A community of 30,000 US Transcriptionist serving Medical Transcription Industry

Has anyone ever done the house swap for vacation? Your experience?

Posted: Jan 3, 2011

;

Not me, but my parents did it for years and loved it. - Friendship Force

[ In Reply To ..]
They were in a group called FRIENDSHIP FORCE and swapped homes not only in the United States but all over the world.

I don't know the details or what they did to screen members, but my parents absolutely loved it. They made many friends and traveled to wonderful places that they had not even considered traveling to simply because there was a house available at the time they were planning to travel so they would say.... okay let's go there.

This was in the 1980s and 90s, and they were retired and had the time and money to travel and play around and take a vacation simply because a house was available in an interesting location they had never been to.

But even still, at the very least you could save on hotel/housing costs at a place you were already planning to visit.

Me personally, I would not be comfortable with strangers "living" in my home, no matter how well screened they were or swap-worthy their home was. But that's just me. My dad could not BEE-LEEVE !! I had that mindset lol.... said I was missing out on life adventures. So to each his own.... but they loved their home swapping hobby.

House swap - mt2

[ In Reply To ..]
Yes, my husband and I did with our 2 kids and LOVED it! We were able to exchange for a 4-bedroom apartment in Paris for 3 weeks! No way would we be able to afford to stay within spitting distance of the Eiffel Tower for 3 weeks without a home exchange. The couple we exchanged with came to our home and it was immaculate when we returned home, no worries there. We exchanged e-mails for months before actually traveling so we were able to answer their questions. We also exchanged cars with no trouble at all. We bought food for our stay so we didn't have to eat all our meals out. We were able to do laundry. Each kid had their own room so we weren't cramped and had privacy. I can't say enough good about it.

We also exchanged for London, England about 8 years ago and still keep in touch with our home exchangers to this day.

I can give you the name of the company we used if you want to e-mail me. The cost to use the company was only $95 per year, less than one night stay in a hotel room, and you can exchange as many times you want in a year, it's up to you.

Awwwwww - RubySoho

[ In Reply To ..]
Tell me, how WONDERFUL was Paris? It's a dream vacation site of ours and the only thing I'm afraid of is that I've built it up so much in my mind that the "real deal" will surely disappoint me.

Are the cafes and shops as fantastic as they appear to be? Do the ladies all look fashionable, even on their bicycles? Is the food amazing?

So many questions...LOL!

Yes, yes, and yes - mt2

[ In Reply To ..]
I have been fortunate enough to have visited 3 times. My husband was working there for months at a time and I flew over for visits.

It is one of my favorite cities ever! The cafes are everything you imagine. When you go to a cafe, they expect you to stay for hours. That's the way things are in Europe. No eat and run. You are there for however long you want to be, just to sit, drink coffee and people watch. The one thing I like about Europe is that work is not their main priority. My husband's biggest complaint when he was working there was that the employees would leave for lunch and not return until the next morning! The metro is safe and clean. I would jump on and off at will by myself and felt very safe. People were helpful, most everyone speaks English.

I would recommend traveling to everyone. Even here in the United States. So much to see. Home exchange is the best way to go in my opinion. There are thousands of homes wanting to exchange.

Thanks so much (see message) - RubySoho

[ In Reply To ..]
This year we've decided to put a little bit aside each pay period to take a completely awesome vacation somewhere and France is at the top of our list. We were thinking about Glastonbury, but the weather is so inclement there that we're afraid our one-week stay would be rained out.

I'm so glad your post confirmed everything I had hoped for! I told my husband perhaps we should do a Rosetta Stone course to learn some basic French before we go, LOL! If there were any way I could do medical transcription from France, I'd move there in a heartbeat, even if it meant living in a walk-up one-room flat over a shop or bakery. Waking up every morning in France would be so surreal.

Thanks for the first-hand info...Hopefully by this time next year I'll be able to say I too have vacationed in Paris :-)

(a gal can dream, LOL!)

Similar Messages:

Mar 09, 2017
•An experiment designed to reveal gender bias by reenacting the presidential debates with the candidates’ genders reversed found that Hillary Clinton would have been even less likeable as a man. •The two NYU professors who designed the experiment were "unsettled" to discover that audience members actually found Trump's style more endearing when it came from a woman. •One female audience member even remarked that she found the male version of Clinton "very punchable" because he ...

Feb 10, 2010
The episode just started if anyone hasn't had a chance to catch it yet. I *heart* the woman who cracks the whip and treats the hsuband just the way he treats his wife. Poor things works like 18 hours a day between MTing, housework, taking care of the kids, cooking, etc. Worth a watch if you haven't had a chance to see it. It's on Lifetime right now. ...

