HomeForHome is a home exchange website, but we leave it to our users to take advantage of our services and innovate. Creativity is always welcomed. The only thing we do not admit is trying to take profit from our services (we do not allow any commercial deals and we ask our users to report people who really want to rent their place instead of a free home exchange). Do you want to hear about some creative ways to swap? Here we go with two ideas:

- Register your motor-home or your yacht. If it can be used as a home it can be registered for home exchange in HomeForHome (no funny interpretations, please - we are serious). A user may be interested in using your motor-home to take their home exchange journey to a whole new level.

- What about an hospitality exchange? Hospitality exchanges are a variation of home exchange when each swapper receives their partner as a guest in their home. This could be a particularly interesting choice for those who want to make new friends and re-discover the beauty of their home town. We have seen some of our users starting forum topics about receiving a child from another family in their home while their child stays with the other family to learn a foreign language, a very special student exchange. This could even be arranged to be non-simultaneous so the visitor has a friend of the same age to show them around. Hospitality exchanges could also be a great idea for retired people or first-time travellers that are not confident about travelling to a whole different country on their own and would rather have some company. As for home exchange, hospitality exchange is not for everyone, some people may be thrilled by the idea of receiving people from a different culture in their home but this may be too much for others.

Image from FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Back in April we suggested Aquariums could be great places to list as nearby attractions to add to your HomeForHome home description, and we mentioned a few well known aquariums from around the globe. Well, as the 2010 FIFA World Cup is coming to an end, there’s an aquarium that has drawn the attention of the world to one of its inhabitants: Paul the “Psychic Octopus”.

Image by Allie_Caulfield (flickr)

Paul is a common octopus living in SEA LIFE Oberhausen (in April we mentioned SEA LIFE Berlin but we really didn’t know about this famous creature). Paul seems to have the ability to predict the winner of football matches. Yes, you read correctly, the octopus can tell ahead which team will be victorious. This is how it works: Two plastic containers are presented to Paul, both have food inside and the only difference between them is the flag shown in the front. The tentacled psychic takes a moment and then decides to go for one of the containers to have his lunch and the container’s flag is taken as the flag of the winner. If you are thinking “he’s probably trained to choose the German flag” you are not correct, his last prediction was that Spain would beat Germany in the semi-final and he got it right.

A few facts about Paul:

1. Paul is British, he was born in Weymouth SEA LIFE Park and moved to his current home in 2006.
2. He is also known as das Krakenorakel (German), el Pulpo Paul (Spanish) and the Oracle Octopus.
3. He became a celebrity after predicting correctly the result of all of Germany’s matches in the current edition of the FIFA World Cup.
4. He seems to have improved his “technique” because in 2008 during the UEFA European Championship he failed in two predictions out of the six he made, but during the 2010 FIFA World Cup he made no mistakes.
5. He is a media and Internet sensation, he has made it to appear in the BBC, CNN, and thousands of TV channels worldwide. He is in the top ten trends in Twitter and has both fan and enemy pages in Facebook, the last mainly from defeated teams.

Do you want to meet Paul?

If you are interested in meeting Paul during your next home exchange vacation, you should probably hurry because apparently there are a few offers to buy the tentacled sensation and a few threatening cooking recipes in the countries that he didn’t select. Paul resides now in Oberhausen, a city in Nordrhein-Westfalen, also known for having the largest shopping mall in Germany: CentrO.  If you prefer to wait till the media forgets about Paul to arrange your home exchange, then a good time to visit him would be 5 -10 May 2011, during the 57th International Short Film Festival Oberhausen.

During the weekend we will find out if his latest predictions were correct: he chose Germany as the winner of the third-place match and Spain as the World Cup winner in Sunday’s match against the Netherlands.

Jessica Watson got home. Who? Come on, you really don’t remember one of the girls sailing alone around the globe? We wrote about her and Abby Sunderland last month. Well, the good news is that Jessica completed the challenge, arriving at Sydney this weekend.

Her journey around the world took her through 23,000 nautical miles (something like 42,000 Km) in about 7 months, and she received quite a warm welcome when thousands were cheering her as she navigated through Sydney Harbour before disembarking at Sydney Opera House. Even more people followed her blog and website, plus there was a live TV broadcast in Australia. Well, given the Prime Minister was at her arrival it’s safe to say the girl is a celebrity now.

Image by Michal Marcol /FreeDigitalPhotos.net

She did it, 210 days of solo, non-stop, unassisted sailing. So, what are you going to do with your next 210 days? An option is to set route to that exciting destination you’ve always wanted to visit and have your dreamed trip! You may try it solo and non-stop if you want, but for sure you can use HomeForHome’s assistance to find a home exchange deal before embarking on your journey!

If you want to read more about Jessica’s trip, visit her official website: http://www.jessicawatson.com.au

And if you want more inspiration, then remember we have another teenage girl sailing around the world: Abby Sunderland. So, where is Abby now?

