GTI Home Exchange - using the Members recently contacted Feature

Question: I am a brand new member & have notified another member just 12 hours ago using the Email Form provided at the foot of the listing. I now see a red "check" saying "delete from List" next to that members ID# (HEXXXXX) in the Members Recently Contacted list in my Member Area. Does this mean they are no longer available?

Answer: The red "check" simply allows YOU to delete that Members ID# from your Members Recently Contacted list in your Member Area when it is no longer useful to you - for example if you have received a reply from them and they are unable to accept your exchange offer.

Question: For that matter, when I review listings am I to assume that they ALL are still available?
Many Thanks

Answer:When you review the listings they are all still available unless (a) the listing carries the heading "Exchange Request Fulfilled" which has been placed on the listing by the Member because they have an exchange arranged and do not wish to be contacted regarding another exchange for the time being: or (b) if the Dates shown in the Dates available field are already in the past. When reviewing the exchange listings you should pay attention to the "Dates available" field. Whilst some may be very wide, for example "Open to Offers", or "From January 2005 until October 2005", some members will have been much more specific about their preferred dates and this could mean that dates may already be in the past by the time you view their listing. This is because a Member joins for a 12 month membership and therefore has the right for their listing to remain on-line for the duration of that 12 month period. Some members may wish to use the remainder of that time to seek further exchanges and amend the dates sought, but others may not do so, and it is these members not seeking to arrange a further exchange in the current year whose listings may carry dates which are past.

Preparing for a successful Home Exchange

Feedback from a successful home exchange between Ireland and Switzerland pointed out not just how nice the area was, but what a difference it makes if the exchange home is well prepared for its visitors. “We just want to let you know that this one (HE11260) is such a wonderful exchange – Everything about this home exchange is wonderful, The House, The Area, The Country. They go to such trouble to leave such organized details. We had a wonderful holiday”.

Below is a list of recommendations for preparing your house for your exchange partner. Think of it as a “What I would like when I get there” list.

Neighbours to welcome if possible

Basic food stock – milk, bread, coffee etc. and other necessary items such as toilet tissue, bath soap and cleaning supplies.

Note as to where main items are stored, and what storage space has been provided for your exchanger. Make space in dresser drawers and cupboards, and leave empty hangers.

Provide plenty of clean towels and bedlinen for your guests.

Directions to local shops and restaurants (with personal recommendations if you wish).

Emergency Telephone numbers: plumber, electrician, doctor – hope never to need them.

Notes on how to use appliances, and their idiosyncracies ie if washing machine door sticks (don’t kick it). If your exchanger does not speak your own language well, simple diagrams can help clarify instructions.

Store any valuables or lock them away somewhere safe.

Prepay your bills before you leave.

Do basic regular maintenance such as mow lawn, clean pool before departure.

If a car is part of the exchange agreement, leave copies of your car insurance and registration.

Leave clear instructions for pet and plant care.

Ask post office to hold your mail for you until you return.

The list could be endless, but use your own judgement. It could make all the difference.

For home exchange advice in your own language: German, English, Spanish, French, Italian, or Dutch, click on the appropriate link below.

Tips zum Haustausch
Exchange Advice and Forms
Consejos & Formularios
Conseils et Formulaires
Consigli e suggerimenti
Exchange advies en formulieren
The Oberserver Pick of the Season - 20 journeys to change your life

Member Problems identifying Exchange Offers

Question:

When you get a response from someone you have sent a request to, is there any way of identifying their listing? The system doesn't seem to carry an ID...not mine or theirs. Is there a way of fixing this?

Mostly I use the email link and most people who approach me seem to also. That way, it comes and goes ID-less.

Hello people!

When I email someone on the site, and they hit reply, i have no way of knowing which listing they hail from. There should be an automatic system that includes the listing ID# in the email.

thanks Anne HE16226

Reply:

Thank you for your email and for the feedback concerning the web-site.

As I'm sure you know, there are two methods provided on the web-page for contacting the member by email. One is to use the Email this Member hyperlink, and the other is to use the Email Form provided at the bottom of the listing. Referring to the first question, it would seem that the Member is referring to the Email this Member link and not the Email Form.

If you are using the email link, you are actually opening up a new message in your own email programme and sending it from your computer, not from the website, and we obviously have no control over this. In the subject line a should Member indicate that their message is an exchange offer; otherwise, if it is left blank, many people won't open it when they don't know the source of the message. Just make sure that you include in the subject line something like, Exchange offer from memberHEXXXXX for member HE00000 (filling in the member's User ID). Then, as most people will reply to a message leaving the subject line as it is, you shouldhave no trouble in identifying the listing - you can log on to your member area and search on the member's User ID to view the full listing again.

