Home Swap at short notice ?

triganfan

Hi,

How can I arrange a home swap at short notice?

I want to take my family away on holiday, but cash is tight. The idea I have is to do a home swap with a european family, but all the web sites i have seen want payment and seem to be geared towards holiday swaps in 2005 etc. They offer endless lists but its difficult to sort them out from what I have seem so far.

My family - 2 adult, 2 children - have a special need - one of our children is confined to a wheelchair so we need accomodation to include a downstairs bed/bath.

Our only other "need" is a pool - as it is the one thing our child enjoys and can take part in.

We live in rural east midlands, in a desirable 4 bed exec home, comfortably furnished etc.

any suggestions appreicated.

We can go for any length of time between 18/07 and 30/08 this summer for say 7 up to 30 days max!

So, we are flexible on dates, and want home in europe we can drive to (france, italy, germany etc - anywhere within reason, but flying is not an option due to our circumstances re wheelchair user).

Any help appreciated

2 weeks - that's all the time I've got to sort something out!

Pleeeeease help me if you can.

many thanks

Mike

Chester_Draws

Hi Mike,
I have absolutely no experience to assist you in this request, but wonder if this might be an option.

Have you considered the English speaking Spanish newspapers, where many expats would be living, and maybe, just maybe, an advert placed might just catch the eye of some Grandma and Granddad, who with no ties might be willing at a moments notice to do a swop with you if they have relatives back here in the UK.

Just a chance it might work........

This website might lead you to some connections:
http://www.spainview.com/media2.html

Good Luck.............

triganfan

Dear chest of drawers,
many thanks for the suggestion. It is quite spooky, in a way, as over the weekend my wife and I thought along similar lines - not expats but advetising in the english press overseas etc. I am sure that your suggestion is well worth me pursuing.

Thanks for the link to spain.

Do you or anyone else have similar links for the italian, french and german english speaking markets?

many thanks

triganfan

Another idea:

If any of you know of friends or reltives now living in europe who are looking to vacate their property in the next few weeks to go on holiday themselves, well hey presto our family can offer the ultimate free "homesitters" service to them!

A win-win situation, that I hope will appeal to some readers of this site.

Our home? Very desirable 4 bed detached, non-estate in rural location overlooking paddock etc. Based in rural east midlands. Ideal base for exploring.

triganfan

One and a half weeks left.

Help!