Explore like a local: the unexpected joys of home exchanging

Experienced home exchanger, Sandra Newnham, sent us in this lovely article on some of the unexpected pleasure she discovered while home swapping.

“We were on a home swap in Lake Garda, Italy, when I spotted a sign that translated into "To the chapel". I am the type of person the swallows the guide books but, on checking, there was no such chapel mentioned. We made our way up a rocky path to be rewarded with a wonderful expertly painted little carvern where we sat in cool contemplation for some considerable time.

It's always one of the great joys of travelling, to stumble across an unexpected gem. In the eight years that we've been home swapping this has happened many times.

There was the lovely Italian restaurant just steps away from our host's home while on a home exchange in Switzerland. It was a wonderful place full of locals. All the menus were in Swiss German. No tourists round here. However, when I let them know that I can speak Italian, I was met with smiles and free drinks! Our lovely exchange host, Bea, also recommended visiting St Gallen Cathedral - she said you'll love it ...and I really did! 

Oh and there was the singing tour bus driver on our home swap in Dublin, he was so good we didn't want to get off the bus.

I love exploring the local shops and we were recommended some by our hosts while on a home swap in Spain - amazing breads, pastries and excellent coffee at a fraction of the cost of the tourist areas.

Staying in the Jericho area of Oxford. A beautiful walk into town past the meadows. Plus the lovely English pub recommended to us by our Oxford home swap partners.

Talking of pubs, wandering into our "local" during a home swap in Dorset to be told there was a drink left for us behind the bar for us by hour home swap partners! 

I wonder what our next unexpected travel pleasure will be? In a few weeks we're off on a home swap to Devon - so not long until I find out.” - Sandra Newnham (London, England)

Tell us about your home swaps:

We'd love to hear about your home swaps! Let us know about your experiences and what made them so special. Send your your home swap stories to info@guardianhomeexchange.co.uk

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