Family vacations can be heaps of fun, but they sure aren't cheap.
By the time you pay for the hotel, hotel surcharges, taxes,meals, parking, phone calls,attractions, entertainment, souvenirs, and those miscellaneous expenses, you might feel like your wallet's just been run through a shredder.
Traveling with children on a vacation can also be one of the most memorable family activities you will ever undertake.
Itcanalso drive you nuts!A home exchange can help eliminate some of challenges faced by parents and make your next travel holiday with children a special traveling experience.
Parents and their children value the privacy, extra space, comfort and convenience of swapping homes for vacations.
Home exchange attracts many families with children.
Families often arrange to swap with others with similar aged children.
Children of all ages enjoy having a whole new set of toys, books, computer games and videos to occupy them while their parents relax in the comfort of a home.
If you're traveling with small children, you might consider the convenience of not having to pack cribs, strollers, playpens and car seats.
If you have children, let them be in contact with your home exchange partner's children, if possible.
It helps ease their concerns about someone else staying in "their room," and they may even become friends.
In fact, many families report developing long-lasting friendships with their swap partners.
What are the positives of traveling with children on a house swap? From our families own experience, we have found traveling with children on an exchange quite practical.
In fact, it's vacationing in a home away from home.
A family has all the conveniences of home with space to breathe, something most hotel rooms can't offer.
The conveniences that come to mind besides a whole lot more space than a hotel room are separate bedrooms so parents can still move about the house after their children's bedtime without disturbing them.
During the day children can stretch out and play, watch TV or have fun in the yard.
Save on food costs by making some meals at home instead of eating out at restaurants every day.
Best of all, families can save money on vacation lodging as a exchanging homes is free accommodation.
Typically home swaps are arranged for 1 to 4 weeks with cars an option that canbe included in the arrangement.
There is also the option of exchanging homes for a relaxing weekend getaway to a nearby location.
Some travelers use a home exchange as a means of affordable longer term free accommodation.