Today we want to inspire you to travel so we decided to present you with the following words of wisdom we found in BraveNewTraveler. Enjoy…

“The use of traveling is to regulate imagination by reality, and instead of thinking how things may be, to see them as they are.” – Samuel Johnson

“Perhaps travel cannot prevent bigotry, but by demonstrating that all peoples cry, laugh, eat, worry, and die, it can introduce the idea that if we try and understand each other, we may even become friends.” – Maya Angelou

“Travel and change of place impart new vigour to the mind.” – Seneca

“To travel is to discover that everyone is wrong about other countries.” – Aldous Huxley

“The first condition of understanding a foreign country is to smell it.” – Rudyard Kipling

“If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion and avoid the people, you might better stay at home.” – James Michener

At Days End by Jennifer Renne

“Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

“To my mind, the greatest reward and luxury of travel is to be able to experience everyday things as if for the first time, to be in a position in which almost nothing is so familiar it is taken for granted.” – Bill Bryson

“To awaken quite alone in a strange town is one of the pleasantest sensations in the world.” – Freya Stark

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” – Mark Twain

If you didn’t feel the urge to start searching HomeForHome to find a home exchange destination, maybe you will after what we found in The Quote Garden:

“When preparing to travel, lay out all your clothes and all your money.  Then take half the clothes and twice the money.”  – Susan Heller

“And that’s the wonderful thing about family travel:  it provides you with experiences that will remain locked forever in the scar tissue of your mind.” – Dave Barry

“I soon realized that no journey carries one far unless, as it extends into the world around us, it goes an equal distance into the world within.”  – Lillian Smith

Not long ago, we presented a list of the most distinct attractions for you to enjoy during a home exchange in London, but there are many great places in Britain that foreign tourists visit every year and deserve attention as well. If you are looking into a homeland exchange, this are sites that could help you select the final destination:

Stonehenge is a 5000 year-old historic site located in Wiltshire county. It is Britain’s most famous pre-historic monument, standing since the late neolithic and surrounded by mystic and legend. There are other ancient sites of distinct relevance just a few miles away, like Avebury, the largest megalithic circle in the world. To learn more about these sites, visit the UNESCO World Heritage Centre’s website.

Another site is Hadrian’s Wall, a stone barrier built during the Roman invasion to protect the gained territories from barbarian raids. The wall construction took over six years and it was so strong there are intact remains in several areas across Britain. If you are interested in learning more about this site, visit Hadrian’s Wall Country where you can find itinerary ideas and everything you need to plan your own tour by the wall. If you like the outdoors, this is your site.

The White Cliffs of Dover are a natural formation composed of soft, white limestone of marine origin facing continental Europe that can be seen from the French coast across the channel. The site’s natural beauty can be admired form the Cliff’s top trails and is accompanied with several stunning nearby buildings, like Knights Templar Church, Dover Castle, Archcliffe Fort and South Foreland Lighthouse, making it a great vacation site.

If you are looking for sites and landmarks to visit in a set location you can use PicturesofEngland.com to get more ideas and prepare for your trip. To find a place to stay you have HomeForHome.

If you have joined the group of active environmentally aware travelers or if you are on the verge of doing so, HomeForHome has some basic ideas to help you get started. These tips are applicable everywhere so you may use your home exchange as an excuse to get used to them and then apply them year-round.

Food. Buying local food is an easy way to reduce CO2 emissions. There is no need to transport the goods from a distant location, so not only the CO2 release is cut, but there is also zero added cost due to transportation somehow lowering their price. There are farmers that are producing organic, fresh fruits and vegetables, reducing the impact of farming on the environment and promoting sustainability. Locate and support local farmers that are embarking on such projects to help them sustain their production. Buying seasonal food is another way to cut back on CO2 release, since there is no extra energy invested for either transporting or preserving of these products, and being fair, fresh goods taste better.

Shopping and entertainment. As in the case of farmers that are applying “greener” technologies, there are several businesses that are adopting sustainable practices. Ranging from restaurants to art exhibitions, there may be local entrepreneurs near you that want to help the environment too and by supporting their business you help us all.

Walk more or use public transportation. Walking is probably the best way to get around in a place we are eager to learn about. It will give you first hand contact with the locals and the reduced speed will certainly help you appreciate architectural and landscape beauties you may otherwise miss. If you want to visit several locations that are separated by a great distance, then instead of walking you may use public transportation to decrease your trip’s carbon footprint. Usually, local governments take good care in having the local landmarks in the way of public transport routes.

Electricity. Before you leave your house to your home exchange, unplug any appliances that are not going to be in use while you are gone. Another easy way to save on electricity is to turn off the lights when you are the last to leave a room. These small actions will not only save money in your electrical bill, but also will save on the precious resources used to generate electricity.

These are just a few of many good small ideas to help our big home (the one we cannot exchange), and we are sure your imagination and creativity can come up with many more to put in practice in your next green swap.

