Last year we joined HE because we were travelling to Rome. After sending out several requests (which you know takes a lot of time) we did not receive any replies. In the end we booked with Airbnb.
This week we are travelling to Seville (in March or April)and once again we have sent out eight requests. We have received 2 negative replies. Actually one of those replies was an acceptance but she was charging €200. Once again we are booking with Airbnb. It’s time consuming and wearing.
I am just venting here and announcing my frustration.
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Hello. I’m sorry you feel this way, but capitals like this are very requested, they get multiple requests per day. Depending on what home you offer yourself, it can take dozens or hundreds of messages to find exchanges. The average value, even for experimented members is 20 requests to agree for an exchange. It’s not a booking system. You may have to extend your researches to suburbs where it’s less requested etc.
I think for now you didn’t understood clearly how to be successful in HomeExchanging. The more flexible you are ( on periods, locations, type of home etc), the easiest it is
It sounds like maybe you were under the impression you would find an exchange for every trip you want to take? If so you might want to reconsider if home exchange is the right way for you to travel. It’s not a booking service, and an exchange is never guaranteed. It seems like you are more oriented towards what you can get out of it, rather than approaching it as a system where you are as excited to give as to receive.
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We had to do many requests and got a place in a location that was a little off the normal path in Italy but it was great fun. I think we were well above 20. Italy is hard. I don’t know about spain. I also did not find a mutual interest in the US from a european location so no simultaneous exchange. I think for europe it was longer requests and our timing was fall so that is a little limiting. You probably have to reach out a lot, look on the facebook page too. Consider location not in city centers too
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HomeExchange is not really for destination travellers. If you are interested in taking a chance on somewhere new, it’s more suitable. We went to Vienna 2 years ago, and it’s not somewhere I would ever have chosen to go, but it was an awesome month and a beautiful city and I have zero regrets about travelling there. In this case we were approached and decided to give it a go.
When we have made approaches in popular destinations, it is always very hard. If I’m planning a side trip to somewhere, I will ask literally everyone in a big radius that looks even moderately suitable, and I don’t worry about not getting replies. I know many of these people are dead accounts, or get many requests. If they aren’t interested in me, then I’m not interested in them either. To be honest, how hard is it to copy-paste the same message into 30 listings instead of 5 or 10?
A final thing to consider (if you haven’t already) is travelling during off-peak periods. Many HomeExchange homes in major destinations are only available during these periods because the owners put them on other platforms too where they get actual money for them.
I appreciate your beautiful reply.
I vented about our frustration on this forum and I have learned so much since I submitted the few words. Our experience with HE has been wonderful overall. We have had great exchanges. We were approached by those members and all went well. We love hosting and we love travelling.
My rant was specifically about a destination break. I have learned that up to 20 requests are required and now I am at peace with that. Since then we pushed out our trip to Seville to September and contacted someone who had contacted us last year and didn’t follow through. We have made a lovely arrangement and we are delighted. I have learned that most people are like us. We try to be helpful and considerate. We try to make sure that people have a good holiday in Ireland and enjoy our home in Co Roscommon as a secure base for sightseeing.
This is the HE ethos. Helping each other have great holidays and trusting people in your home.
We are delighted to be part of it all.
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Not sure that’s a fair response or very diplomatic to be honest. I think there is always more that HE can do to encourage more successful exchanges and positive outcomes for guests looking to travel. I am new to HE and understand these concerns as it can be both time consuming and frustrating when searching for homes @HomeExchangeTeam
Probably, I may have been a little hard and direct but I’m kind of tired to read this type of frustration (on a weekly base in Facebook groups for many years) or on the livetchat where I help for years too.
Members need to be aware than yes sometimes it doesn’t work, cause it’s not a booking system, that’s part of the nature of HomeExchanging. So sometimes I’m a little less patient and express it directly.
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It’s one of the things I tell people who may be interested in HomeExchange, too. Just to give a fair impression. I agree that it’s very important to understand this.
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Yes let’s be honest, it’s not always easy, and you know that When you don’t live yourself in a touristic place or capital and have several years od experience 
but when it works, it’s so great !
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Indeed!
It took me over a year to find a few days of each place I wanted to visit along the French Riviera and yet they all wanted to come to NYC but never return the offer. I finally found many few night stays and now I’m able to go! But I did do Italy on Airbnb over a decade ago.