A lot of people will wonder how going on home exchange is.
They will have doubts and fears in giving their house to a stranger. A part of these doubts is legitimate.
Even so there are several aspects to take into account that can make our fears disappear.

Trying this kind of experience is not only a question of money, although you are going to save a lot. Money is a tiny part of the whole.
Therefore I’d like to focus on a specific psychological aspect of the issue.

Let’s try to imagine ourselves in the HOME EXCHANGE SITUATION.
You have a house, a life made of people, habits, routine, time and spaces…
At this point you should bear in mind that also the other person (the swapper) has all these things, though in a different way.

You have the unique opportunity to borrow all these things from this other person. You can turn our backs on everything, leave our ordinary life and begin, try a new one (alone or with our family).

If one is well-disposed will certainly meet new people, probably friends or acquaintances of our swapper…You can see different places, colours… You can go native, somehow. Even a banal supermarket will seem something special.
You’ll be foreigners but native at the same time.
You can take possession of a place that is not only “walls”, but rather a place soaked with life, with experience. You can wake up at day break (or even later if you prefer… ;)) at home (your new one) instead of doing it in an anonymous hotel room. You can stare at a different sky; learn a new route to get to the supermarket or to the newsagent’s, breathe a cleaner or simply different air… In conclusion, you could get the possibility, for yourself and your family, to have a new life (though for a short time).
The occasion of getting a life en plus, given to us by the home-exchange, seems incredible to me.

And it is pretty sure that this new life will be less stressful and will have all the advantages of being limited in time and unique and more genuine just because led in a true house, usually lived throughout its days and nights.

Which other way do we have to live two lives?

(Montecarlo, Monaco): suggested for gambling.

Monte Carlo View

The last town recommended in our already famous Top10 list is Monte Carlo.

The reason here is “gambling”. If we only have to look at the fact that one had to choose a different motivation for each town in the Top10 this choice is fine with me, otherwise not… maybe Casino and Grand Prix lovers will agree with this preference, but I would say that there are many other better cities than Monte Carlo around the world, either in Europe or not.

Historical casino

Not that it is an ugly city, on the contrary: there are several things worth seeing, only I wouldn’t put it in a world Top10.

By night

I invite you to suggest an alternative destination then, giving the related motivation for choosing it so that we will all want to go there! Thanks for your help!
I don’t really have enough money (and holidays) to burn in a casino, but for sure you’ve already got that!

…9… Sidney, Australia: recommended for nightlife.

Sidney by night

Sure, choosing Sidney we can’t pretend to be good boys (or girls) all the time… They know how to have fun there and there are hundreds of options, both for day and night, from the “gloomiest” to the most brilliant ones: pubs, bars, restaurants, nightclubs, shops. Museums, galleries, exhibitions, festivals, events and activities for kids, more or less prearranged adventures… In What’s On in Sidney you can get an idea of what Sidney can offer. Either by the most rapid Thunder Jets, luxury yatches or more affordable boats, trips and maritime excursions don’t lack.

Harbour Bridge, Sidney.

We shouldn’t forget however that Sidney is such a popular destination also because She knows how to show up and gives us some spectacular views of herself…

View from Sidney Tower.

I have a friend from Sidney, I met him in Scotland: Sam. He invited me several times to go over… It’s a pity that he got married to an Italian girl and at the moment lives in Puglia… I guess that if I wanna go to Sidney I’ll have find another Australian who’s looking for a home exchange. The “S.A.M.-option” has gone.
Anyway, I think that Australia is quite in fashion. Wherever I go I hear of people that go there or want to go or have just come back…
One of my dearest friend, Carlo, is about to go to Perth where he’ll stay until next February… He’s going to improve his English –he says- but after an intensive course he’ll go around and dedicate himself to a free and wild exploration…(Pay attention to the poisonous animals Charles!!).
Part of his journey is based on home exchanges with Australian guys that are going to put him up. And when they will decide to come to Italy they will stay in Carlo’s home in Veneto. He told me that this way he can afford a longer trip because he’s going to save a lot of money (he doesn’t have to pay for hotels or B&B…).

Not bad…Not bad at all.
I’m tempted to follow him… Yes…I know that I have already to go to South Africa, I know that. But I’m not in a hurry. I’ll take it easy and I will plan everything… It’s better dreaming and planning far-away journeys than not doing it.

…Don’t you think?

A smile.

***

Italy is definitely the most popular destination for home exchanges.
In the second place we find France.
Spain would arrive at the third place thanks to its various Costa Brava, Costa del Sol, etc., its marvellous beaches gently stroked by an ideal sunny weather.

In Italy, we must admit, they have it all. Sometimes world seems soooo unfair, doesn’t it? They have an amazing Florence wrapped around the savoury Tuscany, the ancient powerful Rome, the aquatic and romantic Venice, the fashionable Milan…And more: there is a charming and hospitable South, unique islands for the people and nature you meet, a mountainous North to climb and sky and walk all over.

It surely won’t be difficult for Italians finding someone to make a home exchange with…They’re soooo lucky.
So…Let’s invoke the ancient Roman goddess of Fortune (dea Fortuna) to ask for good luck and a good place for our exchange!!

What about you…?
Where would you like to go?:)