FAQ's

You'll find that arranging a house exchange with The VacationExchange Network is very easy. In fact, a recent survey among members identified that it generally takes less than three contacts to arrange an exchange. Two of our unique features make finding and arranging home swaps much easier with us than with other home exchange programs. First, all of the properties in our Network are vacation homes or second homes, ensuring flexibility in travel dates and facilitating non-simultaneous exchanges. Second, since our members have the option of making Direct or Indirect Exchanges, you don't need to find someone who wants to stay in your home in order for you to take a vacation. And remember, you only pay when you make an exchange. See Unique Features of Our Home Exchange Network to read more about how easy we make it for you to find a home swap.

When you are ready to plan your vacation, just tell us where you want to go and when, and we will do all of the initial searching for you. We then put you in touch with other members interested in your exchange so that you can finalize the dates and details of your swap. We have found that this direct contact between members works best because members like talking to the people who will be using their home, getting to know them, and advising them of the Do's and Don'ts. See How To Arrange Your Home Exchange for more information about the steps you need to take to travel the vacation home exchange way.

We established The VacationExchange Network in 1997 as the only home exchange program consisting entirely of vacation and second homes, and we continue to hold this distinction. Limiting our listings to second homes and vacation homes is a core element of our commitment to arrange more swaps than any other company. Our focus on vacation and second homes facilitates flexibility in two ways. First, you can stay in someone else's home even if they don't want to stay in yours. Second, you and your home swap partner do not need to vacation during the same week(s). See Unique Features of Our Home Exchange Network to read more about how The VacationExchange Network's program is unparalleled in the house swapping industry.

No. Since all of the homes in our Network are holiday homes or second homes, swaps do not need to be simultaneous. In fact, you may choose to take your vacation to Colorado in the winter and allow your home in Hilton Head to be used by your exchange partners in the summer.

The amount of time you stay in your swap home is up to only you and your exchange partner. Most housing swaps are for one week. However, some exchanges take place over a weekend, while some swappers stay for a few weeks. You and your exchange partner should discuss so the exchange works for both of you.

Post 4 or more pictures and we’ll waive your first year’s membership fee.

The fee for a Direct or Indirect Exchange is less than 2 or 3 days in a hotel or rental unit. See Exchange Fees for more information.

Our Network is based on honesty. When a member initiates or accepts an exchange, the member is expected to notify The VacationExchange Network.

Yes! No matter which of the myriad names you call it, they all have the same meaning -- I'll trade a stay in my home for a stay in your home.

House swapping is a unique and affordable way to travel. Home swappers find that this manner of traveling allows them a great deal of flexibility and saves them considerable money over traditional vacations. Imagine having a “staycation” in someone else’s home…. Home exchange offers you the home base many people find lacking when they stay in a hotel. A home offers you space and amenities that no hotel can offer. Home swappers enjoy the convenience of having a kitchen, laundry machines, comfortable sleeping and living rooms, and ample space for their family and their belongings. Additionally, staying in someone’s home instead of a hotel offers tremendous savings. You can save hundreds, or even thousands of dollars, with each home exchange. Home swaps also enable you to skip restaurants for some meals, and some home swaps come with beach passes, museum passes, discount attraction tickets, and the like. See Affordable Travel for more information about how exchanging your vacation home can make travel affordable. See Affordable Travel for more information about how exchanging your vacation home can make travel affordable.

The process is very simple. If you'd like, our Exchange Coordinators will do all the initial searching for you, at no additional fee. Or, if you'd prefer, browse through our Network of vacation properties to find one you're interested in visiting. Then, contact the other member and arrange the exchange. See How To Arrange Your Home Exchange for more information about the steps you can take to travel the vacation home swap way.

You'll find that different home swappers are looking for different things in an exchange. A single person or a couple may be very content in your one- or two-bedroom home, and they may indeed be willing to trade a stay in their 5-bedroom home for a stay in your conveniently-located and well-appointed home. We have found that it never hurts to ask! And remember, our Indirect Exchanges allow you to stay in someone else's home even if they don't want to stay in yours. See How To Arrange Your Home Exchange for more information about the types of exchanges we offer.

We provide a sample exchange agreement that you can use when planning the details of your home exchange and discussing them with your exchange partner.

Home exchange is a way for vacation and second homeowners to be able to travel affordably to locations other than where their home is located. Sure, most owners of vacation homes love to spend time at their vacation home. However, many would like the opportunity to travel elsewhere without feeling that the expense of having a second home compels them to limit their travel to that single destination. Swapping your vacation home enables you to leverage one of your biggest assets to travel around the world. See Unique Features of Our Home Exchange Network to read more about how vacation swaps can benefit you.

The number of homes in our Network is growing daily. We have thousands of properties, all of which are vacation/holiday homes or second homes, both in the United States and around the world. Browse our Homes Available for Holiday Swaps.

