Some tips for those who might want to pursue home swaps, hospitality swaps or other hotel alternatives:
Make your message posting as attractive as possible.
That does not mean making your modest home in the suburbs of Washington appear to be Camp David. It does mean including a picture of the property and a thorough description of the sites within an easy drive of home. It also requires updating the information frequently.
Ask and answer a lot of questions.
People tend to be very image conscious when dealing with folks from overseas. This is a good thing in virtually every situation except this one. Forget politeness and get right to the point: Do you have a cat? I have asthma. Do you have young children? I have expensive antique pieces in my living room. Is nightlife loud in your neighborhood? I'm a light sleeper who retires early.
All of these issues can make or break your visit. Also iron out security and insurance issues to everyone's complete satisfaction. Walk away from a deal that doesn't click. It's no disgrace to say "no." There are some potential exchanges that should not happen. Some people also might want to start "slowly" with a simple weekend hospitality exchange.
Get your house in order.
You expect a clean, safe place to stay when you pay for a hotel. You should expect (and give) nothing less in a home or hospitality exchange. Clean out the closet and garage. Steam clean the carpets and the drapes if they need it.
Don't assume that all experiences will be grand.
Not all hotels are great; in fact, most fall into the "adequate" category. A few successful exchanges do not guarantee that the next one will be so. Keep up your guard at all times.
It's not for Everyone.
The idea of being a "houseguest" and the obligations involved with that will decrease the pleasure of travel for some. A few will also worry what the other folks are doing to their home. Worry can ruin a trip quicker than a few ugly hotel bills.
Additional Resources
About Bed and Breakfasts provides extensive resources for finding places and tips for getting the best matches.
About Student Travel is a great place to learn about how hostels might fit into your travel plans.
Servas International brings together people who want to voluntarily arrange hospitality stays to foster understanding among cultures.
