Last week I watched the movie "The Holiday" - it's  a romantic comedy starring Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet who use a home exchange to change their lives as they trade homes between Los Angeles and England.- I had never heard of this concept and got to thinking, wouldn't it be great if there was a gay home exchange?! - And sure enough - I found 2!   HOME AROUND THE WORLD and  MI CASA SU CASA.

Home Around the World is a gay owned and run home swap, guest and host service, based in London. Mi Casa Su Casa first launched in 1992 and uses similar concepts. Whether going to another country or to another region in their own country.   By getting out of hotels that are often impersonal, homestay travelers have a much better sense of the community they're visiting because they may meet the neighbors, become familiar with local shop owners, get suggestions from their host about restaurants and markets, and more. 

BUT IS IT SAFE? In 15 years this type of business has been around,  tens of thousands of exchanges have taken place and all the companies I talked with never had a report of a theft, malicious vandalism, or a case of someone getting to their exchange home and finding a vacant lot.

It is sort of like  Internet Dating for your home. Before you would actually go on a date with someone you met on the internet, you would exchange some emails, talk on the phone a few times, and swap recent photos. By the time you agreed to meet, it wouldn't be with a "stranger". You wouldn't go on a date if you didn't feel a connection, and the same goes for a home exchange.

Good Communication minimizes misplaced expectations. Ask questions about the home and area, make sure you see photos. Ask for referrals about prior exchanges.

There 4-5 basic options.

Home Exchanging – You stay in someone else's home, while they stay in yours. See the world for free and experience that sense of "belonging" you can only get from staying in a cozy home and walking in another's footsteps. Members exchange houses/apartments for an agreed period of time, anywhere from a weekend to a few weeks to a few months. No money is exchanged. Some homes may even come with a car and/or pets!

Hospitality Exchanging - You stay with other gay people and you return their hospitality at a later, mutually convenient time. Instead of actually exchanging homes, members agree to host one another for equal time periods free-of-charge. In other words, you stay with a member in their home on your vacation in London during April, and then during their holiday in September, they stay with you in Chicago. These exchanges are often much easier to arrange, as you don't have to vacation at the same time as your trading partner. It's a great way to make new friends! And perfect for weekend exchanges between members in the same country.


Room Exchanging - Provides an economical way to travel, which is very popular especially with our younger members who may live in shared accommodations. Room exchange works like home exchange except you stay in the member's room in their house or apartment during the same period that they stay in your room. 

Home Around The World also offers Home Sitting - Receive free accommodation whilst looking after other members' homes, pets and plants when they are away. 

Mi Casa Su Casa also offers Room, Apartment and House Rentals. Some members rent out rooms and some offer their apartment or home for rent as well. Rates vary widely depending on location, amenities and period of rental (host determines rates). A refundable security/cleaning deposit is usually required.


UPDATED!  Sept. 2009 -  StayWithFamily.com is the newest,  fastest growing Gay Home Exchange site and offers the most services. It is the only interactive Gay Home Exchange site that allows you to chat live with other members and see pics of the members you are talking to. Over 700 members with an average of 17 new members every day! We offer a Free Basic membership and 50% off Premium Memberships with promo code: ngtravelguide.

WHAT A CONCEPT!