It is also a good idea to repeat both yours and the member's User IDs within the body of your message too as, again, most will leave your message intact when replying so that, even if they don't include their User ID within their reply, you will be able to see it in the message you had sent to them. Also,as some members may delete your original message, ask, within your exchange offer message that they include their User ID when replying to help you quickly locate their listing again.

We do, of course, have more control over the content of the form which is provided for Member Enquiries. We very much appreciate member suggestions and feedback, and will look into whether or not it is possible to incorporate an automatic system that includes the listing ID# in the Form email. We do, of course, have more control over the content of the form which is provided for Member Enquiries. We very much appreciate member suggestions, and will look into whether or not it is possible to incorporate an automatic system that includes the listing ID# in the email.

I hope that this helps.

Kath Botterill

Last Minute Home Exchange

Question:

Hi I have just renewed.

From 1998 to 2002 we had a number of really excellent exchanges. Since then the enquiry level has dried up. We have never enquired anywhere and always received enquiries which "pushed" us into taking time off from the business.

I wonder whether the Last Minute section has assisted in creating this - many are hardly last minute - or whether it is just that people are just seeking places further afield.

Not that we have missed anything as we can seek places to go ourselves obviously, it is just from 4/5 enquiries a month for 2/3 years to nothing which I find slightly strange.

Any views? Thanks.

Regards M Barber HE14691
Mr Barber's exchange offer is located in S'Algar, situated in the SE of the Balearic Island of Menorca, Spain

Answer:

Thank you for your email and the renewal of your membership.

I also am surprised that the enquiries have dried up, and do not
really have any explanation as to why this should be. With regard
to the Last Minute Exchanges, we do have to rely on members
to play the game with regard to the use of this facility, and
to only place themselves on the Last Minute Exchange list if
they are within 3 months of their desired exchange date, having
so far been unsuccessful in finding an exchange, but no-one
else has so far suggested that this may be creating a problem.
I will certainly keep it under review, and check with our
associate agencies whether they think that this could be the
case. As you have indicated in your email, you are aware
that we DO encourage ALL members to be proactive in seeking
their exchange partners in order to have the best chance of
finding the exchange that they want, rather than to just
waiting for enquiries to come to them.

Seeking Member Comments: Do other members have
any comment to make about the Last Minute Exchange
facility provided on the GTI Home Exchange web-site? Please
do so on the GTI Weblog Forum

L'échange de maison

Une autre façon de partir en vacances

Vous habitez en Dordogne et vous rêvez de
passer vos vacances à Nice ? Échangez votre
logement, c’est économique et dans l’air du
temps.

"Depuis quelques années nous avons trouvé
une autre façon de partir en vacances, à l’étranger
ou en France ou Suisse" écrit l’un de nos
membres français.

"Nous essayons d’échanger notre maison pendant
un mois. Cela nous laisse le temps de bien nous
installer, de nous acclimater et de nous sentir chez
nous. En même temps, cette solution est très
pratique car elle nous permet de disposer d’une
voiture sur place et aussi de confier nos deux
chats à nos partenaires d’échange sans avoir
recours aux voisins. C’est vrai que la première
année j’avais un peu peur de laisser ma maison ainsi
à des inconnus mais franchement, nous n’avons
jamais eu aucun problème, et depuis je conseille cette
formule à tous mes amis. Des vacances agréables et
économiques, nous ne les envisageons plus autrement".

Pour bénéficier du "Réseau d’Échanges Green Theme International" cette année, accéder au site web :
http://www.gti-home-exchange.com/francais.html
Travel

Posting a comment on the GTI Home Exchange Weblog

Members of GTI Home Exchange may be unfamiliar with the concept of blogging and how to post comments on articles which have been published on the GTI Home Exchange Blog.

The "Comment" hyperlink is found at the end of each article and clicking on it brings up the login page, where you are able to create an account. Click on the link "Login as a different User". This will provide your with a User Name and a password, which is all that is required in order to be able to log-in and add comments on the GTI Home Exchange Blog.

We hope that GTI members will appreciate the value of the GTI Home Exchange Web-log where you can share your home exchange experiences, offer information useful to others contemplating a home exchange, and bring up any other relevant topics. This is your forum for home exchange - make it a great one. Enjoy home exchange with Green Theme International, a Great Travel Idea for people with Good Travel Intentions.

Making the World more accessible

Overseas accessible travel with no surprises...
the way you imagined it should be.

GO where you want - GO when you want - GO your way
Travel With No Surprises

New GTI Home Exchange members, Virginia & Joe Krapiec,
in Vancouver, Brisith Columbia, Canada, HE16184
were referred to us by the Access-Network.

