Home exchanging has long been a favorite European holiday option. In the past five years, however, this idea has migrated across the Atlantic and is slowly gaining a foothold in the North American travel market. And the good news is, it’s a great choice for people who need accessible vacation accommodations. In fact, it kills two birds with one stone, as home exchanging is both accessible and affordable.
Find People with Similar Disabilities
The principles behind home exchanging are simple. The idea is to find somebody with a lifestyle similar to yours, in another part of the country or world. Then the two of you exchange homes; you both live in each other’s house while you are on holiday. You both save money on lodging and you are able to stay in a comfortable home equipped with the accessibility modifications you need. It’s a win-win situation all around.
Let’s face it, if you’ve made accessibility modifications to your own home, then it just makes sense to find another person who has made similar modifications. In fact, most veteran home exchangers suggest that you look for someone with a disability similar to yours when you need an accessible home. The reasoning behind that is, in most cases, if you find someone with a similar disability, then the home modifications you’ve each made will probably work for one another.
Finding a Home Exchange Partner
So, where do you look for a home exchange partner? The Internet is a good place to start, as it offers many accessible home exchange resources.
Accessible sites
At the top of the list is the Vacation Home Exchange Bulletin Board, a free online listing service for accessible home exchanges. Hosted by the Stockholm Independent Living Institute, this electronic bulletin board currently has over 100 listings, most of which contain detailed access information. There is no cost to post or view listings, and it’s a good first stop for home exchangers.
Another good website is Matching Houses, which now boasts almost 700 members, the bulk of whom are from Europe and North America. There is no charge to browse or submit listings (all of which are accessible), but registration is required.
Mainstream sites
One way to increase your chances of finding a compatible exchange mate is to search some of the mainstream home exchange websites also. Most charge a fee for access, but only a few list accessible homes. The majority of the listings do not have adapted bathrooms, so it’s not an option for everyone. Still, some websites, like Home Exchange, have a large section of self-defined accessible homes, most of which are good choices for slow walkers.
If you go this route, be careful, because some websites use the same database. For example http://www.homebase-hols.com/ and http://www.invented-city.com/ both contain the same listings; however, they charge separate access fees.
Finally, if you are thinking about a home exchange, educate yourself about the process. Veteran home exchangers recommend The Home Exchange Guide: How to find Your Free Home Away from Home by M.T. Simon and T.T. Baker. It’s an excellent primer on the subject.
Candy Harrington is the editor of Emerging Horizons and the author of Barrier-Free Travel: A Nuts and Bolts Guide For Wheelers and Slow Walkers. Visit her blog at http://www.barrierfreetravels.com/ for access news, resources and industry updates.
See Related Articles
Read The Truth about Online Booking: Get the Accessibility You Need to learn more about accessible travel and online reservations.
See In Search of an Accessible Vacation Home for more information about ensuring adaptable accommodations for travelers with disabilities.