Mar 20, 2010
Democrats edged closer to finding 216 lawmakers to back a landmark health-care bill Saturday, as party leaders and White House officials were working on an executive order that they hope will win over a substantial number of antiabortion Democrats. The House Rules Committee continued its session on the third floor of the Capitol, where the panel is tasked with setting the terms of Sunday's floor debate. House leaders have decided to take a separate vote on the Senate version of the healt ...

Aug 05, 2017
Are all Obama-haters who constantly complained about Obama's vacations and Obama's golf going to say anything about Trump's vacations and golf? And please don't say he is not costing the taxpayer any money because he is on his own property because he and his family are costing the taxpayer more than the Obamas ever did. I guess he needed this vacation because "the White House is a dump." ...

Aug 05, 2012
We took our Goldwing motorcycle, rode 5,167 miles in 15 days. We live in Ohio and went to Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North & South Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Kansas, and Missouri. We rode the train to the top of Pike's Peak, we saw Mount Rushmore, the Badlands, Devil's Tower, Monument Valley, Arches National Park and did a lot of scenic riding. We saw a moose, curled horn sheep, a coyote, a deer-like animal that we still ...

Sep 03, 2012
I was on an "extreme wilderness vacation" for the last week. Canoeing the mode of transport, sleeping in a tent, no cell phones, no TV. It was great; however, I admit I was looking forward to getting home and finding out how the Republican convention went and especially "The Donald's" special surprise. I was rather disappointed when I found out that the Trump embarassment was quashed by Trump's cancellation due to Hurricane Isaac. I have to give the power of prayer over climate cha ...

Aug 09, 2014
The question was asked below, does it bother anyone that congress is on vacation for five weeks? Yes, it bothers me. It bothers me because I'm afraid the president is going to use his pen and phone to grant amnesty to the illegal invaders during that time. I actually think he's been looking forward to this opportunity. ...

May 10, 2012
My hubby and I are taking two full weeks off and heading to Colorado on our Gold Wing motorcycle in July. We live in Ohio so we are either going to head north through Michigan and the UP to go to Mt. Rushmore on the way (or on the way back depending on what July weather brings). We will be going through Wyoming, S. Dakota, Colorado and are hoping to get to see the National Arches in Utah (the average temp there in July is 90+ so that may not happen!). We are going to see the sand dunes on Colora ...

Feb 18, 2017
I see someone is trying to push the story that Bo was flown specially for vacation. I posted the Snopes article link refuting this because I know you all respect Snopes so much, but you can also find it on FactCheck, etc., should you actually want to verify. Carry on. ...

Feb 26, 2012
A friend and I would like to go to Calif this summer, but neither of us have been there and are thinking a tour group/guided bus type of vacation might be a good idea. I'm not finding anything like that on the AAA website. Besides that, any ideas what areas we should visit? North? South? Coastal? TIA. ...

Nov 29, 2012
Note the "TAXPAYER-funded" vacation. All presidents take vacations, but none this extravagant during such a poor economic time. I guess it's okay, because after all, he "cares" about us. And at least he's "trying." http://www.whitehousedossier.com/2012/11/29/obama-slated-hawaii-cliff/ ...

May 12, 2015
I have made plans for months, literally months about what I plan on doing this summer. I am taking my friend and her 3 children for a trip to Florida to start off. The woman and 2 kids have never been and they are in for a real surprise! The scenery so different from where we live 1 state over it's like being in a different world. I have everything paid for, everything except food and gas. I pay in advance in installment plans on big items and then smaller places to visit I pay at one time. ...

Jun 16, 2011
I haven't even left town and my son and ex-husband (his father) are at each other's throats and calling me! My 10yo daughter and I have planned a fun little get away this weekend for a family reunion plus some fun in the sun at a water park. This evening, my daughter and I are staying over at my mother's because we are riding together and leaving early. My mom took my daughter and went shopping and I have this nice quiet, empty house to do one last evening of wor ...

Aug 19, 2016
on U.S. trade and campaign finance, but has been far less aggressive in disclosing his own personal finances. Now his wife and campaign confidante, Jane O'Meara Sanders, is defending the senator's decision not to file a candidate personal finance disclosure and talking about the purchase of a new vacation home. Sanders and his campaign asked the Federal Election Commission for two 45-day extensions, in mid-May and late June, on filing the personal finance disclosures candidates are ...

Jan 24, 2011
He grasped me firmly but gently just above my elbow, guided me into his room and quietly shut the door. We were alone. He approached soundlessly from behind and spoke in a soft voice: "Just relax." Without warning, he reached down and soon I felt his strong hands start at my ankles, gently probing, moving steadily upward along my calves. My breath caught in my throat. I knew I should be afraid, yet somehow I just didn't care. His touch was experienced and sure. As his hands moved up my thig ...

May 28, 2015
After ten years of having the Wound Care Clinic at the place I work for being my primary account, last week they just disappeared. I wouldn't have had any warning except that in the body of one report a few weeks ago one of the docs told the patient that they were switching over to EMR. I know it sounds like nothing, but I have typed for these four physicians for Ten Years, almost exclusively! I know they don't know that only one person was doing their transcription, ...