"Our house is comfortable, bright, two story, open style,
and easy care. No stairs to enter, an elevator for those
who cannot handle stairs and handgrips for the wobbly.
We fiftysomethings have time to travel from May to July.
Our preference would be to spend 4 to 8 weeks in your
area so we can take a good look around. We need a
house/apartment that will accommodate a quite independant
lady (leg amputee) who travels on wheels - either a manual
wheelchair or electric scooter. Stairs, and doorways
less than 27 inches/69 cm wide(especially into the bathroom)
would be obstacles. Other than that, we are typical
travellers. Cat allergy."

Destinations which are of initial interest to the Krapiec's are
Great Britain and Australia.

Seeking European Exchange Partners

When Christ Gleeson first became a member of Green Theme International Home Exchange, he was delighted with the speed with which he was able to arrange his first home exchange:

"We've been members less than a week and fixed up a swap that we're very happy with! Guess we'll be with you next year too.

Chris Gleeson HE13372"

But later Chris wrote:

"We've had a couple of great swaps (Seattle and NZ) over the two years we've been in Green Theme although we've had far less luck with swaps we've tried to set up in Europe".

We'd like to hear your comments on why it is more difficult to set up exchanges in Europe. Is it because of the language problem (many members are able to communicate in languages other than their own native language)? Is it because most people's destination is London, and they are unfamiliar with other parts of the United Kingdom and what they have to offer (Chris lives near Manchester, a modern vibrant city with lots going on, as well as providing easy access to other desirable parts of the UK such as The Lake District, the most beautiful corner of England, and Scotland for short excursions, and with Manchester accessible by an International Airport)?

It would seem that Chris is throwing down the gauntlet for GTI's European members, so who is ready to take up his challenge?

The Last Issue

Recent correspondence has led me to include this post on the GTI Weblog by way of clarification. The original text was contained in a GTI Newsletter.

After 15 years of offering printed directories, we published our last edition in January 2003. Whilst we were very reluctant to cease production of our Directories, Internet access had become so widespread that the number of directory memberships had reduced over the preceding few years finally making it unviable to continue to produce them. Moreover, members who were relying solely on the Directories were at a serious disadvantage because by the time the Directories were printed and distributed, many of the exchange offers and requests would already have been fulfilled.

Most countries now have a reliable internet service, and most households a computer, and almost everyone now opts for the much less expensive and more immediate Internet membership option. As an environmentally conscious organization, we feel that it really is much more environmentally efficient to communicate and receive information electronically about the wonderful exchange opportunities available

First Member from The Netherlands in 2005

Dear Sir, Madam,

Yesterday evening I joined your organisation.

I must say that that was very easy, so many thanks for that! A perfect
internet system.

Now we're hoping to find a nice holiday address...

met vriendelijke groet,

Ysbrand Visser
Netherlands

Going Dutch

GTI tries to attract more members from The Netherlands

GTI makes a constant effort to attract as wide a membership as possible for the benefit of all members, a particuarly difficult task in Europe with so many languages to contend with. We are therefore proud to announce the inclusion of several new pages on the web site in Dutch, our sixth European language, as a result of which we hope to attract more members from The Netherlands. If you have any relatives, friends or other contacts in The Netherlands, please pass on this information. GTI Netherlands Home Page

Happy New Year

We wish you a very happy New Year
Nous vous souhaitons une très heureuse Nouvelle Année
Wir wünschen Ihnen ein sehr glückliches Neues Jahr
Wij wensen U un heel gelukkig Nieuwjaar
Felices Fiestas

Safe from Tsunami

We were pleased to hear yesterday from Bali, Indonesia, that GTI Home Exchange member Paul Smethurst and his family are safe. It would appear that Bali itself has escaped the worst of the Tsunami and is relatively unscathed, but needless to say our hearts go out to all those others whose lives have been so devastated.

Global Warming - The Big Debate

Though the Tsunami in Southern Asia cannot be attributed to global warming, in the wake of the massive loss of life and terrible destruction of people's homes and the infrastructure of so many countries, it perhaps seems appropriate to look again at this issue.

Rosie Carr writes in the Easyjet In-flight magazine December 2004

Should Europe care about global warming?
YES says Rosie Carr. In the coming century, global warming is predicted to lead to catastrophic climate change across the planet. The cause, according to most scientists, is toxic emissions from industrialised societies, and the only way to prevent disaster is to reduce those emissions. Should the EU be doing something about it while the US and Australia don't seem to be bothered? Clearly, the answer is yes, even if Europe alone can only scratch the surface of the problem.


To read the rest of Rosie's article go to:

Sustainable Tourism

As our name implies, we, at Green Theme International Home Exchange Holidays, have always been concerned about the impact of tourism on the environment and I was delighted to find the following succint list of points on how we can collectively have a big impact on the limitation of damage sometimes caused by tourism, if we all think about making a small difference when we travel.