Image by jscreationzs /FreeDigitalPhotos.net

HomeForHome aims to become the largest home exchange network, and so far it’s going great! (or shall we say “growing great!”?). There are over 13,000 houses registered, from almost any place you can imagine. And this time we won’t miss it like we did when we reached 10,000 homes, as soon as we reach to 15,000 we’ll shout it up!

How does the HomeForHome picture looks like now?

Spain has taken the lead, with almost 5,000 houses registered!!! Wow, that’s a lot of swappers searching for “intercambios”. Second in offers is France, oh “la France” so beautiful, there are so many things worth seeing in France, Paris alone (note: with 750 swappers it has more offers than most countries!) probably has 10 “musts” for most travellers not to count its Mediterranean coast, the wines, the cheeses, the bread… Third, achieving the bronze medal (for now) is Italy with over 1,600 homes. Italy is another country with much to offer: Rome (116 offers), Milan, romantic Venice, and pizza everywhere. Following in number of offers are UK, Germany, USA, Canada, Australia and Argentina.

For exotic places where there are HomeForHome home exchangers: Madagascar, Uruguay, Barbados, Azerbaijan, the French Polynesia, Alaska! Many you probably didn’t think of till now, and many more you can discover using HomeForHome’s map search tool. Give it a try!

Image by Tim Seed /FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Something caught my eye today while surfing the web, GrindTV.com features a story about a teenage girl sailing solo around the world. Abby Sunderland is a 16 year old girl trying to sail around the world alone, nonstop and unassisted. But this is not all, there’s yet another girl trying to make the same quest: Jessica Watson, an Australian teenager only five months older than Sunderland, is expected to complete her nonstop circumnavigation attempt in late May. She has been sailing since October 2009.

What about that! They have the spirit and even if not this time, they will get their way around the world. But for those that don’t know how to sail, there are other ways to make a quest around the globe. With HomeForHome offering thousand of homes from all over the world, you can start your own “home exchange worldwide adventure” and solo or not, it does seem enticing.

If you want to be inspired by these young adventurers, visit their official websites and follow them as they sail around our world:

Abby Sunderland & Abby’s Blog - “It has been my dream since I was 13 years old and began single-handing, to one day sail solo around the world. I am 16 years old and this blog will contain the story of my attempt to become the world’s youngest solo circumnavigator.”

Official Jessica Watson Blog & Jessica Watson - “Inspired in her turn by Kay Cottee, the first woman to sail solo non-stop unassisted around the world and by Jesse Martin, the youngest person to do so, Jessica Watson has set her sights on shattering Jesse’s record.”

You’ve long been waiting for your adventure across Europe and everything is planned out already. Everything is in its place but you suddenly stop to think of things: What if a snow storm comes and I get stuck at the airport in Prague? What if someone gets sick while you and your family are staying in your home swap in Barcelona? What if my travel bag gets lost in the baggage department in the airport in Copenhagen? Sounds crazy but possible, right? So what do you do for a better peace of mind? Get a travel insurance.

Travel insurances normally costs around 5 to 12 per cent of your total trip cost. But is it worth it? I say yes. There are many travel insurances available; you can browse the web for various companies and agencies offering travel insurance. Choose a company that is well-known or is recommended by most travelers. Remember to closely review the insurance policies they have too, as most of them have their perks and downsides. Choose what you think works for you and would suit your needs best. Most travel insurance packages covers trip cancellation or interruption, medical insurance, evacuation insurance, baggage insurance, flight insurance. It’s better to read closely and understand the mechanics of each aspect of the insurance package. Ask someone knowledgeable about the policies for any unclear issues you have.

Travel insurances doesn’t cost much, but will definitely be of big help in case any undesirable circumstance arises. It sure will cost you a price but you won’t regret it. Keep in mind that you are paying for your safety while traveling, and is not just something you are wasting your money on. It is better to be prepared for these undesirable situations than to regret you never considered thinking about safety.

Are you eyeing to spend your vacay outside Europe? Here is a suggestion: visit Australia. If you want to discover a diverse culture and beautiful sceneries, you won’t regret spending some time here. Australia is an English-speaking country, with a very competitive economy. Discovered and written about by Europeans since the 17^th century, Australia was always a place of different discoveries and stunning beauty.

Although the country is largely composed of vast deserts, Australia has its share of mountainous regions and tropical rainforests, meaning this country has a lot to offer in biodiversity. Some species unique to Australia include koalas, platypuses, wombats and different species of fresh and saltwater crocodiles. A visit to any zoo here will definitely be as entertaining and amusing. There are a lot of things to do and places to go in Australia even if you are traveling on a budget. Depending on what part you are in, you surely will still have your share of fun and the best out of Australia. If you are on the Gold Coast area, the beach is definitely a place to go. Swim, surf, jump waves or paddle swim your way to the best waves in the world. If you are in Sydney, a visit to museums and parks and the famous Sydney Opera House is a must. Don’t forget to take a picture of you with it on the background! And if you are on Melbourne, a free ride in the City Circle Tram will show you the best attractions in this side of Australia.

