What would you say if you were offered free lodging as many times and in as many locations as you want? Would you think it a scam or a time-share?

Think again.

Home swapping is not a new idea, having been around for decades, but now it is becoming more popular through the Internet. By networking with others, you can swap your home in New England for 2 weeks for a home in the Irish hills. Or swap your home for a week to walk along California beaches. The possibilites are endless!

There are several websites that offer a listing service for $50 - $100 a year membership. The four largest, and with the most listings and destinations, are digsville, homelink, intervac, and home exchange.

Most users of the service are avid home-swappers, and report having very pleasant experiences. For the novice home swapper, a short weekend trip is a good way to experience the benefits of home swapping before you plunge into a 3 month European tour!

Intervac has said it best with, “Live "at home" while on holiday - our member families take care of each other's property, feed each other's pets and water plants. Before you have decided on an exchange, you have gotten to know your exchange partners, through correspondence and telephone calls - you will be staying in the home of friends - and they will be staying in yours.”

Families with children benefit when they swap for another kid-friendly home. Most restaurant meals can be avoided, and there may be toys, strollers, and carseats available for your children to use.

If you have a vacation home, you have the option of swapping it instead of your primary home. It may be more attractive to others, and attract a better destination in return!

Consider what a tourist would find appealing to your local area. Albuquerque, New Mexico has an annual Balloon Festival that draws folks from around the world. It’s a short drive to Santa Fe, Cloudcroft, Taos, and Mexico - Also a day's drive from the Grand Canyon... There are Native American Indian Pueblos, art galleries, casinos, and shops filled with beautiful handcrafted merchandise.

Would a potential visitor know how wonderful your local area is? Have an idea what would be of interest to visitors to your area - don't assume your town is unappealing - your area may be exactly the kind of vacation another family is looking for!

Some Things to Remember:
Be flexible when considering a swap. You have to start early – now for next summer – to get the most popular destinations. And remember, less popular spots may yield a great holiday for your family! For example, you may want Paris, but can only arrange a swap in Calais. Weekend trips close to home are more plentiful year round and can be booked a few weeks in advance.

Insurance – Your guests are probably covered under your policy, but check with your agent first - before you make swap arrangements.

Cleaning – Negotiate cleaning. Have the name and number of a cleaning service available to your guests, and discuss what expectations you and your guests have. Be specific to avoid misunderstandings - there may be cultural differences!

Information – Have a handbook on how to operate features of your home, where items are located, and what local attractions there are.

Welcome gift – Get off on the right foot and leave a token for your guests. Some fruit may be welcome, especially if they haven’t a chance to find a grocery store the first evening.

Neighbors – If you’re friendly with your neighbors, ask them to drop by and see how your guests are getting along. It’s nice to be welcomed with friendly faces and know there’s someone nearby who could answer questions.

Lawn Care – It may be a good idea to hire someone to cut the grass while you are away, but you may be able to talk your guests into pulling out the lawnmower!

Valuables – Guests are usually mature professionals, but prudence with your valuables is still a good idea. Secure them.

Expectations – American homes are generally larger and grander than homes in other parts of the world. It wouldn’t be unusual to find European homes charming and cramped. When I asked a friend why he had living room furniture in his garage wrapped in plastic, he told me he ordered it in the States before moving to Europe - and nothing fit through the front door!!

Home swapping is a way to travel in style, keep costs under control, and experience new places in ways a hotel simply can't. Your destination may not be as obvious as picking up a travel brochure, but your holiday will be richer for it!

Nicole Davis has traveled to many parts of Europe, Asia, and the United States. Nicole is an independent distributor of art and craft kits for children in the United States. For more information about the kits or how you can work from home, please call 800-778-3460 or visit http://craftlizard.com