Sustainable tourism:

is about making a difference when you travel. When you travel, try to make sure that the impact you have on local communities and the environment is positive and sustainable.

is about enjoying yourself and taking responsibility for your actions to make sure that the social, environmental and economic impacts of overseas travel are positive ones;

provides fair economic returns to local communities and minimises negative impacts on: local cultures; the environment; natural resources; and on wildlife habitats and species;

recognises that in many destinations resources such as water, firewood and fuel are precious and that local people may not have enough for their own needs if visitors do not use these resources in a sustainable way and with regard for local needs;

does not include trade in endangered species, indigenous resources and ancient artefacts that can threaten natural and cultural heritage;

recognises and mitigates the impact of travel on global warming.

"Know before you Go" Campaign

The United Kingdom Foreign and Commonwealth Office web-site is the definitive place of reference for those seeking information before travelling abroad, and we are sure that anyone planning to travel abroad, whether from the UK or elsewhere, will find helpful advice here.

Know Before You Go is an awareness campaign aimed at encouraging British travellers to prepare better before going overseas. Use this area of the website to help plan your trip overseas.

NEW! Short Breaks

Check out our top tips for planning a short break holiday overseas. This
is the lastest targeted mini-campaign as part of "Know Before You Go".

A First Experience of Home Exchange

Bonjour Kath,
As promised a small article about our first home-exchange in Australia.

HOME-EXCHANGE Just do it!!
About 18 months ago, I read an article about home-exchanges and decided to have a look on Internet.

We are a retired couple, live 45 km north of Paris. I am half English, half Dutch and my husband is French. My motivation was to revisit Australia; I have a brother and family there. In the beginning my husband was somewhat hesitant. We enrolled and thought "wait & see".

In our member's file we filled in: "Open to Offers". Over a short time we received quite some offers from the USA, CANADA and the UK. So we changed and selected AUSTRALIA. Soon after, two or three swappers sent us offers; one in particular interested us, so I started to converse and get more information. They were a retired couple from the Sunshine-Coast; this couple: Rex & Nancy had already performed 5 successful home-exchanges. After having e-mailed for quite a while together, we came to an agreement for a home and car-exchange for October 2004. Rex & Nancy had arranged a double home-exchange this time:
1) September in Brittany,
2) October in Othis/Paris area.

They were due to arrive in France 28 August, for their Brittany home-exchange. As we don't live far from the Airport, we invited them to come and stay with us for 2 days. A unique chance, to meet each other and show them around. We instantly got on well together. We introduced them to our sons and families and also our neighbours. They didn't speak very much French, but were good in communication. On the 3rd day, they left for Nantes, we drove them to Gare Montparnasse, and kept in contact via e-mails.

Four weeks later, we left for Australia. My brother met us at Brisbane Airport, and drove us to our destination, a lovely comfortable home situated in a beautiful area not far from Mooloolaba, a well-known town on the Sunshine-Coast. We were able to live at our own pace, cooked the food we liked and discover Australia as "Aussis". Again we kept a regular contact with our home-swappers by computer and told each other about our different outings and excursions. Our stay was a 100% success, both in human and cultural ways.

Today we consider, through this successful home-exchange, we gained two new friends. We intend to try again somewhere else.

Louise COLETTE
www.chez.com/aquabears
HE13942
Travel

Destinations Travel Show, Earls Court

February 3-6, 2005, Earls Court, London.

For holiday choice, advice and ideas, make a date at Destinations. Britain's favourite holiday show is bursting with entertainment, special offers and expert advice from celebrities including Judith Chalmers OBE, Griff Rhys-Jones and Bear Grylls. New for 2005 find your perfect place in the sun at Destination Holiday Homes Abroad. Book now and quote Telegraph for your free ticket. Booking fee applies.

Adventure, Travel & Sports Show

January 14 - 16, 2005, Olympia, London.

Whether you're looking for the solitude of deserted beaches, the challenge of classic walks, treks and safaris, or the thrill of action sports,

The Daily Telegraph Adventure Travel & Sports Show , now in it's 10th year, has something for everyone.

Creating a GTI Home Exchange blogspot account

Members of GTI Home Exchange may be unfamiliar with the concept of blogging and how to post comments on articles which have been published on the GTI Home Exchange Blog.

In order to be able to add a comment, you first of all need to create an account at http://www.blogger.com/start.
Click on "Create your Blog" and complete the first part of the procedure which is to Create an Account, by filling in the boxes "Choose a user name", "Enter a password" etc. as appropriate. This will provide your with a User Name and a password, which is all that is required in order to be able to log-in and make a comment on the GTI Home Exchange Blog. The "Comment" hyperlink is found at the end of each article and clicking on it brings up the login page.

You do NOT need to complete Steps 2 - Name Blog and 3 - Choose Template - unless you wish to create your own Personal Blog.

If you need any further help in posting a Comment on the GTI Home Exchange Blog do not hesitate to send me an email requesting further assistance.