For some it is the most romantic day of the year, for others not so much, but one way or the other, you are probably going to share a special moment and even exchange presents with your significant other. For the most enthusiastic ones and, why not, all those looking for a good excuse to travel we have our HomeForHome (obvious) suggestion: a getaway exchange. Many of our members could be just looking for the same deal: a weekend exchange in a romantic place for a different and unique celebration this February 14th.

HomeForHome has members all over the world, so near of far, your Valentine exchange could be around the corner. For some people, it may be too little time to plan and coordinate an exchange, and that is understandable, but for others it may be easier. For example, if you already had a successful swap in a place you just loved, contact your previous home exchange partner and check if their place will be available during the 14th. Check the forums, there are many topics asking for weekend exchanges.

With only a few weeks before Valentine’s Day you may also find good last minute deals on flights and that wouldn’t hurt the Valentine budget either. A special dinner vs a unique romantic getaway, what would you choose?

We say it over an over: home exchange has advantages for all. What about seniors and people just retiring? After a lifetime of tight schedules, retirement brings along a completely free agenda, will you miss this chance to take that long, long, long vacation you always dreamed about? Paris, Rome, Madrid, New York, Australia, South America… It does sound dreamy, but there’s also the budget to consider, specially when “crisis” is still around … The solution? Home exchange.

With HomeForHome’s free registration, the accommodation cost can drop to a stunning zero! Plus, the benefits of staying in a home, like access to a full kitchen where you can cook your own meals and keep your favourite fruits in the refrigerator, adding money to the savings list and keeping your eating habits in a “healthy” level. Car exchange would be another “extra” that could release you from car rental fees and additional insurance but that depends on your own preferences. But there’s another advantage yet: home exchangers often allow pets to stay in their home, so if you have a four-legged family member (or it has a beak) and you are not willing to leave him behind, home swap has the solution for you too.

If you are in this age group, use your flexible schedule to find your perfect home swap match, give it a try, maybe start with a nearby exchange and get to know your country’s own beauties before you embark on the worldwide home exchange experience.

To complete the information provided in our previous post, we couldn’t leave out the list of forbidden items. If you pack any of these items in your hand baggage you are going to be delayed in the security checks at the airport. Remember these regulations are to protect us all, so be patient, hopefully after you get through to the lounge you’ll be enjoying your home exchange vacation already.

The Directgov UK government website clearly states that “You cannot take any objects in your hand baggage that can cause injury to yourself and other passengers. These are considered ‘prohibited’ and you are only allowed to take these items in your hold baggage (bags you check in)” and a quite thorough list follows. We will not reproduce the full list, but here is the main groups with a few examples to help you get the idea:

- Pointed/edged weapons and sharp objects, like scissors with long blades, knives of any kind, corkscrews, darts, screwdrivers, drills, ice skates or darts.
- Blunt instruments. Many sports equipment items are included in this group, like hockey sticks, paddles, bats, fishing rods and billiards cues, among others.

Objects that cannot be taken on the plane at all:

- Guns, firearms and weapons. If you are thinking “ok, like anyone in their senses would bring a gun” well, keep in mind that even toy guns and ball bearing guns are included in this category, so don’t take it lightly.
- Explosives and flammable substances, leaving out the obvious let’s say that here we have aerosol spray paint, smoke generating canisters/cartridges, non-safety matches, pyrotechnics, party poppers and drinks with over 70% alcohol by volume.
- Chemical and toxic substances, like organic peroxides, acids, alkalis (here is where “wet” batteries are included), tear gas, pepper spray or any kind of poison.

Please keep in mind that these items are strictly prohibited on the plane and will not be allowed in the hold baggage either. If you have any doubts, contact your airline to request more information. For regulations applying in other countries, you may visit the Foreign Office website.

Pack your bags and get ready to fly to your home exchange destination with HomeForHome.

Nobody wants their vacation to start with a problem at the airport, and nothing better than knowing the rules on advance to avoid any misunderstanding during baggage check. The Directgov UK government website offers detailed information about travel and transport and specially air travel, including hand baggage rules, things need to know about airport security and items you cannot take on board a flight.

Let’s make a quick review about hand baggage rules:

- Maximum size, as determined by the Department of Transport, is 56×45x25cm including wheels, handles and pockets, but some airlines may have a different maximum size allowed, so it is a good idea to check with your airline in advance (the same applies to the number of items you are allowed to check-in). Oversized items will be checked-in as hold baggage and will not be allowed in the cabin.

- Laptops and other electrical items are allowed but they have to be screened separately.

- If you need to bring medical equipment that is essential for you, you need to have supporting documentation from a medical professional (prescription, letter, etc.)

- Musical instruments may be allowed as hand baggage, but it is essential that you contact the airline in advance, since you may have to make special arrangements.

