Have you ever dreamed of living abroad for a year? Chances are, you have. Perhaps you missed out on the chance to do so in college, or maybe you just want a change of scenery. There are so many reasons to move abroad for a year at any age, and it's never too soon or too late. Slow travel is extraordinary, and an opportunity for you and your family to broaden your horizons, learn new languages, and so much more. Making this dream a reality is easier than you might think, and HomeExchange is here to tell you how. If you've already been looking for the best places to live abroad for a year for you, you've come to the right place to find out how to do it.
Discover how HomeExchange worksMoving abroad for a year with HomeExchange
While it's fun to dream about it, figuring out how to move abroad for a year can initially seem overwhelming. In an age of distance learning, digital nomads, and retirees finally finding the time to travel, so much is possible! HomeExchange makes the logistics of moving abroad so much easier. Let us explain the basics of how it works.
A HomeExchange allows you to swap houses with like minded travellers without exchanging money. Instead, you exchange homes at a time that works for both parties. Each person or family looks after the others home as they would their own, with care and respect. It's really that simple, but here are some answer to questions you might still have...
How much will it cost me to move abroad for the year with HomeExchange?
The cost is a one time annual fee of $220 dollars. After that you can unlock unlimited exchanges for the year for any duration you like. Rest assured there are no hidden costs when it comes to HomeExchange housing. For long stays of a year, both parties may agree to be responsible for the electricity or water bill respectively, but these details are up to both of you.
Who will care for my home while I'm away?
If you're going away for an extended period of time, you will want your own home looked after. That's why a HomeExchange is perfect. Your home will be inhabited by the exchanging party, and they can look after your house plants, garden, and alert you to any issues that may arise and be on site to take care of them while you're away.
Who will care for my pets if I move abroad for a year?
We wouldn't forget your beloved animal companions! With HomeExchange there are two great options. As long as both parties agree, you can bring your pets along to move abroad for the year with you. If you prefer to leave them at home in an environment they're comfortable in, you can arrange for your HomeExchangers to care for them in your absence, meaning free petsitting while you're away.
What will I do if I need a car to get around?
Most often, for long periods of time like moving abroad for a year, exchanging families will also trade vehicles. As long as both parties agree to the arrangement. This avoids incurring more costs during your extended stay. This is a detail like others that you can discuss prior to accepting an exchange and see what works beset for both parties.
Can someone come with me?
Of course. With HomeExchange, you organize an exchange of house or apartment, but the number of people travelling does not matter, as long as the place you travel to can accommodate them and vice versa. You can travel alone, with your partner or even your whole family.
Why HomeExchange is the best website to organize your gap year abroad
Now that you know that a home exchange is a great option when planning how to live abroad for a year, why would you choose HomeExchange to set one up? We are confident that our community and website are the best in the world for home exchanges, and here's why:
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We've been in the business for over 70 years. HomeExchange began as a paper catalog in the 1950's and we haven't stopped since. Over the better part of a century we've learned how to make home exchanges our members favorite way to travel.
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We're the #1 home exchange community in the world. We have over 150,000 members in more than 145 countries across the world, and an exchange in our community is finalized every 2 minutes. Imagine the possibilities!
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We offer foolproof guarantees with every exchange. You can leave with peace of mind because our guarantees protect your exchanges and your home against the unexpected. See our all guarantees.
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We have an excellent rating on TrustPilot. With over 10,000 reviews from HomeExchange users on TrustPilot, we've learned an "excellent" ranking with an overall 4.7 / 5 star review average. Check out our reviews.
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We are always there for you. Wherever you are in your HomeExchange journey, we are here for you every step of the way. Through combined efforts, we guarantee that you will receive the highest quality support from our Team.
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We are B Corp Certified. Certified B Corporations are businesses that meet the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability to balance profit and purpose. We are proud to be one!
How to get started planning your year abroad with HomeExchange
The first thing to do when trying to figure out how to move abroad for a year is to identify the best places to live abroad for a year for you. Whether it's one place or several, you'll want to consider your interests and your needs. So do some research and let yourself dream! Once you've identified locations getting started with HomeExchange to find your home away from home abroad is easy. Here's how...
- Sign up for free. You don't have to pay anything to start exploring and begin setting up an exchange. You'll only pay to sign up once you are ready to finalize an exchange so it's risk free!
- Complete & verify your profile. This is the moment to introduce yourself to the community. Talk about yourself, your interests, where your home is, and what brings you to HomeExchange.
- Activate your membership When your profile is ready, pay the one time annual $220 fee and enjoy unlimited exchanges for one year from there on out.
- Begin searching & setting up exchanges. You can search by location and a number of other filters that allow you to find the perfect home exchange. When you do, start reaching out to set them up!
