At our recent online meeting, hosted by the Zoom-team of the Association of Large Families Germany (Verband kinderreicher Familien Deutschland e.V.), everything revolved around home exchange – a wonderful way for (especially large) families to travel affordably while experiencing genuine cultural encounters.
(Featured photo: 2022, Summer in Oregon, USA)
The feedback was fantastic, and it quickly became clear: this is where the European spirit truly comes alive!
One family from Gotha (Thuringia) shared its stories and enthusiasm for this special kind of travel. They gave an inspiring testimony:
“We have been exchanging our house in Gotha since 2010 through various platforms – Intervac, Homelink, HomeExchange and People Like Us. For longer trips, we also exchange our car. Twice we even swapped our home for a yacht – once on the Baltic Sea and once on the south coast of England. As a family with four children, it’s the perfect way to enjoy wonderful holidays at reasonable cost. This summer we completed our 45th exchange – in Canada! Even during the Covid period, exchanges within Germany were easy to arrange. We love it!”
The evening showed how home exchange connects families across borders. Friendships are formed, stories are shared, and many families stay in touch for years after their exchange.
We would love to see this idea grow across Europe. Perhaps it will inspire other (large) families in other countries to try it themselves – as a way to build community, trust, and true European spirit.