There is no other city in the UK like Southampton.

It is one of a kind. Original, unique, special. There will never be another Southampton.

Despite anyone´s efforts to the contrary.

Being the largest city in the county of Hampshire, this old sea-faring town has a lot to offer. You won´t truly appreciate this until you get there, and are able to suck in the sweet air of this old character of a city.

Southampton has something for everyone. The thing that really animates a lot of foreign tourists when they visit the UK, is, quite simply, the colour green. The ripe, verdant rolling hills, the springy bushes, the overflow of rich, royal flora. If you want to immerse yourself in this distinct aspect of the UK (after all the rain, we at least get something back!) there is no better place to plant yourself for a long walk or a picnic (or a game of cricket, whilst we´re in the UK afterall) than in William The Conquerer´s very own New Forest. Existing since the Stone Age, this bountiful forest is crammed with wildlife, streams, and plenty of open spaces ideal for clearing your head in the crystal fresh air.

And when you get tired you can always go to one of the quaint little tea-shops for a full-on, eat-your-heart-out English cream tea.

One of the most fascinating things about the city of Southampton, is how its geography has been affected by rivers and the sea. The Rivers Test and Itchen converge at the northern tip of Southampton Water. The test runs along the western edge of the city, whereas the Itchen separates the city into its two poles: East and West.

Similarly, the Isle of Wight has got a hand in too. It creates a double tide, which gives the old famous port of Southampton a longer high tide period than other ports, which makes it a hell of a lot easier to move big ships. The Titanic, to name one of the more famous of boats to pass these shores. If you find this interesting, you can even take a visit to the Titanic museum that we have on the water-front. Whilst in Southampton, you can also make a day trip to the Isle of Wight, to see the beautiful sands of the Needles.

If you have kids and you like to be outside, Southampton is the place for you. Full of parks and cemeteries, it´s the ideal place to roam around outdoors, taking photos or simply enjoying the serenity. And if you´re really brave, you can walk the Southampton Walls, the living testament to the town´s flavoursome past. Forget Robin Hood, how about the Earl of Arundel as a local historical figure!

This city really is in a league of its own. History, a water front, parks and forests. Buildings shaped like boats. A big commercial shopping centre. In all, Southampton has a lot to offer.

When I think of my friends, I rarely try to explain their individual behaviour in terms of them “being British”. It would get pretty insane if I did that. You might as well cite that “we´re made of carbon” as the motivation behind every thought, feeling or action. It doesn´t really make any clearer the reason why your friend decided to start obsessively hoovering the floor of their car every day. Or quite why another friend may get really awkward and start shrieking with laughter everytime that you pass the bus-stop. (Maybe it just tickles her? Or maybe she´s mad. It´s probably not a “cultural” thing though, whatever it is.)

We are impossibly complicated creatures. There is nothing in this life that we can´t confound, destroy, tangle, ruin, damage, warp or obfuscate in some way. Each and every one of us. And sometimes our ways of doing this are very original and creative.

Yet there is still a UNIVERSAL tendency to make generalisations based on nationality.

That the English say “sorry” all the time. That the Italians are hot-blooded. That the Spanish are lazy. That the Americans live for work. That Northern Europeans are cold and Southern Europeans are hot-headed.

So when we go to a foreign country, it is a brilliant chance to say, “Look! I know my country´s football fans pee in the street, but I swear to you I´m NOT going to do that, with god as my witness!” And as home exchange really allows you the chance to introduce yourself into the community of the new place, you can actually have conversations, socialise, and have your children play with the local children.

So not only do you get the envigorating sensation of being around new and exciting people, but you can also banish some of the pre-conceptions that people might have about you.

Travelling is not just about plane sickness, buildings and weather. It´s about people. We all have our quirks, but with home exchange we can celebrate these for what they are, rather than living on the false economy of national stereotypes.

The underground.

What is with that? What happens to us? Honestly? What happens to civilisation when it hits those grimy steps and enters the so called underworld?

It changes. Normal, kind hearted, non-freakish people (some of whom have even given blood) turn into this monstrous wave of channelled anonymity, that pushes you, snarls at your ankles, and wishes you dead if you falter getting your ticket into the machine in less than 2.0 seconds.

We change, according to our environment, and depending on the group of people we are in.

