Thread: Holiday Home Swaps Website-Help Needed

Dear All,

As a few of you may know my OH and I swap our home each year and head off into the sunset to live in another families accommodation for the duration of our holiday.

This has always been a success and over the years we've saved ourselves a shed load of cash, as well as having the added luxury of a home from home, toys for the kids to play with, usually a local babysitter approved by the other family and a kitchen so you don't have to plan a days food around the restaurants and sit in the accommodation in the evening pining for breakfast!

I really can't say enough nice things about Holiday Home Swapping, for every bad experience you hear about there are hundreds of positive ones you never know about.

My only gripe is the cost, it can be an expensive venture if you lay out each year to several sites when all you really need is a family holiday during the summer when the kids are off school. Or a long weekend here and there during the year.

So what to do about it..... I was thinking if I could find one or two other clever mummy types to give me a hand we could set up an alternative message board catering purely for families with school aged children who'd like to holiday in the UK or abroad if that's what you're offering, during the school holidays.

There's be a lot of local leg work involved, and mailing out of information to schools as well as brain storming and commitment needed, so not for the faint hearted. Added to that the only reward would be smiles you'd need to think hard about it before you said yes, but if, like me, you think a holiday in a nice Welsh village is reward enough for a few hours each week then go for it!

I'm willing, any more takers?

You can email me direct at holidayhomeswap@live.co.uk pop rearparty in the subject line!

Beebs x

I can do you a swap Chick!

Originally Posted by sluice_dweller

I can do you a swap Chick!

We've got a place in North Camp or London....... Neither hot destinations for you I think!



But! Why not your hat in the ring and offer to help.... then pray for somewhere fab, like the Fan!

Beebs x

Quite a few houses here are used as holiday lets. The property write-up under 'Local Attractions' lists the re-introduction of Beavers to the Essex countryside - we assume they are referring to the 24-hour dogging hotspot on the outskirts of town. :lol: :lol:

Beebs I don't have the time, just starting a new job and have the joys of health governance to get my head round as well as learning my way around the big smoke. But good luck with your house swapping, hopefully Ill be swapping my house for a tent for a few months this year!

Don't have school age kids but Dutch holidays are usually at elast a few weeks different with the UK, so if anyone fancied a week in The Hague......? (its coastal and has good quality beaches and summer weather is usually pretty good)

Originally Posted by hankypanky

Quite a few houses here are used as holiday lets.

Holiday lets are rented properties, this is a cost free alternative.

Sluice if you get stuck for a family madness meal let me know, I'm EC1 area.

Oh look Pots, a holiday swap offer!!!!!

Beebs x

Originally Posted by blessed_baby_cakes

Sluice if you get stuck for a family madness meal let me know, I'm EC1 area.

Beebs x

Beebs,

I'm SE18, so not that far away :0)

Sluice x

......and here's a big welcome to Jackie from ukholidayswapshop



Beebs x

Hi Beebs and Rear Party!

It was so lovely to speak with you on the phone and many thanks for listing your home on the site.

I really like your thread - you succinctly highlighted the benefits of house swapping - the huge savings that can be made, the chance to holiday in luxury in a home from home (compared to paying over the odds for a spartan self-catering cottage that needs a good airing). I am sorry I will be unable to help you out on your quest though (I have enough IT challenges of my own!).

The main reason why hubi and I launched ukholidayswapshop was because we were angry at families being forced to pay exorbitant holiday costs because they had to take their children away during peak periods (school holidays).

So we set out to change this.. Launched in Dec 2008 we now have over 600 homes on the site... from as far afield as the Shetland Islands to St Ives! You can list your home for free on the site (full contact privileges are only £14.95 for the whole year) and you can arrange as many swaps as you like - city breaks, seaside holidays or rural retreats. The site is well used and it's great to hear families having sucessful swaps..

We would love to welcome on board families of service personnel.. they, more than anyone, need a holiday.

Please check out the site http://www.ukholidayswapshop.co.uk

All that AND she's one of Gods own people.... Scottish!

Puredeadbrilliantbytheway!



Beebs x