Discover home exchange stories from our Members

Follow along as Jane and John recount their adventures in a small village of Cornwall, England!

Where did you go on home exchange?

Our most recent home exchange, our third this year, was with a family from Cornwall, UK. We found ourselves in a lovely little village called Grampound Road near Truro.

How did you choose your destination and home exchange?

Grampound Road is located within half an hour's drive from our daughter who lives in Newquay and this is why we were delighted that Tim and his family wanted to come to our home the Highlands of Scotland. We can easily fly, quite cheaply, from Inverness to Bristol and then hire a car to travel to Cornwall.

What was the conversation like with your host?

Our host Tim communicated well with us and we were able to provide him and his family with lots of local information. They did the same for us and we felt really well informed even before we arrived at their house.

Your arrival: How was the house? Did you meet your host? Did they give you any gifts or tips for visiting the area?

On arrival we were greeted by Mr Yoko, the friendly family cat, who we were looking after during our stay. The family had left a very comprehensive folder with information about all the local attractions in the area and to our delight there was a welcome gift on the table - two boxes with scones, cream and jam together with a bottle of local cider which was very much appreciated.

How did exchanging your home influence your vacation compared to a traditional vacation rental?

As experienced home exchangers we love exploring new places whether we are on holiday or visiting friends and family. On this occasion we needed somewhere close to our daughter so that we could visit her for a long weekend so Tim and Lois's house fitted the bill very well. We were able to make a reciprocal exchange as Tim and his family were on school holidays at the time and they were keen to visit Inverness and the surrounding area.

Tell us what you saw during your trip.

Cornwall is full of amazing sights and attractions from beaches to historic towns. This trip gave us the opportunity to visit the Eden Project, St Agnes, Newquay and Fowey - all places that we had not explored before.

Bonus Question: What is the best memory from your trip?

Our best memory from this trip was Jane's opportunity to try surfing with her, already experienced, daughter. The weather was unseasonably warm and, with a wetsuit on, the temperature of the water felt quite comfortable.