Trading places

One of the odd things about going on holiday is that we often end up staying in accommodation that is nothing like as nice as our own homes, just for the sake of being somewhere different - and we end up paying a small fortune for the privilege. But here's an idea, why not swap your house with another home owner overseas? That way, you'll probably get a bigger, better place to stay and it won't cost you a penny. Here are a few reasons why trading your home for another makes perfect sense.

Avoid peak prices

Tour operators hike their prices as soon as the schools break up, so swapping homes with another family can be a more affordable way of travelling outside term-time. Instead of cramming into a self-catering apartment little bigger than a broom cupboard, you could stay in a Spanish villa with a private pool or even a beach house in the Caribbean. You'll still have to pay for peak season flights, ferry crossings or train travel, but these fares don't go up nearly as much as package holiday prices.

You can make even greater savings by swapping cars too - many home exchangers do - though don't forget to add the extra drivers to your insurance.

Home from home

Swap with a well-matched exchange partner and you should find your accommodation has everything you need. This is especially useful for parents with young children, who can avoid lugging high-chairs, car seats and toys by exchanging with another family with similar aged children.

Another advantage is that your exchange partner will take care of your home, including your plants and pets while you're away, as long as you make it clear that the dog, cat or rabbit come as part of the deal.

Flexibility

Trading your home for another property is an affordable way to squeeze in several breaks a year. Membership of a home swap organisation enables you to make an unlimited number of swaps over a 12 month period so you could spend the summer in a villa in Mykonos, an October weekend in an apartment in Barcelona, Christmas in a chalet in the Alps and next Easter in a condo in Florida

If you are planning several swaps, make sure you sign up to an organisation that has members in all the countries you are keen to visit. It's worth checking that members in those countries are prepared to swap with UK residents before you hand over your cash.

Security

It can be unnerving to think of strangers taking over your house while you're away, but statistically speaking swapping your house with another is much safer than leaving it empty. After all, your guests aren't likely to deliberately cause any damage when they know you're in their house.

Organisations

The are many online home swap organisations, but these are a few of the longest established companies:

Homelink has homes in 70 countries and offers a secure messaging system for members to contact one another. You can see what's available on its website before you join and talk to an English-speaking advisor in the main countries. Membership with one photo online and in a paper directory costs £115 a year.

Intervac Vacation Exchange company offer the only money-back guarantee if you don't find an exchange partner within 12 months. It allows you to see a selection of the 20,000 properties available before you commit to membership, provides 30 agents around the world, and it will build you your own webpage for your property. Membership with up to 3 photos in the listing costs£74.99 a year; a webpage costs an additional £24.99.

Home Base Holidays is one of the cheapest to join ( just £29 a year ) and yet it provides some of the most detailed descriptions of houses with up to 8 full colour photos of each property on its website. Available properties include a condo in Grand Cayman, a villa in Phuket and a lakeside house in Guatemala.

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