My First HomeExchange: A Trip to Paris

Pascal tells us about his first home exchange experience to Paris.

How did you find your exchange?

I contacted a member from the HomeExchange community.

What attracted you to this exchange opportunity?

It was my first experience with HomeExchange. I had been informed of the existence of the application one month ago. Michel in Paris seeing accepted without a second thought into his wonderful home.  He was kind and the low points per day made our stay great.  The house was located in central Paris and close to Montmartre. The HomeExchange application is wonderful!

How was your arrival at the home?

I didn't meet our host.  Him and his son were very kind and they helped us from a distance. The area is wonderful. It was close to a main street and there were many bars and bistros, which means safety when coming back late. Montmartre was just a few minutes walk and there were two metro stations nearby.

What did you see or do during your exchange?

I went to Montmartre, which is very close to the home and the Sacré-Cœur. We also went to the Eiffel Tower and Trocadero and from there I went to the Arc de Triomphe. I went to the historic Shakespeare bookstore. Of course, I didn't miss a visit to the Notre Dame de Paris, fortunately before its destruction and continued to eat at the Marais. I also visited the Louvre, the Orsay and the Pantheon.

What is your favorite memory from the exchange?

Walking to the City. It is one of the most beautiful places I have come across. Even though transport is unbelievably regular, there is a bus stop every few minutes, we preferred walking all the time as there were thousands of things we saw and felt again and again. We felt safe everywhere.

How would you describe home exchange to your family and friends?

It was the best thing that has ever happened to me. We traveled without money, we met honest people who use their homes, not for money, to travel and learn about the world.