How We Traveled the World for Over a Year With Our Family

At HomeExchange, we love giving the floor to those who can talk about it best: our members. This testimonial was written by Céline, a french HomeExchange ambassador, who shares with us her incredible 14-month family adventure made possible through HomeExchange.

Our crazy long-term exchange project

From a dream...

We’re a family of travelers and have been completely hooked on home exchanging for over ten years. Thanks to exchanges, we’ve traveled the world with our children, but also discovered plenty of places right here in France, across Europe, and even just down the street!

In 2020, after months of preparing for a world tour through home exchanges, postponed twice and canceled once because of COVID, we finally managed to take off for nearly three months in French Polynesia. It was a magical stay, and as they say over there, we were stung by the tiaré! Of course, our only wish was to go back, this time for a more immersive experience, living like locals through a 14-month exchange where we could both work and enroll our children in school.

...to reality

To make this dream come true, we began looking for a year-long home exchange. We worked on the project almost two years in advance. Little by little, this crazy dream became tangible, but what truly made it possible were the bonds we had built during our 2020 trip with one of the exchange families. That couple, who became close friends, agreed to a long-term exchange and offered us their home for a year. They were retiring, wanted to spend time with family in mainland France, and were also looking for someone to stay in their home and care for their two sick dogs. Everything aligned perfectly!

French Polynesia: 13 months in the heart of the lagoon

We started with several shorter exchanges across different islands to enjoy some vacation time before the Tahitian school year began in mid-August. Then came our nest for the year: an open-air home near the lagoon, surrounded by lush greenery, the sound of the waves, and fruit literally within arm’s reach.

It quickly became home: kayaking on the lagoon, swimming with turtles and sharks, Tahitian dance classes, weaving flower crowns with neighbors, or spotting whales with local fishermen. What had once felt like an exotic landscape became our daily life, filled with encounters and moments of sharing.

New Zealand: 1 month of stopovers and encounters

During the long December school break in Polynesia, we flew to New Zealand to cool off, a one-month road trip where every exchange introduced us to a brand-new setting: majestic fjords, rolling green hills, endless skies, and face-to-face moments with sea lions.

In every home, there was a handwritten note, a local gift waiting on the table, a cat to spoil, neighbors to chat with, and tips for discovering hidden gems nearby. These simple gestures turned into unforgettable memories. Special mention goes to the unbelievable bedding comfort in New Zealand: I must have written down at least ten brands of linens, pillows, and comforters to add to my wish list for our home in Normandy!

United States: 3 weeks of road-tripping straight out of the movies

As our Polynesian stay came to an end, we didn’t want to miss the chance to stop in the United States, a country we didn’t know yet. It was an opportunity for fresh discoveries we couldn’t pass up!

For three weeks, we crisscrossed the country through exchanges, once again enriched by genuine human connections. One of the most memorable moments was during a hospitality exchange: we shared a hearty American breakfast prepared by our host (cinnamon bread, brioche, garden-fresh berries, jam, peanut butter...) out on the terrace, surrounded by playful squirrels and quietly passing deer.

San Francisco, Yosemite, Death Valley, Las Vegas, Monument Valley, Joshua Tree, Los Angeles, and many other breathtaking spots in the middle of the desert filled us with unforgettable memories, new friendships, and endless ideas for our next exchanges.

An experience beyond the dream

What did we learn from this adventure? Not only did we experience legendary landscapes, but also exchanged smiles, shared small acts of kindness, enjoyed family moments that will stay with us forever, and lived days of simple joy that still echo today.

Thanks to HomeExchange, traveling has become a way of life, one that’s rich in encounters and humanity.

To all future HomeExchangers: go for it! Opening your door is the start of finding another home elsewhere, and creating new friendships.