Congratulations to Kayla, winner of our March giveaway!
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With more and more traveling families seeking out authentic travel experiences for their kids, home swaps can be a perfect solution. Families can list their home on a forum, decide where they’d like to go, and search for potential ‘swappers’. Not only is this method of travel economical (think of what you’ll save on accommodation fees!) and comfortable (a whole home instead of a hotel room!), it’s authentic: by staying in a local’s home, travelers experience the ‘real deal’ of their destination…sleeping, eating, grocery shopping, and even playing in local neighborhoods with local people. Swappers can exchange expert advice on where to eat, what to see, and what to avoid in their hometowns, and even leave a list of potential play date partners for the kids, the number of the handyman down the street, and the best pizza delivery spot on speed dial.
LuxeHomeSwap (now called LoveHomeSwap) is different than other home swapping sites with which I’m familiar. Not only do they offer a forum on which potential travelers can list their homes, but they go a step further by connecting members to the power of social networks they already use, making it easier to swap homes with people they know (and the people they know) at the touch of a button.
In fact, LuxeHomeSwap.com has become the world’s first and only socially connected home swapping site, harnessing the power of social media to transform the home exchange experience. Anyone visiting Luxe Home Swap can quickly and securely connect with Facebook to see homes listed from within their social circle, as well as browsing all the other properties listed on the site around the world.
I had the opportunity to see exactly how Luxe Home Swap works when I signed up as a member and listed my home last week. Annual membership is $159…which seemed like a lot until I remembered what it can cost to spend one night in a hotel. (By the way, don’t let the word ‘luxe’ scare you off…I assure you there’s nothing extraordinarily ‘luxurious’ about my home, although I am lucky to live in a beautiful area.) In under ten minutes, I had listed my home, complete with a full description, area attractions, and photos (their ‘smart’ form sure makes it easy!) and was directed to an easy-to-use home screen where I had the option to edit my listing, start swapping, or connect to my ‘social circle’ via Facebook. I opted in to see where this feature would take me, and I’ve been pleased: I’ve had some interest from friends of friends, and this ‘six degrees of separation’ does give me some peace of mind as I prepare to potentially exchange my home with a stranger. I also like that as a member, I can contact any other members worldwide (not just those in my social circle), and exchange as many times as I’d like.
In the last few years, more and more traveling families are expressing interest in connecting with local communities and individuals while vacationing. Home swapping through Luxe Home Swap is a great place to start: families begin reaching out to like-minded locals long before the vacation starts, and enjoy exploring a ready-made local community once they arrive.
Do you have a travel product or service you think would be a good fit for Pit Stops for Kids readers? Click on the ‘contact’ tab above to be considered as a Sponsor of the Month!
As I disclose with all compensated reviews, Luxe Home Swap listed my home free of charge for the purpose of review. While I appreciate this opportunity to try a quality travel service, their generosity in no way guaranteed a positive review. I am excited to try this service and will review any future home swaps that come of it!