The metro dehumanises us. Fact! But what does the home exchange community do to us?

Well, five things immediately spring to mind. To be a home exchanger, broadly, you´re going to be a certain type of person. Someone who likes to travel. Someone with a sense of adventure. Someone who likes to experience new things. Someone who has faith in community.

And the things this environment can bring out of you are that:

1) You help make the house child proof for the coming family
2) You leave a list of useful numbers such as dentists, doctors and physiotherapists at the ready
3) You inform the neighbours of the new family´s arrival
4) You prepare directions and suggestions for things the family can do during their stay
5) You leave their house sparkling clean for when they get back.

You see. The beauty of home exchange is, that although it might be a bit of extra effort to put all these things in place for the coming family, they will be thinking of you and doing exactly the same things for you. It´s these sweet little touches that really make home exchange a personal and heart-warming experience.

Just as the underground takes some humanity out of us, home swapping brings out the heart in us.

One thing that I always notice when I´m in continental Europe, is that the air is different. In each different place, the air has it´s own texture, it´s own scent. In Marseille this is especially evident.

You will experience something sprightly yet savoury as you wander through the time-worn streets down towards the port. When you arrive, you will be dazzled by the turquoise blanket of sea laid out before you.

The port is swarming with life, with people, and there are plenty of places to eat located around this part of the city. This is a good opportunity to sit down and soak up the history from the oldest city in France. You can look up to the majestic Phare de Sainte Marie light house, or wonder over to the famous fish-market.

In Centre Bourse lies the Musée d’Histoire. It contains a variety of ancient remains, including records of the Greek and roman history or Marseilles. Alternatively, you could stroll on down to the Cathedral of Sainte-Marie-Majeure. Dating back to the 4th century, this cathedral stands in all its gigantic splendor in the Romano-Byzantine style. The cathedral was in fact rebuilt in the latter part of the 19th century, but still has its original Romanesque transept, choir and altar from the medieval period, that were saved from destruction by public protest.

Marseille is famous within France for its hip hop scene. The group IAM grew out of the Marseilles hip hop movement, alongside Fonky Family, 3ème Oeil, and Psy4 de la rime.

But the thing that really captured me in Marseille was the people. Sometimes when you go abroad, your holiday can be a little dampened by that “oh no it´s another tourist!” expression that greets you on the faces of the locals. In Marseilles this wasn´t the case. Being particularly bright white skinned British people, we were quite ridiculously definable as tourists. But that didn´t cause people to have a lack of patience with us, or to treat us with less respect. Quite the contrary! The people were not only willing to help us find places and to make recommendations, but also to help us with our French and strike up some banter! In pretty much every place we went, it was the same. The city is luscious, and the air is oh so pretty, but what really made the trip was the people. The Marseillans. Our heroes!

Retirement can be a difficult time.

Especially during the first year. Humans, we do not like change.  And the transition from a fervid, caffeine-fuelled work schedule to a blank, relaxation period can actually bring with it plenty of unforeseen, daunting troubles.

One way of dealing it is to make like my father, and start the party by enrolling yourself into an unthinkable variety of university courses. Foreign languages, creative writing, a bereavement counselling course… Extravagant lunches with old friends in café gardens, foreign film club twice a week, starting to write a novel, occassional trips to the National Costume Museum… Cake making, singing, violin lessons… (Well, actually, the last three I made up, but I´m giving him a couple more months). 

This is one way of dealing with it.

But not everyone´s that crazy. Another way to gently break into the different style of living that comes with retirement is to spend a bit of time home exchanging.

If you want to take advantage of your retirement in order to have more holidays, home exchange is a brilliant way of taking safe, comfortable trips all across the world. Plus, because they´re so cheap, you can afford to take them right through the year.

Alternatively, if you´re thinking of buying a second home, or of moving to another area, home exchange is the perfect way of scouting out your ideal location. Not only do you get to sample the area first out, but you also get a feel of what it would be like to LIVE there, in a home. Hotels can be misleading, and also if you go on package trips you tend to feel set apart from the actual community way of life. So it serves not only as a way of packing holidays into a sardine tin, but also as a trial period for potential new areas to live in.

