The art of house swapping

Whether we hunger for the jungle or yearn for a sojourn to exotic climes, the sheer cost involved means that many of us are limited to destinations that bit closer to home. But there is a globally available form of accommodation that's far nicer than many hotels, and completely free. Home sweet home...

The premise is simple - you swap your home with another person for the duration of your holiday, and neither of you pay rent to the other.

While you bask in the Bahamas or sightsee in Stockholm, another family gets to explore the delights of your hometown. You can holiday all over the world at a fraction of the normal cost, and get the chance to experience the real deal, rather than squabbling over sun-beds in a Brit heavy hotel.

The top three home swapping destinations, America, Australia and New Zealand, are also the countries which most Brits would like to emigrate to.

House swapping is an excellent way to experience life as a resident rather than a visitor as it gives you a more realistic taste of life in an area. The close overlap between house swapping and emigration shows it can be a great way to road-test life in a chosen country before committing to a permanent move.

250,000 trailblazers are already swapping their homes each year, and it's not just bricks and mortar that are up for exchange. Houseboats, yachts and deluxe camper-vans are also on offer. Your house doesn't have to be a show home set in private grounds - it's all about location, location, location. Bear in mind that beachfront villa in Barbados may be owned by a person with a best buddy in Bognor who is desperate to exchange their pile for your bed-sit.

Home Link has houses in the trendy suburb of Paddington, in Sydney, Australia available for swap. Some come with cars as part of the deal, so you can hop in for the short drive to Bondi Beach.

The attractions of home swapping are obvious. A swap totally wipes out the cost of accommodation and car hire, and if you wanted to rent a holiday property of the same standard as your own home, it would cost a fortune.

If you have children, toys and travel cots will all be there, plus pets and gardens will be taken care of. Letting strangers have the run of one of your most prized possessions is daunting, but damage is very rare, says Lois Sealey, who runs exchange service Home Base Holidays. "Remember the people you exchange with will share your concerns too, and you are in each other's homes at the same time," she adds.

It'll be a truly unique holiday, so you won't run the risk of bumping into the Jones in the hotel bar, and it may even be the ticket to a whole new life.

Picture by morguefile