I agree—they have a point. My husband and I have been checking airfares for a possible exchange to Mexico and we’ve repeatedly found airlines throwing in free hotel rooms as an addition to the flight. Similarly, some of the major hotels in Las Vegas and other resorts are offering free rooms and even free flights just to entice you under their roof. Once there, they assume you will be a captive customer, spending money for services.

So—how does home exchange continue to excel? Simply by dint of those two words—”Home Exchange”. Maybe today’s economy does make it more difficult to justify as a means of significantly saving money, but nothing else has changed. You still get to stay and spread out in the space and convenience of a family home, prepare meals and snacks in a proper kitchen, put the kids to bed in separate bedrooms. Very often you can also exchange cars and get your family pets cared for without the expense of kennels or pet sitters.

ExchangeHomes.com has a lot of members who contact us to tell us of other ways home exchange has saved them money.

• Baby sitting: In a Rome hotel a member reported paying €18 for the first hour, then €17 for subsequent hours. On a home exchange her exchange partners arranged for their regular sitter to assist for just €15 an evening.
• Eating Out: Members are often delighted to eat out in local restaurants recommended by their exchange partners, rather than the usual, glitzy, tourist-trap restaurants. They say the food is usually far better, both in content and price.
• Interaction with neighbors and the local community: We often hear reports of neighbors inviting members to barbecues, parties, meals, once even a christening!
• Toys and Playmates: When families with children home exchange it normally provides a ready supply of toys, games and local playmates.
• Free Memberships: Golf club, spas, private beaches, etc.
• Free Tickets: I’ve had a number of reports of exchangers being provided with free tickets to various sports venues, theme parks, cinemas, shows, etc.

In conclusion—maybe home exchange isn’t quite the money saving vacation it used to be, but without question, the amenities and often unthought of perks it continues to offer, still place it head and shoulders above staying in a sterile, often uninviting hotel room.

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