A couple from Essex have shared their travelling hack after saving up to £50,000 by trading regular family holidays for more than 80 "spectacular" home swaps in 35 countries.
Retired teachers Tim Moynihan, 67, and his wife Elizabeth, 66, first joined HomeExchange back in 2008.
This allows users to swap homes over chosen dates, or offer GuestPoints as a thank you if the swap is not reciprocal.
Since joining, the couple have travelled to 35 countries, including Iceland, Thailand, and New Zealand, completing a total of 84 home swaps.
Their adventurous approach has not only saved them a significant amount of money but also provided them with unique experiences across the globe.
Their four-bedroom semi-detached home in Hadleigh has hosted more than 40 guests, and the couple said they have "never had a bad experience."
Mr Moynihan said: "What we have discovered is that you have basically got a home away from home."
The couple's search for more affordable family holidays led them to the concept of home swapping.
Mr Moynihan said: "The thing was, having four children, hotel holidays were a non-starter for us... so I was just looking for other options that would allow us to travel abroad."
Their first home swap was to Colmar in France, and since then they have created lasting memories in countries across the globe, including the United States, Sweden, and South Africa.
One of their most memorable swaps was a luxurious "James Bond-style villa" in Thailand, complete with a swimming pool.
They also stayed in an unusual property in Iceland, surrounded by smoke-plumed lava fields.
In South Africa, they stayed in a seafront property where they spotted whales just 100 yards from their window.
They even had use of a new 4×4, two Vespas, a Volkswagen Beetle Convertible, and their own pontoon boat on the dock by the lake below the house.
The Moynihans believe they have saved up to £50,000 thanks to the home exchange, which costs £180 a year for unlimited swaps.
Mr Moynihan said: "The places are often spectacular.
"You don’t always end up in the places that you would want to go to for a holiday... but if you go with a spirit of adventure, you can have a lot of fun."
Tim said one of the best things about home swapping is immersing yourself in new places and cultures and living like a local. He said he would encourage anyone to give it a try – and although people may have reservations about strangers coming into their home, Tim said thorough checks take place and they have never had a bad experience. Speaking about his advice to others, he added: “I would say, just do it. I mean, what have you got to lose?”
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