You may have dreamed of international travel but been sidetracked by the cost, the complexity or the intimidating prospect of traveling alone in a foreign land. An alternative, of course, is the group tour, but it comes with its own set of drawbacks.
The Seniors Vacation and Home Exchange may be an option worth considering. It bills itself as the “only home exchange exclusively for the over-50 age group.” That fact alone makes it notable. It’s likely that a business reserved for travelers over 50 has a better understanding of your needs and desires than others who don’t have this single focus.
You may arrange a routine vacation exchange of your home. Exchanging “hospitality vacations” is also a possibility. This simply means that you go visit a couple in a foreign country, and they, in turn, come to visit you.
If you’ve dreamed of visiting exotic, faraway lands, but never thought it possible, consider this: There are likely thousands of seniors just like you in nations around the globe who are thinking the same thing. This program may be a way for both of you to fulfill your dreams.
Imagine the possibilities…
When I visited the Seniors Home Exchange site recently, there were nearly 2,500 exchanges available in 43 countries. A small sample of the countries available on that day included Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Chile, France, Germany, Greece, Israel, Italy, Mexico, New Zealand, South Africa, Sweden and the United Kingdom. According to the site, many of the members do multiple exchanges per year, three or four in some cases.
The whole program is based on you purchasing a membership, but the cost seems reasonable. Registering an exchange is $79 (U.S. funds) for three years or $100 for a lifetime membership. The site includes a feedback action so you can read what participants have to say before you commit any money.
Bear in mind that you must have access to the Internet and possess an e-mail address. If you think exchanging homes and/or visits with a 50+ couple abroad is something you’d like to consider, log on and do some homework.
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