The VacationExchange Network is the ONLY home swap program that allows for two types of house exchanges, mutual and non-mutual. Specifically, you have the option of making a Direct Exchange, which is a mutual exchange between two homeowners, or an Indirect Exchange, which is when one member allows another member to use his home and receives an Exchange Credit for use at a later time. See How Home Swaps Work for more information.

A Direct Exchange is when you agree to swap a stay in your vacation or second home for a stay in another member's home. These vacations can be simultaneous or non-simultaneous. An Indirect Exchange, offered ONLY by The VacationExchange Network, is when another member allows you to stay in her home, but she does not want to travel to your home. The member allowing use of her property receives an Exchange Credit for use at a later time. See How Home Swaps Work for more information.

A member allowing another member use of his home for an Indirect Exchange receives an Exchange Credit which can be used at a later time to pay for a Direct Exchange in full or 50% of an Indirect Exchange. See Exchange Fees for more information.

No. The uniqueness of our Network is that you do not have to find someone who wants to use your home in order for you to travel affordably with home exchange. We facilitate many Indirect Exchanges, where another member allows you to use their home, but they do not want to travel to your home. See Unique Features of Our Home Exchange Network to read more about how easy we make it for you to find a home swap. 

No, the Network affords total flexibility. Each member decides if, and when, to accept a Direct Exchange or to allow an Indirect Exchange.

No. In order to keep the listings current, the information about Network homes is available only online.

No. The VacationExchange Network is only available to sole owners of vacation homes and second homes.

No. In fact, The VacationExchange Network has made arrangements with scores of Property Managers who now offer the service to their clients. Simply be sure to coordinate with your Property Manager to ensure availability of your home for the week you'd like to make your exchange.

Yes. The Network includes single family detached houses, as well as apartments, flats, and condominiums. The homes in our Network meet our standards for location, amenities, and value. Many styles of homes can meet those standards. Browse through our Network of vacation properties to see the wide variety of homes.

We are committed to the fundamentals of protecting consumer privacy on the Internet. See our Security Features and our Privacy Policy for complete information.

To see our newest vacation home exchange listings, see our New Members page. Additionally, our monthly Vacation Home Exchange Network e-newsletters highlight new additions to our Network. New members are typically excited to arrange their first VacationExchange Network home swap and will likely welcome your interest in swapping with them. Also, please take a moment to follow us on Twitter and Facebook. On these forums, we frequently highlight new homes listed on our Network.

As you browse through our vacation home listings, you will see that each listing includes information about when the home is typically available for exchange. We also gather information monthly from all of our members as to when their homes are available for exchange in the upcoming three months. This information is available on our Homes Available for Immediate Exchange page. Additionally, our monthly Vacation Home Exchange Network e-newsletters highlight current availabilities in our Network. Please note that these lists are NOT exhaustive, as not all homeowners keep us up to date about their home's availability, and homes become available on an ongoing basis. Always check directly with other members as to their home's availability. Also, please take a moment to follow us on Twitter and Facebook. On these forums, we frequently highlight homes that are available for exchange in the coming months.

As you browse through our vacation home listings, you will see that each home listing includes information about the exchange preferences of that member. We also are continuously gathering information from all of our members as to vacation plans for which they are currently looking for a home swap. This information is available on our Members Looking for Exchanges page. Please note that this list is NOT exhaustive, as not all homeowners keep us up to date about their desired exchanges, and members search for exchanges on an ongoing basis. Also, please take a moment to follow us on Twitter and Facebook. On these forums, we frequently highlight members who are currently looking for a home swap.

Keeping our members up to date about the latest happenings at The VacationExchange Network is one of our primary goals. There are several ways you can stay updated. You will find listings of New Members, Homes Available for Immediate Exchange, and Members Looking for Exchanges. Check those listings regularly to find your next vacation! Our monthly Vacation Home Exchange Network e-newsletters highlight many homes that are available for exchange in the coming months and introduce new members to the Network. We are also very excited about our presence on Twitter and Twitter feed or becoming a fan of our Facebook page, you can be sure that you'll be among the first to learn about the fabulous yet affordable vacations you can take with The VacationExchange Network.

Keeping our members up to date about the latest happenings at The VacationExchange Network is one of our primary goals. In order to further this goal, you can now find us on Twitter and Facebook. Twitter is a free social networking service that provides its members with the ability to send and read short messages known as tweets (see Wikipedia's article on Twitter for more information). Facebook is another social networking site that enables people to connect with friends and businesses in order to stay notified (see Wikipedia's article on Facebook for more information). After joining Twitter and/or Facebook, you can follow our Twitter feed or become a fan of our Facebook page. You will be sure that you'll be among the first to learn about our newest members, vacation homes available for exchange in the coming weeks, and other members looking for exchanges.

The Share This button you will find at the top of most of the pages on our site enables you to bookmark and share the content on our website in which you are particularly interested. You can print or email the description of a vacation home you find interesting, mention our site in your tweets or Facebook status updates, and bookmark any page on our site for later reference -- all by clicking on the Share This button.