The Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics came to an end yesterday, and a couple of weeks of ice and snow everywhere (not only on TV!), were once again a reminder of the top destinations for 2010 discussed in January. Why? Well, Encyclopedia Britannica Blog had Iceland wining their bronze medal. Let’s discover a why Iceland deserved such a prize.

After a moment searching through the Internet and viewing some pictures of Iceland you would agree that, in a few words: Iceland is amazing. The country’s natural beauty is just fascinating. They have geysers, volcanoes, glaciers, lakes, geo-thermal pools and waterfalls of marvelous beauty. Iceland’s natural scenery is accompanied with modern infrastructure and services to present a great alternative to travellers. Bird-watching, glacier trekking, hiking, whale-watching, cultural events, unique golf tournaments involving midnight-sun teeing off and spectacular northern lights are among the activities that will have a special touch of uniqueness when enjoyed in Iceland.

Icelanders are modern and friendly, most of them are fluent in English and they will probably help you have a pleasant stay. The economic crisis hit Iceland very hard, but this means there’s an extra advantage for foreign visitors: exchange rates are favourable. So, it really seams like breathtaking Iceland deserves a place among the top destinations for 2010.

The best months to visit Iceland are coming soon. May, June and July are the driest months with the high season extending through August as well. A fun fact is that today, March 1st, Iceland celebrates an interest success since it is Beer Day. Beer with more than 2.2 percent alcohol by volume was prohibited by law from 1915 until 1989, so the anniversary of its legalisation is celebrated accordingly.

In case you are already wondering, there are home exchange opportunities in Iceland, so don’t waste any time.

You can learn more about Iceland at http://www.visiticeland.com

An important part of building your presence in HomeForHome is how you present the attractive things going on near your location. Some lucky people are located in touristic “hot-spots” like downtown London, romantic Paris, the timeless channels of Venice, the Mediterranean coast… But those who need to make their location more appealing must add extra information to catch more people’s attention and receive more home exchange requests.

In view of helping these last people find attractive things to add to their home descriptions, and focusing on the “Points of interest near your home” field, we have the following websites:

BritEvents.com - hosts a calendar of events taking place in Britain. There’s a chance an event taking place in your area is listed here because they seem to have just about everything: sports events, shows, plays, exhibitions, conferences, concerts, gigs, art & craft, and even a section of bizarre events which is presented “From World Gurning Championships to The Biggest Liar Competition, and The Coopers Hill Cheese Rolling Championship to the Bog Snorkelling Championship, we Brits are renowned for devising some of the oddest, most bizarre events imaginable to keep us entertained”. So, give it a chance and you may find an event that “spices up” your location.

enjoyEngland - in their own words “you’ll find everything you need to plan a day out or short break in England. Explore the map for top locations around the country, find inspiring ideas on where to go and what to do or use our day trip planner to find great events happening near you.”

These websites will also be appealing to those looking for a particular event or activity, or those who are not sure what would their next adventure be. Whichever your situation may be, you’ll stay there the cheapest way using HomeForHome.

In a previous post, when 2010 was just starting, we wrote about the top travel destinations for this year. Among the places selected by the cited specialist websites there were two local ones: London and the Isles of Scilly, both in England. Well, London has worldwide reputation and needs no further recommendation, but what is great about the Isles of Scilly? Let’s explore…

The Isles of Scilly are an archipelago 45 Km off the Cornish peninsula, the southernmost mainland point of the UK. They were designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) in 1975, so with that title you can’t go wrong. Peaceful, beautiful and uncrowded are probably the most fitting adjectives to describe this paradise. The “outstanding natural beauty” of the isles is protected by the local community by attaining sustainable practices and the establishment of a “visitors Code of Conduct” where mostly green travelling tips are recommended to preserve the natural beauty of the islands and decrease the carbon footprint left behind by those who choose them as their holiday destination.

