Accommodation in London

Question

Thank you very much for passing on my message, although I am not a GTI member yet. And I am still hesitating, because I wonder if I have a real chance of finding someone who is interested in a holiday in the north of Germany. When I look through the lists I only find 2 or 3 members who would like to go to Berlin or Munich. Could you give me good advice, please? How can I find a family in London who would take us as paying guests then?
Yours sincerely

Elfi Lindner

Answer
Dear Elfi

The best advice I can give you is to go to the website
http://www.visitbritain.com/VB3-de-DE/index.aspx
and then
http://www.visitbritain.com/VB3-de-DE/productsearch/accommodation/accomsearch.aspx
where you should be able to find information that will help
you to select somewhere to stay as paying guests.

Yours sincerely
Kath Botterill
Green Theme International Home Exchange Holidays
http://www.gti-home-exchange.com

Adding Rental option to my Home Exchange listing

Question
Hello I'm a member of Green Theme and we are doing an exchangue during July. I was wondering since the apartment will be free in August, and we don't want to do an exchange, can I offer it for rent?
Thank you, M.Strova

Answer
Dear Sig.na Strova

Thank you for your email and your question regarding
your apartment which will be vacant during August.
Yes, you may certainly offer it for rental during that
month on the web-site. You simply need to login at:

http://www.gti-home-exchange.com/ihea/memberlogin.cfm

using your email address and password. When you arrive
in your own Member Area, click on the link
'View/Amend my Details' which will bring up your registration
form. Scroll down the form until you see the various exchange
options under Type of Exchange, and click on the box
'Rental offered'.

It would be advisable to add how much the rental
is further down your listing in one of the Description boxes,
indicating whether it is per week/per month.

There is no additional charge for adding this extra option
to your listing, which I hope results in a let for you for the
month of August, when the apartment is not required by
your family.

If you require any further assistance, please do not hesitate
to contact me again..

Yours sincerely
Kath Botterill
Green Theme International Home Exchange Holidays
Email: GTI_Home_Exchange@compuserve.com
http://www.gti-home-exchange.com

'Do you have a story to tell'

Looking back through the GTI Archives, I came across the following article written by Wendy Painter way back in September 1994, long before the internet became such an important part of every day life for many and made it so much easier to make contact with likeminded people interested in home exchange. The New Zealand Outlook publication had asked the question ‘Do you have a story to tell’, which prompted Wendy to turn her hand to journalism and write to them about her exchange trip which was published in September 1994.

“Celebrating an Anniversary”

“Our journey of a lifetime – and it took nearly a lifetime to make the trip.

In May 1992 we celebrated our 34th Wedding Anniversary, having both retired. I remarked to my husband that our next Anniversary would be a Coral one and I would like some, not of course from a reef, but to pick it up from a beach in Fiji on our way to realise our life’s ambition to see New Zealand. Green Theme International put us in touch with a family in Wellington who wanted to visit relations in the UK.

It was all arranged via letters, photographs and the odd phone call, and finally we departed from Gatwick in September 1993 en-rout to Fiji via Los Angeles. We couldn’t believe how easy it all was. Having previously only been out of the UK once as far as the Canary Islands, this was quite an adventure.

We spent seven weeks in New Zealand living in a lovely wooden house in Wellington (typical of the houses in New Zealand), whilst its owners were in our house in Cornwall. We were met and made very welcome by their parents, whilst our son was welcoming our exchange partners to Cornwall.

While in New Zealand we hired a camper van, another new experience, and travelled as far as 90 Mile Beach, which is quite a long journey from Wellington in North Island. The country was as beautiful as we expected, and the people were so friendly and kind to us. We have nothing but praise for Air New Zealand and the cabin crew.

When we got back to England our family informed us that they would like to emigrate and if the Government approved our application, would we go with them? You bet! So here we go again with Air New Zealand via Fiji of course.”

Shortly after this before she and her family departed permanently for New Zealand, Wendy Painter called in to our office to show me her published article, and photographs etc of their home exchange trip. I have often wondered over the years how they all settled down and whether they ever did an exchange in the reverse direction at a later date?

Discover the magical capital of Galicia in Northwest Spain

Santiago de Compostela - World Heritage Site in Spain
by Seb Jay

Far away from the popular Spanish Costas is one of Spain's most striking World Heritage Sites - Santiago de Compostela. The city is situated in the Celtic heartland of Northwest Spain and is surrounded by mesmerizing countryside landscapes that would be more at home in Southern Ireland or Scotland. A beautiful city in its own right, Santiago de Compostela was assured of its status as a tourist magnet many centuries ago. The Apostle Saint James - the first of the twelve apostles to suffer martyrdom - is said to have been buried here, and since the 10th century AD the city has been a focus for the pilgrimage along the Way of the Apostle Saint James.

Today, the final two weeks of July in Santiago de Compostela is a procession of festivities, the 'main event' being the annual Festival of the Apostle St James on 25 July. For tourists, this is perhaps the best time to visit the city as the whole place comes alive. There are fireworks, street entertainers, exhibitions, concerts and stalls offering as much local produce and delicacies as you can manage. On the 25th there is the religious ceremony in honor of St James - the King's Offering to the Apostle.

When visiting Santiago de Compostela it is impossible not to be impressed by the astounding architecture around the city. Elaborate stonework is everywhere, with examples of romanesque, medieval, gothic and renaissance architecture dominating the skyline. At its historic heart is the Parador de Turismo de Santiago in the Plaza del Obradoiro - the most impressive of all the architectural designs in the city.

Getting There

Santiago de Compostela airport provides easy access to the city for international travelers. Domestic and international flights from cities such as Madrid, Barcelona and London arrive at the airport with some regularity. The city is approximately 12km from the airport so booking a hire car in advance at http://www.your-carhire.com for pick up at the airport is advisable.

