New global, home-exchange website

A DREAM HOLIDAY HOME-AWAY-FROM-HOME FOR FREE!
New global, home-exchange website set to revolutionise holiday travel
for Kiwis in 2012

A new home exchange website - Love Home Swap (lovehomeswap.com) - is set to revolutionise the travel experience for all kinds of Kiwi holidaymakers, as it allows them to visit otherwise unaffordable destinations around the world thanks to free accommodation.

Love Home Swap is a ‘next generation’ home-exchange service that allows people to enjoy free accommodation through home exchanges around the world. People can swap their home for another, as many times as they like, with the only cost being $1.30 (NZD) for a 4 week trial membership or $199.60 (flat fee) per year*.

This annual, flat fee means holidaymakers can save thousands on what can be unique (as well as boutique) style accommodation, for the average cost of only one night for a family of four in a kiwi motel.

Therefore it’s no wonder that, Love Home Swap founder, Debbie Wosskow says - the new website is set to ‘revolutionise’ the travel experience for all kinds of Kiwi sized-pockets:

“Love Home Swap is definitely part of a revolution in social travel. With a cost saving of potentially thousands, why book an expensive hotel or villa when you can stay in lovely homes for free and swap as many times as you like, whenever you like?”

According to Debbie, the current economic climate around the world makes home swapping the best choice for affordable getaways around the world, with the average home swapper saving around $2,000 per vacation, while also holidaying like a local, rather than a tourist.
*Dollars converted from US Dollars at time of press: $1 USD = $1.25 NZD; $159 USD = $199.54 NZD

“It’s very common for swaps to include cars, kids’ toys, bikes, ski equipment etc so the savings can be much higher again,” says Debbie. “You then get to holiday like an insider (in like-minded surroundings) and swap as many times as you like. The result is that 62% of our members are able to holiday more frequently, and for longer periods, thus changing the dynamic of their travel experiences in a really positive way.”

Thousands of homes of all shapes and sizes are available on Love Home Swap in more than 70 countries in every corner of the world. From small and stylish, to large and luxurious, homes listed include: villas in Phuket, cabins in Patagonia, lofts in New York, beach houses in Byron Bay, castles in France and even a floating home overlooking London’s Tower Bridge, close to the ‘Olympic Village’.

In just under four weeks of the website launching there are around 30 New Zealand properties already listed, including a mountain, forest retreat in the Coromandel, a lakeside house in Rotorua, a strawbale house in Wanaka and striking mountain and lakeside homes with expansive views in and around Queenstown.

“There is huge demand for homes in New Zealand, particularly from Brits, Australians, and Asians, who are looking to visit family members who have immigrated to New Zealand. The Rugby World Cup and the All Black win have also definitely driven further interest from the European market, full stop” explains Debbie.

“In addition to this, Kiwis are naturally well-versed in home swapping, with family baches and cribs frequently being exchanged with family friends and friends of friends. This makes Love Home Swap even more perfect for them as it is the only home-exchange site to offer a ‘social circle’ feature (via Facebook Connect) which allows a kiwi home-swapper to find swaps within their wider social network. This means finding like-minded homes or something magnificently different; wherever they want to go”.

“For generations Kiwis have embraced different ways to travel; to vastly different destinations - with their ‘OE’ almost being a cultural rite of passage. Now, this next generation home-exchange service means New Zealanders will bring to Love Home Swap a very unique style of home for fellow home-swappers to enjoy, while Kiwis themselves continue to adventure - far and (accommodation) free!” says Debbie.


Notes to Editors:
In addition to Love Home Swap, those looking for premium service – including a dedicated team to help you find the swaps you want, five-star concierge service for while you are on vacation and access to travel benefits that can save you thousands of dollars – can sign up to Love Home Swap’s gold service – Luxe Home Swap.

Love Home Swap offers a four-week trial for just $1.30 (NZD) after which membership costs $199.60 per year or $375.30 per year for access to the Luxe membership level, for an unlimited number of home swaps**. For more information, or to book your next home swap vacation, visit: www.lovehomeswap.com.

**Dollar charges converted from US Dollars at time of press:
$1USD = $1.25 NZD (rounded up to: $1.30)
$159 USD = $199.54 NZD (rounded up to: $199.60)
$299 USD = $375.24 NZD (rounded up to $375.30)

© Scoop Media