The transition between a flat out, or even a relaxed part time working schedule, can be a tricky psychological adjustment. So if you feel feel a little blue, or are finding the displacement that often comes as you embark upon a life of freedom a little strange, then you can ease into it smoothly. Catching some sun, or seeing some inspiring art in a completely new environment, can infuse you with a sense of well being, and motivate you to learn some new relaxation techniques.

Home Exchange is not just about summer vacations. It´s can touch all corners of your life.

Do Americans work harder than Europeans? Employment law would definitely suggest that. In France, for example, workers are legally entitled to 30 days of paid annual leave. In Austria 22, with an extra 13 days of paid holidays. Finland boasts 25, with nine days of paid national holiday. Greece has 26, in total.

The USA has a big fat 0.

1/4 of Americans have no paid public leave or annual holiday at all, even though many private companies offer their workers paid holiday.Whether it be because of the legal regulations, or the USA work ethic, “burn out” in the states is a growing problem.

America! Put down your Blackberry! A 50 hour week does not make you more productive. Physically, to recover from burn-out, the body needs at least 2 weeks of relaxation. And that doesn´t mean 2 weeks of tearing around cities, maximising your holiday, slogging your guts out power-holidaying around some new demanding destination.

If you want to relax, let your body recharge, boost your health, and allow your skin to have a silky inner glow, why not take a break in Europe.

It would it be a great opportunity to take some substantial time way from work.And with home exchange it would be a very cheap way of getting away. You would only have to pay for the flights, so you wouldn´t have to worry about it eating into your finances. Plus, it would also be a chance to let some of the finer aspects of the European way of life seep in.

Paris, London, Vienna, and Venice are a few of the many European havens where you will be able to peel the toxic stress away from those wired up minds and bodies.

Here´s a quick three-point guide to banishing stress, European stylee.

1. Make time to eat. Don´t view meal times as an irrelevant inconvenience, that can be doubled up as work time, done on-the-go, or silently crumped in front of the TV, crippled by fatigue after too much work. Take time to plan the meal, buy all the fresh ingredients, and cook together. You can eat late if necessary, but take the time to prepare together, to sit down together and talk, and savour some long fermented juicy wine as you enjoy your meal.

2. Remember that European societies have an incredible sense of history. You don´t need to see five museums in one day on top of three parks, and a trip to the opera. If you can wonder through a rustic French town for example, absorbing the smell of the marble, the cool narrow streets each telling a thousand stories of their own, breathing in the energy of centuries and centuries lost in the past, then your holiday will surely be something invaluable and unforgettable.

3. Take a chance to have a little laugh at our antiquated parliaments. Especially the British one. It may be occassionally put on USA television comedy channels, but believe it or not, it´s our system of government. If you visit London, you could take the opportunity to see the British government in action. It´s a lot of old men. Sat around, sleeping and muttering. It´s a weird system yes, but think of all it´s achieved! Free health care, a totally independent press, a welfare state… You always have to have the appearance of being fired up and go-getting in order to make great things happen.

Vacations aren´t an optional luxury. Most European governments make them totally, unavoidably obligatory. Our bodies need them, and even our productivity at work benefits from taking a couple of weeks break. With home exchange there aren´t even great costs! It´s a win-win situation!

Barcelona.

So the first thing to say, would be that is has a great song. Thanks to good old Freddie Mercury and Monstserrat Caballé. We´ll always have that song, and no one can ever take it away from us. So that´s where it begins. But where does it end?

One of the reasons why Mediterranean cities are so bewitching is because, well firstly, the sun makes everything look a lot crisper, but also because the buildings tend to be painted very gentle, fair colours, so there is an abundance of light. And with the combination of gothic and modernist architecture, in terms of urban beauty, this is really is the city of wonders. Home of Gaudí, Miro, Dali and Picasso, this city has such a wealth of creativity and inspiration in its incredible buildings that it totally deserves its mega reputation for being The Mega Cool.

Take the Sagrada Familia, for example. Still in construction, this mighty work combines tremendous innovation with intimidating grandure. It really is breath-taking. Similarly, the Casa Battló offers and insight into the influences that affected Gaudí´s work, from religion to nature to the modernist movement. One of the characterising features is that Gaudi sought to avoid using ANY straight lines. In a building. Imagine! It is so distinct, and so mesmerising that you will probably want to move in there and pass eternity on the dragon shaped roof terrace sipping mojitos. (But you can´t, sorry, it´s only there for visiting.)