Although far from Europe, Australia is not excluded from a home exchange option. In fact, there are homes ready for a swap. You can check out Homeforhome.com for some options.  So if you want to have something different, then go for Australia!

freedigitalphotos.net

Everyone loves a good time, especially when on vacation. For most of us, chilling out might be something like hanging out with friends and enjoying a couple of beers or even partying out like a rock star on the coolest clubs in the city. Having a few drinks and taking the time out isn’t bad at all, but we need to keep a few things in mind, especially if you’re in a vacation in a different country.

The legal drinking age varies from country to country all over Europe. There are different policies regarding drinking too. Blood alcohol concentration limit also varies too, averaging from 0.2 to 0.8 ranges. Some countries even have zero alcohol tolerance. Zero tolerance on blood alcohol concentration applies on countries like the Czech Republic, Ukraine and Croatia. It would be a good idea to know the alcohol limit or tolerance of the country you are in to avoid mishaps. Better yet, don’t drink too much. It would also be a good idea to carry around an ID or maybe a passport to prove your age especially if you are going to purchase alcoholic beverages. Of course we know that not being able to prove your age means refusal to sell beverages to you. Bringing identification is always a good idea. Just don’t lose it when you already have had a few drinks! For some countries, there are two legal ages for drinking; one would be for purchasing beer and wine, and one for buying stronger spirits.

Don’t throw a party on a home swap. Unless you are risking to pay for any damage that might occur on your home exchange partner’s property. You don’t want a cocktail-stained carpet or your favorite furniture’s leather covers ripped when you get home, do you?

Lastly, know how much drinking your body can tolerate. Think of your safety first before anything else especially that you are in a foreign place. If you can’t take in much, then don’t drink at all.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah………And then you’re back. Right back. Back to September, back to autumn, back to work, back to earth.

You were just settling in to relazzzzing (yes! with a “z” because it’s even more chilled out that “relaxing”!), by the pool, absorbing the sun, enjoying your cocktail… In a flash, you’re back at the office, jostling your way through the underground, bleak, work, staring at the screen again. Upon returning from holidays, it is not uncommon to undergo a small bout of depression. So. How can we avoid the back-to-work blues?

Tip # 1: Find new activities!

During the holidays, you may have tried a new sport, or dabbled with a new activity that you like! You may even have started learning a new language! Now that you’ve got the taste for it, it is the perfect time to get yourself enrolled in that salsa class! Make time to do an evening class or take up a new hobby. All you needed was that little extra kick of motivation, and now you have it, so voilá! Up and at ‘em!

Tip # 2: Cocoon at home with friends

Winter is the time to sit around the fire with a glass of wine, snuggling up and watching films! Forget the gloom that can accompany the dawning of the colder seasons. This is an opportunity to organize a good party mode cocooning at home to tell your friends about your summer adventures and new home exchange projects.

Tip # No. 3: Take care of yourself

Just because the summer has ended and there’s no more beach-wear horror to endure, it’s not a reason to sit back and slide into bad habits. You can continue to go to the gym, eat lots of fresh fruit and veg, and even enjoy wrapping up in your charming winter wardrobe.

Tip # 4: Start thinking about your next home exchange

The summer holidays are over, certainly, but nothing prevents you planning  good weekend with friends or couples. Ticket prices are often cheaper, and you will discover charming destinations in the autumn and winter. Finland in December, Sicily to find a holiday or the Oktoberfest in Munich, enjoy the events and opportunities available to you via home exchange!

Just because the summer’s over does not mean that you have to wait a further year until the next vacation! Log on, get your thinking cap on, and start planning your next home exchange! This is the beauty of such low cost-vacations. Vacations and fun times away all year round!

If you’re a student or just someone who is interested in doing some temporary work aboard, the internet really is the best way to go about organizing your trip.

To start with, home exchange can cover your accommodation. If you’re thinking of staying abroad for a few months, you’ll have to make sure that you search for people who are interested in a medium-term exchange too. It depends on where you want to go and how long exactly you’re planning to be away. It’s best to try and be flexible and open to different ideas. At the same time, don’t be afraid of making suggestions to other users about longer term exchanges.

In order to find yourself a job, you can have a look on some of the international websites that offer job listings. It’s a very simple process, and all you have to do is put up your CV and fill out some personal details. For example, http://www.infojobs.com can help you find jobs across Europe and South America. It’s a great resource to have if you’re looking for temporary work.

So if you’re planning to work abroad for a few months, get planning straight away! The internet puts the world at your feet.