Seb Jay is a freelance writer specialising in the origination of web content for http://www.your-carhire.com

7 Things You'll Need When Visiting Paris for the First Time...

As we now have many home exchange offers located in Paris, and doubtless many American members will be interested in these offers, it seemed appropriate to include in the weblog the following article from Tourist Travel.com
by Thomas Schueneman


1 - Your Passport
Of course, but if you like to collect stamps in your passport, you'll have to ask...

2 - A Little French
Yes, it is true that many Europeans speak English... But you're in France, after all, and you'll go a long way in avoiding the famed "snootiness" of the French if you learn -and use - some basic French phrases... They'll love to help you as you stumble along in really bad French!

3 - A Map...
If nothing else, you can stand there, hopelessly lost on a Parisian street corner, and stare at your map... someone is sure to offer to help. Make sure you say "Bonjour and Merci..."

4 - An Umbrella...
"April in Paris" sounds romantic. It's an American myth that April in Paris is the most lovely time to visit. May is better, but always expect some rain and always be prepared for changeable weather! The sun might be shining when you leave your hotel, but it might start raining any time!

5 - Something besides jeans and sneakers...
That's fine for walking around and seeing the sights of Paris. But when dining out, show respect for the dining experience that the French take so seriously... Dress for dinner, and you're likely to get treated a lot better (remember those few French phrases you learned on the plane ride over...)

6 - Your Cigarettes...
Are you a smoker? Then you'll love Paris! Smoking is allowed pretty much everywhere... If you're not smoker, then you'll just have to put up with the second hand smoke... Don't even THINK of complaining about it!

7 - A Sense of Adventure...
Ahh... Paris, the City of Lights; the City of Love... All around are wonders of culture and history. Be a little curious and adventurous and you'll find no lack of wonderful things to see, do, and enjoy. Paris is arguably the most beautiful city in Europe, enjoy it's wonders with a sense of adventure...




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tom lives in San Francisco and works as a sound engineer, freelance writer, and entrepreneur. He enjoys traveling, nature, reading, photography, and music

Join the Summer Holiday Swap Shop

So you want to have beach views from a Sydney apartment, be seconds from snow-covered slopes in a Swiss chalet or paddle in the pool of a villa in Provence? Well, pick your fantasy picture postcard and bag a free holiday home. From Parisian studio apartments to 10-bedroom Moroccan villas they won’t cost you a penny. The catch? While you’re living the high life in a free luxury pad, your own home is under siege back in Blighty.

Welcome to the worldwide home exchange club where it’s estimated more than 250,000 swaps take place every year, according to Channel 4 Homes. Some just exchange house keys, but others trade cars, pets, gym memberships and even best friends to create a budget holiday that includes every luxury.

And with more people surfing the internet, the worldwide swap shop is growing. For the humble price of membership, online exchange agencies facilitate holidays as far afield as Asia, Iceland and Australia.

Cut-price airfares and the absence of hefty accommodation bills can take you further around the globe – and ensure your spending money lasts the distance.

This is a quote from an article in The Scotsman - 6th May 2005
By Lisa Haynes, PA Features. Click here to read the full article

Last Minute Home Exchange List

Question?
Hello, Why do we have 28 days left on the list? I thought we paid for a
year? Thanks for the reply. Rayne

Answer
Dear Rayne

Thank you for your email. Your membership is for a
full year. The '28 days left on the list' refers to the
Last Minute List to which you must have added yourselves
(perhaps inadvertently?).

The system allows you to place yourselves on this
countdown list for a period of 31 days to give your
listing an additional boost, if you are getting close to
your desired exchange dates and have not yet found
a suitable exchange. Once the 31 days have expired
you are automatically taken off the list, and if you
still want to boost your listing it is necessary to
add yourselves to the Last Minute List again from
within your own administrationarea by clicking
on the hyperlink 'Boost my Listing'.

The Last Minute List is obviously intended for use
by those members who are seeking exchanges at
comparatively short within the next 3 month period
and we do, of course, have to rely on members to
use the list appropriately.

Best regards
Kath Botterill

Show ages of Children in Home Exchange party?

Question?

Hi

I first discovered your site a few weeks ago, and printed off some details that really interested me. I have come back to join up, in order to contact one particular listing (HE15187). However, I hadn't noticed that their listing was due to expire on 22 April 05. If I become a member, would you be able to pass on an email to those owners on my behalf? The property appealed not only because of its location but because of the ages of their children.

May I say that I think your site is excellently organized and presented. The only improvement I would suggest is that in the info box where members list their personal details, in the "Children" box, instead of just stating number of children, they should state the age of the children, too. For me this is the single most important factor (after the location of the property) that I am interested in, as the attraction of home-exchange for me is finding a truly child-friendly house well stocked with toys, books, videos, etc that will keep my little kids happy.

With best wishes.
Melissa Graham

Answer

Dear Melissa

Thank you for your email. There would be no problem in passing on the email address of the member in Majorca whose listing has just expired, once you become a member.

Thank you also for your feedback regarding the information provided on children and that the ages of children should be shown. I will bear your suggestion in mind when we come to carry out our next imminent upgrade on the site. I must say that I agree with you that it is information that is very necessary when making the decision as to whether the prospective exchange partners will be compatible with your family.

Yours sincerely
Kath Botterill

Home again!

I am back in harness after an enjoyable 2½ weeks
in England's Lake District, which in April/May
looks as beautiful, clean and well cared for as
ever. It was nice to see the hedgerows being
managed and cared for, and as a result the
wildlife and wild flowers are flourishing. So
until the next time .......

A pity I did not notice Blogger.com's new
facility for mobile blogging sooner - I could
have added some blog articles whilst on the
move ...

Now back to work!