House swapping...

by Michelle Elliot for Flyingwithkids.com
Home exchange is a cost effective way to travel overseas with your family and have your own house looked after at the same time. You'll save literally hundreds when you add up the costs of accommodation / car hire, meals --- and you'll most likely have to carry fewer toys in your luggage if you swap with a family with similar aged children to your own!
You were travelers when you were single and carefree --- now you are wanting to share these unique experiences with your children too! But as we all know the general cost of day-to-day living/bringing up a family can make this seem like a fantasy not a dream to come true. If you have a willingness to explore, be adventurous, give new experiences a go; then home exchange may be the way to make your dream a reality.

How home exchange works
First register with one of the reputable home exchange companies like Homeexchange.com or Homeforexchange.com. You'll pay a small annual fee for membership, which in the case of Homeexchange.com comes with a guarantee that if you don’t make an exchange in your first full year of membership your second year is free.
Your membership gives you access to all the homes around the world on their site, and the contact details of other members who are willing to exchange homes.
Sometimes you can organize to swap a car as well giving you even more freedom and spare cash to explore the area you are visiting.
Sure you could exchange with friends but this site opens the door to a world of homes outside of your own country or within. Plus with a clear contract set up between yourself and the exchanger you have none of those issues that can ruin close friendships.

Is it safe to exchange homes around the globe?
You are most likely to find like-minded people to exchange a home with --- other families looking to explore the World with their kids. Homeexchange.com claims in “14 years of tens of thousands of exchanges they have never had a report of theft, vandalism, or a case of someone arriving at their exchange home and finding a vacant lot". (HomeExchange.com)

Added bonus's for families
You are an instant “local” instead of a tourist and you gain inside information of “off the tourist trail” and family-friendly places to explore and enjoy.
You arrive to child-friendly bedrooms/play areas and a home that is ready equipped with your cooking needs in mind. Enabling you to make your own meals another great money-saver.
You get an opportunity to holiday in places you may have never considered before, and achieve your dream” traveling with children” while still working within your budget.

Once you start with this type of travel you will never look back!