Family Holiday of a Lifetime a Click Away -- Living Away Home Exchange and Vacation Rental

Even with cheap airfares, accommodation costs can make the family holiday a fantasy so more people are now discovering the world of home exchange and vacation rental on websites like http://www.livingaway.com

(PRWEB) April 19, 2008 -- When one Australian family made the decision to go to the World Cup on a shoestring some thought they were delusional but with a little savvy they discovered the world of home exchange and vacation rental on websites like homeexchange.livingaway.com

Home exchanges have been around for decades it is not a new phenonom but the Internet changed everything. The 2006 movie The Holiday featured a home exchange between Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet and gave the industry a huge boost.

Two years ago mother of three, Francesca Fowler decided to take her family to the World Cup in Germany but soon realised the cost. A few clicks later and she discovered home exchange " I read about it in the paper and went from there……..I signed up and before long I had an exchange lined up with a family from Paris"

The exchange also included the swap of cars and their holiday flat in the Salat da Caneda, a medieval village on the Dordogne. "I never would have thought to go to Salat, it was so beautiful and our accommodation was like a castle"

With Interest rates on the rise and petrol prices straining the household budget, naturally the first spending cut is the family holiday. Even with cheap airfares, accommodation expenses make the family vacation out of reach.

The experience doesn't just have economic advantages but a more 'real' travel experience exchanging homes, lifestyles and neighbours, resulting in a more fulfilling cultural exchange.

"The advantages are enormous, posting your house enables you to access offers from all over the globe and within Australia"

"You contact the members and deal directly with possible exchange partners. You can even create a contract stipulating what is included like use of a car or care of your pets.The rapour you develop by the exchange of emails and phone calls means by the time the exchange happens you feel less like strangers"

Francesca had such a positive experience that she now is the Australian and New Zealand representative for Living Away, a new and improved home exchange website.

"Unlike other home exchange websites Living Away enables users to rate houses and comment on their experiences. Homes on the website are constantly reviewed similar to Ebay or Asia rooms"

Members also have the option to rent their home whilst away with the same subscription on Living Away's vacation rental website. Francesca says "we rented our home in the periods that the house was free so we had extra cash to purchase tickets to Australia's group stage matches. Our family was beamed all over the world celebrating Craig Moore's Penalty in the Croatia Match!"

With the launch of the new website comes the current promotion that offers free six months membership and vacation rental adverising at no extra charge.

http://www.livingaway.com for home exchange and http://www.rentingaway.com for vacation rental.

"It's usually around $100 to join for one year on most exchange websites so this is a really great deal. Worth a try if you're skeptical"

So get clicking and whisk your family away on that holiday you've always dreamt of.

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