Apart from the beautiful inner city buildings, there is also a world of beaches, parks, restaurants, bars, and cinemas. And if you´re someone who is bordering on a nervous break-down because of all of the millions and trillions of Starbucks and Macdonalds littering the world, you will be refreshed and restrengthed by the masses of independent businesses. Also, whether you go in summer or in winter, Barcelona is a leader in cultural industry. Exhibitions are constantly moving in and out of the city, and whether your tastes are photography or needlework, you´re bound to find something that captures your interest.

Not to mention the abundance of museums, cafes, shops, teterias, and terraces. Perhaps you could even schedule your trip so that you could come during the festival of Sant Jordi (23 April). Forget the commercialised-to-death Hallmark oriented Valentines day. This festival celebrates love - on St George´s Day - in style. The tradition is that couples buy gifts for eachother, but not any old gifts. A giant red fluffy heart and a box of Cadburies Roses are so NOT in. Instead, the girl buys the guy a book, and the guy gets a girl a rose. And for this day the whole city is dedicated to books, flowers and romance. The steets are lined with books stalls and flowers, and there are rose petals sheathing the pavements. It´s a picture you will never forget.

Everybody loves Barcelona. Everybody. It´s an individual part of the world capable of enchanting anyone. Look up the cheap flights and you´re sure to have a blast. And we´ll even forgive Spain for beating England in the football!

Water. It covers 71% of the world´s surface. And it steers the flow of our day to day living in more ways than we realise. The relationship that we have with water is something so entrenched in our every day lives, that we often take it for granted. Or worse, we don´t even notice it.

But it´s there. Rinsing, cleansing, quenching, pouring, soaking, cooking, raining, healing, swimming, drenching, dripping. And in different cultures water is used in distinctive and different ways. It´s one of the delights brought to life when you visit other cultures.

Some of the ways that you can appreciate the alternative uses of waters are in the Arab baths of Spain. Córdoba, Madrid, Granada and Sancti Pectri are a few of the cities that boast live Arab baths. Here you can begin to understand the centrality of water in the Islamic way of life. You can luxuriate in the hot baths, have a message, take advantage of the aromatherapy specialists, and either visit the Arab tea bar or enjoy a spectacular dinner. It is also a way to get in touch with the history of the country, and learn about the different cultural influences exerted on this part of Europe. www.hammamspain.com

Alternatively, Huningue, St Cyprien, Port Leucate and Cap d’Agde are some of the parts of France that offer mega hydro-fun with their spectacular water parks. With the hot peppery sun beating down on those French summer days, you can slide your way into oblivion in these Hurculean watery playgrounds. It makes for a great dynamic day with the kids, and you can really get to grips with the raw elements against your bare skin. (Don´t forget to re-apply sun screen - factor 20 mimimum!) Aqualand, for example, has sites in Portugal, France and Spain. http://www.aqualand.es/common/popup_aqualand_ok.php

And the most atmospheric of all would be the ethereal Blue Lagoon of Iceland. You can spend a day wading into the depths of the cobalt waters, or take the opportunity to pamper and cleanse your body with the healing properties of the hot springs and body treatments, all against the backdrop of the Icelandic planes. http://www.bluelagoon.com

Water is just one example of the many common themes that unites us as humans across the planet. It can be something really quite thought provoking, when you see it used in such inspired and different ways.

In the days before 24 hours news, people tended to worry less, let´s say. Going out bike riding in the country wasn´t riddled with so many dark fears of harmful predators lurking in the bushes. Similarly, the reign of the indoor multimedia exercise-killers wasn´t so rife. Video-games, DVDs, television, games consoles and the internet weren´t there to distract us and our children from getting outside into the clear air in order to enjoy being alive. But now, times have changed. It is often reported that our children are a little on the flabby side, unfit, and declining in strength and motivation. So taking your kids away on a holiday is something that can not only stimulate their interest in sport and outdoor activities, but it can also spark their interest in playing and seeing children and things from different parts of the world. Just by playing with kids, and showing them new sites, smells and sounds, you set astir their imaginations.