Photo by Tom Corser

The five larger inhabited islands are Bryher, St Agnes, St Martin’s, St Mary’s and Tresco, and they are surrounded by several smaller rocky islets. Natural tourism is the main economical activity, followed by fishing and early-flower production. Bird-watching is one of the high points of the islands, due to the presence of rare migrant species mostly during October. But don’t let the relaxed spirit of this barely touched gems give you the idea that there are not exciting things to do in Isles of Scilly: golf, tennis, biking, snorkeling, diving, horseback ridding, sea safaris, kayaking, windsurfing and shark-fishing are some of the activities that can give you a sense of adventure as well.

So if your HomeForHome quest sets you off to the southwest for a home swap you may want to include a visit to the Isles of Scilly in your tour and explore an area of sandy beaches, clear waters and undisturbed nature.

For more information, you may visit:
* http://www.ios-aonb.info/
* http://www.simplyscilly.co.uk/

Author: Tom Curtis / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

If you are already planning your future summertime home exchange, you may have noticed our community has kept growing over the past few months, so the options have widened. There are HomeForHome users all over the globe and in the most varied locations.

There are homes in big cities, like London, Amsterdam, Rome, Paris, New York, Madrid, Barcelona, San Francisco, Melbourne, Sydney.

There are homes by the beach, homes near famous locations, homes near touristic hot-spots…

But today we wanted to point out a less known environment: farm homes.

There are various farm houses listed in HomeForHome, and there is probably one near your own location. Farms are a great idea for a family vacation. Most children will be very excited to explore the countryside and it may turn out to be an experience they will never forget.

The tranquility, the animals, the garden, the chance to take a long stroll into the natural wild or a nice picnic by a creek, maybe fishing. The options depend on what is available in and near the farm, but chances are you will relax no matter what. If there are animals in the farm, or a vegetable orchard, you may have to take care of them while you are in charge of the farm, your swap partner may provide you with some basic instructions on what needs to be done and you may have your children collecting eggs, feeding baby lambs, collecting fruits, etc., experiences that would make them more aware of our relationship with the natural environment.

If you are venturing with the family into a farm stay, you may want to bring along some board games, puzzles or card games for them to enjoy in the evenings as well.

Another advantage that would result attractive is that you will not have to buy tickets or souvenirs as you probably would if you get involved in a costly attraction-filled trip. When you are staying in a farm, you are staying in the attraction, with no extra cost!

Money by Danilo Rizzuti

Oh well… The economy seems to be struggling still, recovery seems to be taking a break in a distant location and we need to keep thinking about lowering our budgets and saving for rough times. As we have mentioned (maybe too many times now), home exchange is by far the best solution for a low cost accommodation during vacations and trips of any kind. With HomeForHome you can reduce this line of the vacation bill to a nice and round zero. Besides, it does not imply a cut in the quality of the place where you will be enjoying your time away from home, which would certainly happen if you opt for other inexpensive lodging deals.

Off season deals are also a good way to lower your vacation budget, for example, right now most European destinations should be uncrowded and probably prices are not as high as in the summertime. Another advantage of off season travelling is the reduction in the time spent waiting in lines at most attractions and tourist sites, which allows you to visit more places.

Adding to the savings, another option will also help you support your local economy: travel to a destination in your own country. By doing this, you will probably reduce the cost of transportation and also your money won’t leave borders. If you look around the web, you will find several resources that can help you find the right destination for you, but if you really want to get into domestic travelling we would like to recommend you Britain Express - UK travel and heritage guide.

Britain Express is one of the most complete online travel guides dedicated to the UK we have found so far (we are open to more suggestions, of course) and it covers anything from accommodation to specialized  travel services. Attractions, tourism guides, heritage information, events, photos, maps, trip planning tools, travel directory… You name it, it’s there.

So, take a moment to visit Britain Express and then come back to HomeForHome to find a swap match for your next trip to Britain’s best.

