So, here was our very first exchange in Bradenton, Florida - Aug 1999
We were lucky enough to arrive in Bradenton before Mike & Karen, the people we were swapping with left, so they picked us up from the airport and welcomed us to America (our first time there, as previously we had explored Europe and the Canary Islands).
We tried to get cheaper flights and ended up having to change planes twice - first at JFK in New York, and then in Miami - Never again!)
It's worth the extra couple of hundred pounds to get a direct flight - every time!!
Florida in August was very hot, and the thunderstorms whilst terrific to see were always short lived, so didn't have an impact on our holiday. The sea was like a warm bath, and the beaches around Bradenton and Sarasota were fantastic.
This was our second exchange, to Coppell, north of Dallas, Texas - April 2000
As we drove to Heathrow Airport, it started to snow - what a contrast to the 70-80 degree temperatures that greeted us in Texas. Bob & Paula who swapped with us are a lovely couple, with a magnificant home right next to a golf course. This home had everything you could want from an swap, and they had thought of everything by creating a paper 'home exchange' file. It contained details of local 'take aways', restaurants, and vital information about the household appliances.
(a must I think - we had prepared something similar, but this has given us even more ideas!).
This was our 3rd exchange, to Vancouver, Canada - August 2000
Three weeks of bliss!!. A truly fantastic house, and equally great hospitality, both in terms of the info and facilities left by the owners and their friends, Don & Karen who made us feel really at home. They also took the time to show us around and we spent a lovely evening at their house (our boys got on great with their kids too!).
Our previous exchanges have kindly left us their views on our home and what to do in and around Dursley - click here to view
Our fourth exchange was to the Gold Coast of Australia - April 2001
Another 3 weeks of fantastic weather, wonderful friendly people, and a marvelous house we stayed in. We were lucky to be able to meet Melissa and a friend she brought with her at Heathrow Airport as we past each other going in opposite directions. It's good if you can do this, you really feel that you know each other by the end of the holiday, having exchanged emails and experiences throughout.
Our fifth exchange was to Toronto, Canada - July / August 2001
Lovely weather and lots to see and do. Like the CN Tower, Niagara Falls, the great Jazz festival and loads of shopping. We didn't realise that Toronto had lovely beaches and the downtown areas by the waterfront were a great place to chill out.
We were just off the longest shopping street we've ever gone up and down on - Yonge Street. Great fun spotting how many Starbucks there were every block! A great place to visit for a couple of weeks, and if you go further north and taker a trip to the lake containing the 30,000 islands (many with individual houses on) you woundn't want to come home.
We must be falling in love with Canada coz we can't keep away!!
Whistler for Xmas and Vancouver for New Year 2001/2
However, this was our first swap to go a bit wrong! Having agreed a date and booked our flights, September 11th 2001 came along and meant that for a number of reasons our prospective swappers backed out. So loose £1,800 flight costs (they we non-transferable) or try to organise alternitive accomodation.
No joy with another swap at such short notice (about 5 weeks) so we had to "pay" for appartments!! What a shock after 3 years of exchanging !! :(
Whilst the holiday itself was fantastic, meeting up with Don and family (our friendship established on our first swap to Vancouver) with some wonderful skiing. One thing it did do was restore our faith that Home Exchange is the only way to holiday. Coz whilst this one ell through, and we had a great time anyway, when we got back and saw our credit card bill, we remembered what great value swapping is!!
Marco Island, Florida, USA - August 2002
A Fantastic swap with Pat & Marcy who own The Olde Marco Inn, built in 1883 by Captain Bill Collier on Calusa Indian grounds. It is located on Marco Island, which is the gateway to the Florida everglades and the 10,000 islands.
Their place is a new 5th floor penthouse and overlooks water in all directions. 3500 sq ft under air, 1100 sq ft of decks. marble floors, 12 and 15 ft ceilings, arches, extensive private art collection, incredible kitchen, theatre, two master bedroom suites, inside and outside dining. the finest throughout.
Copper Mountain, Cororado, USA - April 2003
This was a fantastic Exchange. We spent a couple of days in Denver first, with temperatures in the 80s, and then moved up to Copper, where is was still 80 degrees!!
The snow and more snow, great skiing, and a wonderful appartment (3 bedrooms, 3 tellies, 3 bathrooms, etc, etc and almost sole use of the pool table, sauna and hot tub!!) It was a great area and we'd go back there anytime.
Foster City, San Franciso, California, USA - July 2003
Not our best exchange. The place was OK, but whilst we thought "solar heated pool" would be fine, it was too cold even for polar bears to use!!
Also, whilst San Francisco is good for a week break or so, both the weather and the beaches were too unreliable for a longer trip. Also the people were rather strange expecting us to anticipate them having a flat tyre and didn't leave our car at the airport as arranged. Worst thing was that they said they'd look after Marbles , but when we got home his was so thin!
We'd left 3 weeks food, but they'd only used one - no wonder!! All of that said, it hasn't put us off swapping. 8 have gone great, and we still enjoyed the break and I guess saved lots of money over hotels etc., and having discovered Los Angeles, we'd go back there again anytime.
July/Aug 2004 - Geneva, Switzerland
This was our first exchange within Europe. We were feeling a built guilty about showing the kids the many USA states, Canada, Australia etc., and yet not visiting our own doorstep since we took up exchanging a few years ago. So when this offer came out of the blue from a lovely family in Geneva, we jumped at the chance.
They had a lovely pool and views overlooking Lake Geneva itself. Not to mention a fully set up Gym and a Nuclear Bomb shelter (the latter is used to store wine, which seems a good use of that facility too!)
April 2005 - Keswick, The English Lake District
Another first! Our first swap in the UK. Again having been abroad a lot we thought it was time to show the boys one of the beautiful areas of the UK. Whilst the weather was normal (wet quite a bit) we had some wonderful fell walks and th Lakes were truly wonderful.
(Here is a link to the comments our exchangers kindly left about our place).
July 2005 - Pissouri, Cyprus
This was an excellent break. Brilliant weather, warm water and friendly people. We eat in a wonderful place called "The Bunch of Grapes" if you're ever there you must go. Our first Scuba diving expedition and Stephen learnt to water ski!!
Cyprus was quite barron but the sea was very warm. Mount Olympus was a bit disappointing, a long drive from the coast and then you can't get to the top because there's a British Listening Post on top!!
April 2006 - Limerick, Ireland
So quiet, you could hear the silence at night!! A beautiful part of Ireland - we even did Limerick Races (Si won 5 Euro but the rest of us lost). Bunratty Castle is a must visit and lots of Guiness too!! We had always wanted to visit Ireland and could not believe how few people seem to live there. Miles of open countryside and empty roads. The people were really friendly and it offered a completely difference pace of life. The house was great, and it was so quiet at night, the silence was deafening!!
Inverness, Florida USA - July / August 2006
This property in Inverness was situated 60 minutes North-West of Orlando International Airport and 55 minutes of Tampa International Airport, 70 miles from Disneyland, Epcot, Universal Studios and Sea World. The people we are exchanged with were a recently retired Dutch couple 58 and 55 years of age who live part of the year in The Netherlands and part of it in Florida. Click on the picture to go to their exchange listing.
They came to us on the Friday, so we were able to host them overnight with a BBQ. It was great to get to know them. Florida was hot as ever, a wonderful 3 weeks with golf, a bit of beach and lots of parks!!
