The most expensive travel weeks of the year usually start just when the last day of school is over. Vacation apartments suddenly cost a fortune, hotels are full, and when you start looking for something affordable, all that’s left is the accommodation you really don’t want to live in. Home exchange despite school holidays Therefore, for families it is not an unrealistic wish, but often the most relaxed answer to the peak season.
We have experienced for ourselves how much easier a trip becomes when one doesn’t have to account for the restaurant bill and every night’s accommodation every night. During a house exchange Living where others live their daily lives: with a kitchen, washing machine, children's room and often exactly the things that are precious to children. The question is only: can you find a match in the coveted vacation weeks? Yes. You just have to approach the search a little differently than when you go on a spontaneous weekend trip in November.
Why home exchange is more difficult during school holidays – but not impossible
During the summer holidays, Easter and around Christmas, many families want to travel at the same time. This is especially true for popular seaside regions, large cities and destinations that are directly accessible by car. Therefore, those who are only interested in one house in one location and for exactly one week will receive more rejection calls.
But this is exactly where a Advantages of HomeExchangeNot all members travel according to the same calendar. In Switzerland, Germany, and Austria, holidays begin at different times depending on the canton or federal state. In addition, there are families who want to travel while their children are still small, couples without school-age children, and hosts who don’t even leave the country themselves but open up for GuestPoints.
A direct exchange is of course nice in the main season: She lives with a family in Copenhagen, and later she will live with you. A trade with GuestPoints But it can also work just as well. Then the other side doesn’t necessarily have to arrive at the same time as you. This greatly expands the possibilities, especially during school holidays.
The most important lever: ask early
We don’t start looking for great summer holidays until May. Ideally, your own profile should be ready in the fall or at the latest at the beginning of the year so that you can send it out without a rush. Many hosts know early on when they are traveling themselves or when they want to take on guests. If you ask in good time, you won’t end up at the back of a long line of last-minute requests.
Early does not mean that a late search would be pointless. Plans change, flights are rescheduled, families cancel trips. Especially six to two weeks before departure, free calendars keep popping up again and again. Then it helps to take a quick look every day and to write quickly, kindly and concretely.
Don't send out one request, but send out appropriate requests
Asking for just one apartment of choice and then being disappointed is the most common mistake. In the high season, it pays to write to several suitable hosts. Not randomly, but with a genuine look at the profile, location, and house rules.
When we want to go to the seaside for a week, we don’t just look in one place. We also look at neighboring towns, the hinterland, and cities with good train connections to the beach. Often, the perceived compromise turns out to be the better trip: a quieter neighborhood, a market around the corner, and less crowded promenades.
A profile that you would like to entrust your home to
When exchanging apartments, it’s not just square meters and location that matter. Hosts want to know who will be living with them. Especially during school holidays, when they receive multiple requests, a complete, personal profile makes a noticeable difference.
Show your apartment as it really is, but from its best side. Bright photos, a tidy living area, and clear information about the number of beds create trust. Also be honest about whether you live on the fourth floor without an elevator, whether there is a cat in the household, or whether small children are welcome in your home. Surprises don’t help anyone.
Even more important is the personal tone. Write briefly about who you are, how you travel, and why this particular home appeals to you. Families often appreciate reading about how their toys, books, or garden are used by other children. If you take good care of other people’s homes yourself, feel free to mention that—without turning it into a job application.
This way your holiday inquiry will be answered better
Good news saves time for the other party and provides certainty. It doesn’t have to be long. What matters is that travel dates, the number of people, and your interest in the accommodation are immediately clear.
Instead of a copied standard message, a personal addition helps: Perhaps you noticed that there are bicycles, the garden is fenced in, or the apartment is close to a museum that is on your list. This shows that you didn't just send a hundred messages.
Be open about what form of exchange is possible for you. If you can exchange directly, are you open to GuestPoints or would a later exchange be possible? This flexibility takes the pressure off the conversation. A host who can’t come to you in July might still be happy to do so if another solution is possible.
Flexibility is not a lack of commitment
Of course, not every family has as many free days as they want. School holidays set limits, and sometimes only exactly one week is available. Nevertheless, often small margins of leeway can be found that make a big difference in the search.
Perhaps the arrival date can fall on a Tuesday instead of a Saturday. Perhaps nine nights are possible instead of seven. Or you don’t necessarily have to live right in the most popular holiday resort, as long as the lake, hiking trail, or city center are easily accessible. In a home exchange, this type of flexibility often determines whether to accept or reject the offer more often than the size of the own apartment.
It is particularly helpful to search for regions based on travel type rather than by name of the town. For mountain holidays, a village next to a well-known ski resort can be perfect. For a city trip, a residential area outside the city center can be more pleasant than the touristy old town. With children, a good density of playgrounds is often more valuable than the postcard address.
What families should clarify before accepting the offer
A house swap is personal, but it doesn’t have to be complicated. As soon as both parties are on the same page about the practical details, a brief discussion is worthwhile. For families, the main concerns are sleeping arrangements, arrival time, key handover, and the question of what children are allowed to use in the home.
Ask about things that really affect your trip: is there a high chair, a parking space, a quiet place for the baby bed, or a washing machine? If there are pets, check beforehand whether there is any care provided. And if you have allergies or your children are very young, it’s better to discuss this early on rather than just before departure.
A small home folder is helpful for both parties. It can contain information about Wi-Fi, waste separation, public transportation, your favorite bakery, and important rules. We also always include information about which plants can be watered and which should simply be left alone. These details make a good exchange more relaxing.
If the desired region does not work out
Sometimes, despite good preparation, no suitable home is found in the first choice. That is annoying, but not a reason to discard the whole principle. During school holidays, demand is simply higher, and some places are particularly tight.
Then it’s worth taking a look at overall travel planning. Is there another destination possible? Would a shorter stay in a city plus a few days nearby work? Or is the timeframe next year easier to arrange with more advance notice? Those who are open-minded often discover destinations that weren’t even on the radar before.
That is exactly what we like about apartment swapping: It not only leads to cheaper vacations, but also to trips with more daily life, more space, and often surprisingly good encounters. With HomeExchange, a fully furnished home during the school holidays can be more realistic than the last affordable vacation apartment – if you start early, ask politely, and keep a little flexibility.
The first request doesn’t have to be perfect. It just needs to be honest and show that you want to treat other people’s homes with the same respect you would your own. Perhaps your next vacation story won’t start with an expensive booking confirmation, but with a kind message from a family who opens their front door to you.
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On my travel blog Wandernotizen I'll take you along on our family trips around the globe. Between wanderlust and everyday chaos, you'll find honest travel reports, tips, and plenty of material to ignite your wanderlust. 🧭 ❤️ 🏝️