Oct 23, 2015
Last month, someone charged 300+ in nutrition products to my charge card exactly ten days before it expired, then a few minutes later tried it again. The card company noticed it and texted me. I told them that I did not make the charges, so they charged the first one back to the nutrition products seller and declined approval on the second one, and cancelled the card. The online seller, a fitness company, has now submitted their evidence. They claim I bought it and they shippe ...

Sep 09, 2011
Although I'm making a pretty decent income between my full-time and part-time IC jobs, I'm looking to not only make a bit of extra money but also just to have something fun (and a bit more social) to do on the side. Without naming names (which I believe is against board rules here), I'm checking into two Swavorski crystal independent distiributorship opportunities. I can't name names, but I believe someone on this forum posted a few months ago about repping for one of ...

Jun 06, 2011
Anyone ever have a person in their past that they miss and can't get out of their heads; you just wish they would somehow walk back into your life just to be near them again if only for a moment to feel what you used to feel? Does that sound pathetic? If you tell someone this they tell you to let it go, but you really don't want to - you just want to hold on. ...

Jan 20, 2010
Have hooked up with a dietician at my doctor's office, want to get some weight off and feel that is the best way to do. She wants me to do some exercise and have heard of Curves. Anyone else go there? ...

Jul 04, 2012
I got interested in this after hearing a radio show about fermented foods and the recipe seemed simple, cabbage, salt, let it sit out for 4 weeks or so and there you have it. My cabbage has been sitting out for a couple of weeks now and is actually sort of looking like the sauerkraut you get in the cans. Has anyone ever made this, eaten it and lived to tell the tale? Thanks and happy 4th! ...

Jul 21, 2012
I recently said on another board I was glad I did not have any friends because no one can say do it for the kids. Well, when I talk about my anxiety and depression, I get very sick and tired of people saying it is because I do not have enough faith. Believe me, I do. Or I did anyway. I have asked to be filled with the holy spirit. I have begged for a miracle. Not sure what else to do, but it is CHEMICAL. Has nothing to do with faith. Off soapbox ...

Nov 22, 2016
I am looking at filing bankruptcy soon and am looking for any insight anyone can give me. I'm not sure I will even be able to file as I have no assets. I don't own a house or a car. I just have massive credit card dept. Years ago I made almost 70,000 a year. Now I'm barely making one-third of that. Most of my credit card dept is groceries, through over a year ago I purchased a washer and drier, and had a ramp put on the front of the house I live ...

Dec 25, 2011
My mother, age 92, with dementia, just passed away. My estranged brother coerced her behind my back, to leave her retirement condo near me to move in with him. I am the executrix of her willl, and everything was to be divided equally between my brother and me. I just found out that he's taken most of her money and put it into a couple POD (pay on death) accounts in his name. She has a couple small accounts that amount to maybe $67k. The estate is wort ...

Oct 27, 2010
My daughter has a 7-week old. She is breast-feeding and all is going well. She is a special ed administrator/teacher and will have to go back to work in December. There will also be 2 short overnight trips for work. She wants to continue the breast milk by pumping and have the nanny give the baby the bottle of breast milk. The problem is, the baby absolutely refuses a bottle. She wants the breast or nothing. It is truly a fight a ...

Mar 17, 2010
My 11 YOS is really struggling this year (5th grade). I know it's late in the school year, but I'm wondering if anyone has any experience with Sylvan or Huntington Learning Centers. I've tried desperately to work with his teacher, but am getting nowhere fast. He has ADD, which she is fully aware of, and he is on medication, but he is still struggling. I'm considering one of these facilities and would like any info anyone has about either one of these centers...thanks! ...

Jun 28, 2011
I recently discovered that some old money I have had for decades is actually worth something. Most of it is US silver coins, but I have some old foreign money both coin and banknotes that are selling on EBay for thousands times their face value. I know there is a difference between what a coin dealer will give you and what the money retails for, but I really can't invest the time in putting them up for auction myself. But, I don't want to give them away.&nb ...

Jun 27, 2012
We have a male stray we want to get neutered. Has anyone ever worked with a stray cat and get this done for them? Here is our situation (I am the poster below that asked about searching for movers). So, our situation is we are going to be moving to a location four hours from us. We have a stray male cat we have been caring for for the last 3 or 4 years. He depends on us for food and a warm place to sleep at nights. He eats here 2 times a day (sometimes more) a ...

Sep 02, 2013
I'm not thinking about taking them because I don't have good reactions to meds but I am definitely curious. ...

Mar 31, 2014
I am considering this. Does anyone have any comments regarding experience, suggestions, satisfaction, or ideas as to cost? Thanks. (I typically sit in the dentist's chair and literally tremble). I want to do this, but I am terrified. ...