Anyone with experience of holiday house swap? NZ bound!

[SEGirl]

Hi

We're looking into an affordable way to head to New Zealand for a few weeks with the little ones. Just wondering if anyone had experience of house swapping that far afield? And if so where to begin looking, good websites etc?

Many thanks

[treehugger]

We have done a number of house exchanges using homeexchange.com. It is a really good way of seeing another country more cheaply. I would advise a simultaneous swap, as otherwise it gets too complicated and you have the security of knowing you can rely on mutual respect. I wouldn't advise swapping a car. make sure your house is really clean and tidy - we take the opportunity to do a really good spring clean. you don't really want to feel that you have not given a good swap if you have left your house messy or dirty.

I recommend it, good luck.

[jonbateson]

Have you considered a camper van or even just renting a car (lots of the sites have little rooms like a motel) so that you can see more than one place, there is so much to see and do, we had 6 weeks in a camper and still didn't do everything, my children were 6mo and 3.5y at the time, they loved it and having the camper meant we could stop and make food etc whenever we needed.

[Supernanny*]

How about love home swap? The lady that owns it is amazing. Interviewed with her and she knows what it like travelling with children etc.

[SEGirl]

Great! Thanks for all the suggestions