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.

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?

Let’s forget about ice and snow for a moment to immerse ourselves in the warmth of Rio de Janeiro. This Brazilian city was formerly the nation’s capital and its blend of natural exuberance, modern infrastructures and varied entertainment options makes it an excellent spot for an unforgettable vacation.

Starting with the obvious: the beaches. Rio de Janeiro’s Atlantic coastline is a long belt of beautiful sandy beaches. The most renowned are Ipanema and Copacabana, but you may find you own hidden paradise among the others. These are not the only natural beauties Rio has to offer, going up Sugar Loaf Mountain (Pão de Açúcar) you get a 360° view of Rio, or climbing the stairs of Corcovado you will reach the statue of Christ the Redeemer, named one of the new seven wonders of the world.

Nightlife may be the second most important feature that stands out, with the Rio de Janeiro Carnival being its maximum expression. The Brazilian Carnival is probably the single most colourful event in the world, and in Rio de Janeiro it involves a week full of dancing, singing, parties, and of course, a lot of fun! Samba schools spend the whole year preparing for the parade and the “Sambodromo” dresses up for the event.

Plan your trip, get ready for samba, and find your home exchange opportunity in Rio de Janeiro.

While the hard winter keeps hitting Europe, it is summer in the South, and today we decided to present you some destinations you may want to consider if you need to flee from the cold:

Argentina: Buenos Aires is the capital of Tango, but there are so many other choices in Maradona’s homeland. From Mar del Plata, where sun, beach, nightlife and entertainment find their summer crib, to the Northern areas where right now the 2010 Dakar rally is covering over 9000 kilometres through desert, dunes, mountain, sand and hard soils… Check out the scenery you are watching on TV directly with home exchange. There’s much to discover!

Australia: The Australian Open is about to start and Melbourne will become tennis capital of the world for a couple of weeks, but there are plenty of beautiful things to explore after tennis is gone: the Blue Mountains, the Aboriginal cultural expressions, the kangaroos, untouched beaches, reefs, and more… Check out what our Australian users have to share at HomeForHome.

Brazil: there are 18 Brazilian houses in HomeForHome. Famous for its sunny beaches and splendorous carnival (to come this February), Brazil has a lot to offer to swappers looking for fun in addition to the weather change. Rio de Janeiro is probably the most famous destination in Brazil, so we will dedicate it an entry of its own later this week (stay tuned!)

New Zealand:  If you want hot, then dig and dive in Hot Water Beach, or feel the summer breeze jumping off Sky Tower (Auckland), or check out one of the busiest outdoor activities calendar in the world to find an activity that suits your adrenaline quota. From art festivals to international sport activities covering surf, canoeing, cricket, golf and more, there is plenty for every taste in New Zealand. Search for your exchange…

We’ll bring you more warm thoughts soon!

The winter has brought snow all over Europe, so it is time to find you ski gear and search through HomeForHome for an exchange partner close enough to any of the great ski areas in the continent.

Since France has the second largest list of home exchange offers, we decided to present you one of its most famous ski resorts: Alpe d’Huez.

Alpe d’Huez is famous not only for its skiing slopes but also because it is the ending point of one of the hardest stages of the Tour de France. You will not only be enjoying the 123 runs, the area, including the picturesque village of Huez, has services to ensure you will not have to worry about anything else: more than 300 shops, child care services, ski schools, launderettes, banks, petrol stations, bars, bookstores and more…

We specially recommend you the Sarenne, the longest ski run with 16 Km, with the featured “Sarenne by Moonlight” and “Sarenne at Night” excursions taking you up to 3330 metres to the highest peak (Pic Blanc) for a nocturnal descend in the moonlight or with headlamps, respectively.

Alpe d’Huez is located in the region of Isère, one hour away from Grenoble and  a little over four hours away from Paris. Give it a try, search thought the 33 HomeForHome houses listed in Isère and find your match!