My HomeExchange Story: "We had such an amazing time!"

Lauren, a frequent home exchanger, went on a trip to Reykjavík, Iceland with her partner and her kids. She shared her and her family’s experience with home swapping and visiting Iceland with us.

What did you appreciate most about the home you stayed in?

We had such an amazing time in Reykjavík! We would actually love to move there. We appreciated how much room we had in our apartment! It was too big for us actually :-). The location could not be beat. It was right next to the city center, there was a pool across the street, as well as a small market, a hamburger shop, a restaurant, and a cafe. It was remarkable.

What did you appreciate most about your exchange partner?

I appreciated Ulf’s thoroughness. He gave us all the information we would need, pictures, and videos. Ulf was very warm and inviting. Everything was easy and we would love to stay at his place again, and would also love to host him someday.

What did you see or do during your exchange?

We did quite a lot during our week! First of all, we went swimming every single day. The pools are the best thing we’ve ever experienced. We sorely miss the pools. We also visited downtown, Hallgrímskirkja, a cat cafe, Geysir, two libraries (I’m a librarian), Perlan, and Kolaportid. We also visited our friends who we exchanged with in 2017! What a great reunion!

What is one of your best memories or experiences from a home exchange?

We loved having tea with our Dublin family. We also loved going to a ceìli with our Cork family.

What would you say to your friends and family who are considering HomeExchange?

It’s the best decision we’ve ever made as a family!

What tips and tricks would you give to new HomeExchangers?

Have a zoom or video call with your family before the exchange starts. Everyone will feel more at ease.