Around the world in 11 ways. From Brazil to Zanzibar to Nantucket, New Zealand, the Netherlands, and beyond, here are some of the most spectacular home exchange listings, where living like a local takes you to a whole new level of discovery.
Whether you're a casual tourist or active adventurer, starry-eyed honeymooners or GoPro-toting family, travelers share a common desire. They’re looking for places and experiences that immerse them in something different. It’s easy to find great destinations with museums and cafes aplenty, but maybe it’s also time to explore the utterly unique and exceedingly extraordinary.
From exotic lands with sun-drenched beaches to lofty aeries with open vistas, here are 11 amazing Listings where lucky Members of HomeExchange have certainly found what they are seeking and perhaps much, much more.
1. Jambiani, Zanzibar, Tanzania
In a sleepy fishing village, on a white sand beach, there’s a thatch-roofed house overlooking the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean. At this serene, elegantly outfitted, three-bedroom villa, the location upstages all else. Guests relax on an open terrace mesmerized by rustling palms and dazzling blue waters dotted with dancing outriggers. When it’s time to stir, they’re just steps to one of several restaurants and cafes for fresh local dishes and drinks. Jambiani is considered one of the most beautiful beaches on the southeast coast of Zanzibar and is a mere 56 kilometers from Stone Town, the capital city and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Find more of the extraordinary with our listings in Tanzania.
2. Bláskógabyggð, Iceland
A summer home nestled in southern Iceland, you'll find yourself comfortable through your whole vacation in a peaceful, quiet town. The home is close to beautiful day tours, a geyser and waterfall, and the Golden Circle route. The home is just steps from the river Tungufljót, where the birds sing and you can watch the salmon jump. During the winter on clear nights, you can see the northern lights from the hot tub, heated with geothermal water from a nearby hot spring.
Find more of the extraordinary with our home and apartment swaps in Iceland.
3. Acacia Bay, New Zealand
This teensy studio cottage is set on two acres of gardens and lawns, a pristine escape from busy life. Relax and gaze at the lake from the outdoor gazebo or enjoy a meal under a covered patio with a private spa pool. You'll be just a short drive away from the lake, geothermal parks and stunning mountains, but don't be surprised if you're tempted to spend all your time inside this cozy home.
Find more of the extraordinary with our home swaps in New Zealand.
4. Choeng Thale, Thalang, Phuket, Thailand
A luxury villa with a 270-degree view of tropical ocean paradise is perched on the sunset-facing coast of Phuket, Thailand. This exclusive and highly sought-after, seven-building complex called Baan Lom Talay is a one-of-a-kind travel fantasy, complete with a 50-foot infinity pool, heated Jacuzzi, swim-up pool bar facing the Andaman Sea, and four magazine-perfect master bedrooms (each with lavish indoor and outdoor tubs). The rainforest and mountainous surroundings add to the villa’s grandeur and exotic intimacy.
Find more of the extraordinary with our Listings in Thailand.
5. Malindi, Kenya
Near the Malindi Golf Club, this house will welcome you with lush plants, a swimming pool, and the luxuries of silence and light. The spacious kitchen, veranda, and well-furnished rooms complete the ideal home away from home. The estate is close to the beach, town center, restaurants and shops. When you grow restless, take a safari day trip in the national parks. Come home in the evening to a sparkling clean house, pool and garden, maintained by the home's staff.
Find more of the extraordinary with our Listings in Kenya.
6. Bali, Indonesia
Visiting Bali is certain to be a paradaisical experience, but you can make it even more so in this luxurious and tranquil abode. House staff is on site to clean and maintain the property and prepare breakfast while you splash in the private swimming pool or spend a day lounging on a nearby beach. At night, venture out to a trendy bar and enjoy Bali night life, knowing your dreamy vacation home waits for you right down the road.
Find more of the extraordinary with our house swap Listings in Bali.
7. Vreeland, The Netherlands
Float your boat on the river De Vecht in the quintessential Dutch village of Vreeland, the ‘green heart’ of Holland. This modern, luxury houseboat has three bedrooms, a balcony, terrace, open kitchen, and living room with river views. And what a charming river, lined with 18th-century houses and even castles. Only 18 kilometers from Amsterdam, this region is Holland in a nutshell: beautiful beaches, picturesque farms, windmills, dykes, locks, and peaceful cud-chewing cows. Enjoy hiking and biking along the waterway and blooming bulb-fields in springtime. Time for a little Edam and some pale lager in the sun-bathed serenity of a perfect private houseboat.
Find more of the extraordinary with our Listings in the Netherlands.
8. Koosharem, Utah, USA
This unique rural retreat in southern Utah is an ideal base for exploring adjacent Bryce Canyon National Park’s colorful hoodoo rock pillars and Capitol Reef National Park’s vast Waterfold Pocket. With a vintage trailer, covered wagon, bunk room and Blue Ponderosa Pine-finished cabins, Koosh is the authentic West. Hiking, fishing, and hunting are top pastimes, as is sharing legends and lore in camp at night. The history of the parks and the indigenous Paiute Indians is a treasured thread in the fabric of the American Southwest.
Find more of the extraordinary with our house swap Listings in Utah.
9. São Paulo, Brazil
Wake up and smell the Brazilian coffee in privileged luxury on a working coffee plantation. The seven-bedroom manor house – a spectacular restored Colonial home from 1813 – is perched by a lake and surrounded by 100+ fruit trees and 500,000 coffee plants. If not for the swimming pool, large wet and dry saunas, coffee bar, rattan-appointed cocktail bar, fireplaces, private gym, and other modern amenities, it would be like stepping back in time. Imagine reclining on the terrace, a planter’s rum in hand as the warm afternoon breeze ripples loose white linen clothes. Then a night marked by rustling palm fronds and random bird calls.
Find more of the extraordinary with our home exchange Listings in Brazil.
10. San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
This idyllic home in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, is certailny one of a kind. It features a music room, swimming pool, terraces, and is brimming with paintings and sculptures. The home sleeps 15 and is located in a colonial town with stunning arcitechture, art galleries and unforgettable restaurants.
Find more of the extraordinary with our home swap listings in Mexico.
11. Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada
Find more of the extraordinary with our house swap Listings in Canada.
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