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What’s the newest way to get away from the norm for seniors who are looking for an inexpensive vacation? House swapping!

That’s right, seniors are drawn to the idea of home exchange vacations for many reasons, including:

• They don’t have to deal with booking accommodations.
• They get a home-sweet-home environment that a hotel just doesn’t offer.
• It’s fairly inexpensive! Travelers don’t pay for accommodations, just for travel expenses and food while you’re on vacation.
• You get to live like a true local in the community you visit.
• You get to enjoy the extra space of an entire home.

Home exchange programs started getting a buzz after the movie The Holiday, starring Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, Jack Black and Jude Law was released in theaters last December. The flick was centered on Hollywood rich type Amanda Wood (Diaz), who was seeking refuge from the glitz and glamour of
Hollywood during Christmas. She happens upon a website offering home exchanges, and arranges to swap homes with Iris (Winslet) to take respite at her small countryside, English cottage.

A home exchange program, works much the same. Travelers agree to swag homes for a designated amount of time – basically you stay in their place; they stay in yours for free. It’s a pure swap – and no money is exchanged.

If you’re interested in home exchange, I suggest looking into some of the following websites:

1. HomeExchange.com - Home exchange in over 100 countries around the world. Membership (to list and us the site) is $100 annually, but there are non-registered free listings to view.

2. SwapNow.com - Check out over 14,000 listings in 70 countries world wide. You can view listings for free, but to exchange you need to register for $90 per year.

3. SeniorsHomeExchange.com - If you’re 50+ and interested in home exchange this is the site for you. For $100 for a lifetime membership, you can view over 2,500 home listings in more than 40 countries around the world.

4. Craigslist.org - Features free house-swap listings.