Our Retirement Year of Trading Houses and Repositioning Cruises
Retirement’s been a blast, and the year of home exchanges was no exception! We swapped our Mazatlan condo for houses across Europe, staying in homes from Norway to Italy and everywhere in between. We took a couple of repositioning cruises to make the most of our travel budget. We got to Europe in April and returned to the Americas in November without having to fly. Come along as we share the highlights of our six-month journey!
Setting Sail for Barcelona: Smooth Sailing and New Friends
We kicked off our adventure with a 16-day cruise to Barcelona. Days were filled with sunbathing, evenings with shows and activities, and stops in exciting places like San Juan and the Azores islands. It was the perfect way to slow travel in retirement and gear up for our home exchange marathon.
Norwegian Paradise: Cozy Cabin and Fjord Views in Son
Our first swap was in the lovely town of Son, Norway. Imagine waking up to stunning fjord views every morning! We even traded our cars with our kind hosts, Lise and Jostein to explore the area. We spent our days hiking, enjoying fresh seafood, and taking day trips to Oslo to see the Royal Palace and other cool sights.
Italian Dream: Mountain Views and Delicious Pizza in Asiago
Next up was Asiago, Italy, a charming mountain town. We used it as a base to explore northern Italy, indulging in amazing food and visiting places like Bassano del Grappa, Verona, Venice and Lake Garda. Luciano’s Audi took us everywhere around the north.
European Adventure: A Home in Every Country
Our travels continued with a whirlwind of home exchanges:
- Copenhagen, Denmark: We explored the colorful streets and charming canals.
- Amsterdam, Netherlands: A bike-friendly city with beautiful architecture and museums.
- Split, Croatia: A coastal city with ancient Roman ruins and stunning beaches.
- Poland: We made Warsaw our base to explore historic cities like Gdańsk and Kraków.
- Malta: A tiny island nation with a rich history and beautiful beaches. Public transportation was excellent and we bought a weekly pass for the entire island. We alos booked a tour with getyourguide.com.
- Budapest, Hungary: A city of thermal baths, grand architecture, and delicious goulash.
- Paris, France: We lived like Parisians, strolling through charming neighborhoods and savoring croissants. It was an exchange with points and our host was very kind and nice. Paris was very hot during the two weeks we were there.
- Dublin, Ireland: We experienced the lively pub culture and the stunning Irish countryside. From Dublin we took few day trips with Paddywagon Tours all around Ireland.
- Prague, Czech Republic: We wandered through the fairytale-like Old Town Square and enjoyed the local beer.
- Davos, Switzerland: We went hiking and took in the stunning Alpine scenery. We rented a car in Prague, drove all around Switzerland, returned to Prague and flew to Antalya.
- Laglio on Lake Como, Italy: We stayed in a villa near George Clooney’s house! We traded my Toyota Avalon for a very fancy Mercedes.
- Side, Turkey: We relaxed on beautiful beaches and explored ancient ruins. We also booked an amazing tours with Viator.
Cruising Home: Relaxing and Reflecting on Our Journey
After an unforgettable six months, we hopped on another cruise ship from Barcelona back to Miami. It was the perfect way to unwind and reminisce about our incredible experiences. It was the same Royal Caribbean ship with the same captain, just going the opposite way.
What’s Next?
We’re not slowing down anytime soon! We’re already planning our next big adventure: several weeks of house swapping in Encinitas, California, Reykavik, Iceland and Torrevieja, Spain. Stay tuned for more exciting travel tales!
Why We Love Home Exchanges (and You Should Too!)
Home exchanges have changed the way we travel. They’re budget-friendly, offer a more authentic experience, and allow us to live with locals. We highly recommend giving it a try!
Tips for a Successful Home Exchange (use code: lidia-33697 to receive 250 points signup bonus)
- Find a Reputable Platform: We use HomeExchange.com to find reliable exchange partners.
- Communicate Openly: Email with your exchange partners about expectations, house rules, and any concerns you may have.
- Be open to non simultaneous exchanges: I go to your house this year and you come to my house next year.
- Be open to exchange with point: Canadians love Mazatlan but we prefer to go to Europe, so they pay us with points and they stay in Mexico while we use our points in Europe.
- Prepare a Guidebook: Leave a detailed guidebook for your guests with tips on local attractions, restaurants, and transportation (if you are not trading cars).
- Be Flexible: Things don’t always go as planned, so be prepared to adapt and go with the flow.
We hope our story inspires you to try home exchanging and repositioning cruises. It’s a fantastic way to see the world on a budget and have unforgettable experiences. Safe travels!
2 Comments