Hi everyone!
We’re starting to look ahead to summer 2027 and would love to find a long-term reciprocal exchange in Italy, ideally Tuscany, for up to 3 months between July and September 2027.
What we’re looking for: We’d love to base ourselves somewhere with a real sense of everyday life rather than somewhere that feels purely tourist-focused. Ideally, we’re looking for a home with at least 2 bedrooms, in or on the outskirts of a village or small town, where cafés, shops, restaurants and local life are within walking distance. We’d like somewhere we can settle into for a while, get to know the area, and also use as a base for some exploring around Tuscany and nearby regions.
We’re particularly drawn to Tuscany, but we’d also be very happy to hear from people elsewhere in Italy if the location has the right feel: walkable, friendly, with a sense of community, and good for a slower, more local way of travelling.
Our home: We can offer our comfortable semi-detached home in Surbiton, southwest London, on a quiet residential street. It’s a bright, welcoming house with an open-plan downstairs and lots of natural light. We have a well-equipped kitchen with a breakfast island, double oven and plenty of crockery, cookware and appliances for anyone who enjoys cooking, as well as a comfy sitting area for relaxing.
Upstairs, there are two good-sized double bedrooms and a home office with a desk, office chair and monitors, which is ideal for remote working. The office can also be used as a third bedroom with a put-up bed. We also have a peaceful, secluded garden with bi-fold doors opening from the kitchen, plus a BBQ and table and chairs under a partially covered decking area at the back of the garden.
Surbiton is a great base if you want to enjoy London while staying somewhere quieter and more relaxed. We’re around a 25-minute walk, or a 7–8 minute bus ride, from Surbiton railway station, where fast trains to London Waterloo take from 18 minutes. In the other direction, there are trains to Hampton Court and Hampton Court Palace, and onward connections towards places like Guildford and Portsmouth.
We’re also a pleasant walk along the river, or a short bus ride, from Kingston upon Thames, which has lots of shops, cafés and restaurants. There are good local bars and restaurants in Surbiton itself, and we’re close to lovely green spaces including Bushy Park and Richmond Park. By car, there is easy access to the A3, and free on-road parking outside the house.
About us: We’re a respectful, reliable couple who enjoy travelling in a slower, more settled way. For this trip, we’re hoping to spend time living a little more like locals, improving our Italian, cooking, walking, exploring nearby towns, and enjoying day-to-day life in Italy rather than rushing around.
Dates: Flexible between July and September 2027, for anything from around 1 month up to 3 months. A simultaneous reciprocal exchange would be ideal.
We’d love to hear from anyone in Tuscany or elsewhere in Italy who might be interested in discussing a long-term exchange for summer 2027.
Looking forward to connecting!
Alicia & James
best regards Brice & Sophie