- It is best to pack liquids in your hold baggage, because there are several restrictions to the volumes allowed in hand baggage items.

- Surprisingly, one lighter is allowed per person, and you must keep it with you through the whole flight. It is not allowed to have a lighter in your hold baggage and you cannot place it on the hand baggage.

- You may bring enough food, milk or sterilised water for a baby to cover their need during the flight.

- Liquids bought after passing through security are allowed in the cabin.

The Foreign Office website offers travel advice by country, so you can check the regulations in your destination as well, to avoid problems after landing.

We will continue next time with more airport checks advice, in the meantime find your home exchange destination and prepare to travel.

One main decision that you need to make when you decide to travel is where to go. It is not an easy decision, there are so many options! Our world is full of great places: exciting, exotic, untouched, bustling, breathtaking… As a year ends, the most renowned travel reviewers select the best travel destinations for the coming year. Today we will present you with the selections made for 2010 by Frommer’s, Encyclopedia Britannica Blog and Lonely Planet, to help you narrow your selection to the best of the best.

Frommer’s has featured the following destinations:

Tunisia
Copenhagen, Denmark
Hanoi, Vietnam
Santiago de Cuba, Cuba
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Hawaii (the Big Island), United States
Salta Province, Argentina
Isles of Scilly, England
Mexico City, Mexico
Melbourne, Australia
Florida Panhandle Beaches, USA
Kerala, India

Encyclopedia Britannica Blog published the selection made by travel expert Natasha von Geldern:

1. Brazil
2. USA
3. Iceland
4. Cuba
5. South Africa
6. London
7. Nepal
8. Melbourne
9. Hong Kong
10. Kyrgyzstan

Lonely Planet picked the following countries in their top 10:

1. El Salvador
2. Germany
3. Greece
4. Malaysia
5. Morocco
6. Nepal
7. New Zealand
8. Portugal
9. Suriname
10. USA

What do you think about this top destinations? Where would you like to go during 2010? Make your choice, find your home exchange opportunity in HomeForHome and swap away!

Spain has the largest number of listings in HomeForHome. We have previously featured Barcelona and Malaga, two highly desired Spanish destinations, but there are several other pleasant destinations just waiting for you. An advantage of such an exchange would be the opportunity to practice a foreign language. We said it almost a year ago:

“The best way to learn a language is to get yourself in a country where it is spoken. This way you really drench yourself in the culture, you are constantly absorbing new vocabulary from the road signs, the posters, the conversations you over-hear on the metro – and most importantly of all – you make friends you can talk with.” (28-01-2009)

To maximize the gain and fully absorbs the daily conversations, it would be a good idea to start the immersion in advance. Fortunately, the Internet provides us with such wonderful tools these days, we can do this at home.

For example, for those wishing to try home exchange with someone in Spain or other Spanish speaking country we found this great website called Lenguajero, that not only allows you to practice your Spanish skills but also has some great tools and resources to help members expand their vocabulary and improve their writing. Lenguajero allows English and Spanish native speakers to interact and have conversations in both languages.

Lenguajero has a growing community of over 4000 members, split equally between English and Spanish learners from USA, UK, Canada, Spain, Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Chile, Argentina and other countries. If you check out this site and its blog, you may also find some advice on living and travelling (maybe through home exchange) to South America, so it’s a learn-learn deal!

The New Year is on the road, and you probably made some resolutions and set some special dates aside in the calendar. Of course, with a brand new year, it seems like you’re going to have time for everything, but as the days start to go by, there are things that start trailing behind in the agenda. However, we want to encourage you to reserve some time to plan your vacations. If you choose home exchange, it is a good idea to get ahead of things, since it takes time for some people to find a good match to their swapping intentions.

There are several alternatives to plan your holidays using HomeForHome, whether a short trip to that nearby location you’ve always wanted to visit, a romantic getaway to Paris, a relaxing family vacation in a rural area or the coast, an intense trip to a busy capital, a cultural swap to a distant destination, whether you prefer skiing or surfing or trekking or if your favourite sport during vacations is intensive recreational reading, all these options are waiting for you a few clicks away.

We want to help, so here are some items for your agenda:

- Update your HomeForHome profile, share something new, add more photos, get involved in the community forum, get out there.

- Check your passport and all related travel documents you may need (travel assistance/insurance, credit/debit cards, etc.). You don’t want to find out in the last minute you were supposed to have them renewed a week ago! Remember that your passport needs to be valid for the duration of your trip and some countries even require travellers to have at least six months validity remaining on their passports.

- Mark dates that are set apart for other important activities and exclude them when you search for a place to stay, flights, etc. Also, if you know your house will be free during those dates, mark them as “available” in your HomeForHome availability calendar, since it may help you find non-simultaneous swaps.

- Take the initiative, contact other HomeForHome users, ask them about their homes, their availability, invite them to check out your home. Maybe you can make some new friends along the way.