating themselves in the local community, rather than feeling like a tourist.

“Some people like to meet the neighbours, others swap cars and agree to look after each other’s pets and even water the plants. The possibilities are endless.”

Annual membership with Home Base Holidays costs £29. For more information, visit homebase-hols.com.