We do not write about this option very often, but students can become an important force in the swapping world. Mobility programs abide and there’s no better way to solve the accommodation problem than to swap houses with a student coming to your city (does not need to be to the same University).

We have the Study exchanges forum for people who specifically want to swap houses driven by academic related motives. Right now, there are mostly offers of people looking for an opportunity to improve their skills in a foreign language by experiencing it first hand, living as a local - one thing home exchange is perfect for. But, you can expand this and swap houses while you take a semester or a post-graduate program in another country. If you find the right partner you won’t have to sub-let your place, it will be taken care of, and you’ll have a home away from home without spending any extra money. It also works for teachers, professors and researchers!

Image: renjith krishnan / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Anyone can see that there are many home swappers looking for opportunities to visit different cities and regions, specially around the holiday season. You just need to visit the Exchange Requests forum where, for example last week there were over 30 new topics with the most varied offers. From people in Rome looking for a swap partner in Barcelona, to people offering their house for next Easter! That’s right, our swappers are planning way ahead and we would encourage anyone to follow that same path.

On the other hand, there is also a lot of activity in the “last minute deal” type of house swap, with many users trying to arrange short, weekend exchanges around November 2nd (All Souls’ Day). As we always say, in HomeForHome there’s something for every taste

Following our motto of the previous posts, we need to add that no matter where you go, there should always be music in the background to turn any moment into a special moment.

Image: Public domain image taken from Wikimedia Commons (author: Drozd).

Last week we gave you two recommendations, one in the USA and the other in Spain, and this week we came up with a completely different menu: Christmas in Brussels.

Plaisirs d’Hiver (Winter Wonders)
What: Music, lights, a big wheel, several Christmas markets and an ice rink to enjoy all the pleasures of the Winter in the magical Brussels.
Where: Place Sainte-Catherine, Grand Place, Marché aux Poissons and different areas around Brussels, Belgium.
When: From November 25th till New Year’s Day.

Christmas Carols
What: A show to accompany a delightful meal with the traditional White Christmas, Have yourself a merry little Christmas, Jingle bells and many more!
Where: Vaudeville Theatre, Brussels.
When: 3 times a day on these dates in December: 11, 12, 18 and 19. Not many dates so you better make your reservation with anticipation. For more details, please click here.

Brussels would be a destination to consider to have a very joyful season. Of course this beautiful city as many more things to discover, our suggestions are just a way to entice to plan your house swap to Brussels.

Image: Flikkesteph / Flickr.

We’ll probably return to London for part three, but right now it’s time to explore the options elsewhere so everyone can start making plans for next holiday season. A varied selection today, with two music festivals, different continents and in two very different cities.

Chickasha Festival of Light
What: A festival that gets national attention within the USA and receives over 300,000 people each year. Lights (millions of them), displays, holiday music, a musically-choreographed light show, rides…
Where: Shannon Springs Park, Chickasha, Oklahoma, USA.
When: November 22nd to December 31st.
If you would like to know more about this festival, you can visit http://www.chickashafestivaloflight.com/

Via Magna Festival
What: Vocal music in the incomparable setting of Madrid. Different styles, different places and different artists for everyone to get a little bit of Christmas spirit. Carols, gospel, pop, flamenco and classics with renowned interpreters and new rising talents.
Where: Different locations in Madrid, Spain.
When: Activities everyday from December 10th to the 20th.
You can download a PDF file with the program at http://www.festivalviamagna.com/

Image: luigi diamanti / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

It is time to continue with our suggestions for next Christmas in London. Today, we have some music events that might not be 100% Christmassy, but still very joyful. Check them out:

Rihanna at The O2
What: A live performance of one of the most popular artists these days, presenting her tour Loud.
Where: The O2, Peninsula Square, London SE10 0DX.
When: Dates near Christmas are 20-22 December, 2011

Thriller – Live
What: A tribute to Michael Jackson, where you will be able to enjoy two hours of his most popular songs and choreographies.
Where: Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, St James, London W1D 7ES.
When: Several dates near Christmas, from Tuesday to Sunday, highlighting dates on December 24th and 26th.

Christmas with the Rat Pack
What: This one is today’s Christmassy event, with season’s classics as they became famous in the voices of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis, Jr. Just like if you were in Las Vegas.
Where: Wyndham’s Theatre, Charing Cross Road, London WC2H 0DA.
When: Dates starting December 20th, from Tuesday to Saturday.

We hope you find time during your next house swap to add some music to your trip with any of these fabulous shows.

Image: Public domain image taken from Wikimedia Commons.