Home exchange is a very safe and cheap way of taking your kids abroad. You can watch over them in the home, go on bike rides together, go and see the local sites, integrate into the local neighbourhood so that they can make new friends…

In order to maximise your trip if you´re travelling with children, we suggest that you:

Plan lots of breaks in the activities that you do, and aim for less activities than you would if you were only going with adults.

Make sure you include plenty of stops for meals and drinks to stave off dehydration and keep the energy levels up.

Keep the adult activities for the morning, and do the less demanding children´s activities in the afternoon.

Take advantage of the local activities such as swimming, parks, playgrounds, theme parks, cinema or attractions.

Plan relaxation time for yourself. Remember to organise some activitites where your children are looked after by other people, or playing with other children, so that you can pack in a break for yourself too.

If your children aren´t yet at school age, you can always take a holiday outside of the peak seasons. Home exchange is flexible and you can do it whenever is convenient for you and your exchange partner. This way you can get cheaper flights, and attractions will be at off-peak rates.

Involve the kids in the planning of the holiday. Whilst taking a vacation is very exciting, it can sometimes make children a little nervous, especially if they find changes in routine difficult. So often it can be a good idea to show the children some photos beforehand, and get them involved in the planning. If you´re going to a foreign country, you can teach them some words and phrases before you go. This way, they can really get engrossed in the trip. They can point out to you things that appeal to them, and this way you can make plans that will keep everybody entertained.

We usually associate the idea of ´holiday´ with a melting Caribbean sun. Maybe some gentle sliding tides, and lounging about on the white sand shaded by some giant friendly coconuts. Yet, for some, vacations can bring as much stress as they ease away. There are a variety of reasons for this, and it is important to be aware of them before planning the holiday, and when you are out there enjoying it.

So let´s look at some of the causes of holiday stress, and how you can avoid them with HomeExchange.

Fatigue.

So as to not waste the opportunity of seeing everything that a new corner of the world has to offer, it´s often tempting to rush around like a headless chicken, cramming in every last culture experience you can into the time you have. This can often result in early starts, long walks, long periods standing or driving, arguments, and a sense of time pressure. With home exchange, you can avoid this by making better and more effective plans about your holidays in advance. You can talk with your exchange partner, and get a real feel for the area guided by a real veritable local native! Over email or messaging, you can discuss your interests, and the things that appeal to you the most. Then, with the feedback from your exchange partner, you can start to sift through the plans that would satisfy you and be worthwhile. This way, you will maximise your time away and spend those creamy days enjoying a balanced schedule. Also, you won´t have to worry about early starts brought on my hotel evacuation procedures!

Financial limitations.

A common cause of stress during vacations is caused by the difference between the imagined, ideal PLAN for the holiday, and the actual reality of it. Even if you´re not one to kick back and treat yourself to just about anything you fancy when you´re on vacation, financial restraints are often a cause of stormy trouble. Also, even if you´re not stopped from doing the things you want to do, there can something be a sense of dissatisfaction that you´ve “spent all this money” and aren´t actually enjoying it as much as you hoped. At homeforhome, whilst we can´t guarantee that everything will turn out precisely as you expected, we can guarantee that you won´t be stressed out about the massive costs of the vacation. As the only thing you will have to pay for will be the travel, you won´t be pouring away hundreds on the accommodation. Without a doubt, this takes a massive financial burden off the holiday, which will rule out one of the commonest causes of vacation stress. Also, your exchange partner can tell you the cheapest and best places to eat, where to get your food, which free activities are available, and where to avoid because it´s too expensive.

Unrealistic expectations.

Another reason people can sometimes feel a sense of irritation or melancholy whilst abroad, is because they are trying to recreate a ´perfect holiday´ that they had in the past. We like to think that by doing a home exchange, you will have such a new and unique experience, that you won´t be disappointed by any aspect of the holiday. What with being in totally new surroundings, having your own new little home to live in, and with all the guidance and friendliness afforded by a home swap, you won´t have any sense of nostalgia for a past holiday. Everything will be so different, new and exciting that your home exchange won´t simply be giving you a break - it will give you a break from the monotony of other vacation habits!

So if you´ve ever felt the sticky disappointment of a holiday somehow gone wrong, you´ll understand what we mean. With home-exchange you can look forward to having a holiday free of the usual risks of stress.