Hi everyone. I have an apartment in San Francisco and have been on Home Exchange for four years and have received at least a thousand requests from all over the world. I have received more from France and Spain than anywhere else but also from many other parts of Europe and elsewhere. However, I do not believe I have ever received one from the U.K. I realize there are fewer members there but, still, I’m curious why I haven’t received at least a few requests. Anyone else have this experience? It’s the same experience in Asia but it seems there are much fewer members from that part of the world.
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Where do you live? I’m in Normandy in France and its true that I get very few requests from the UK too. I just suppose that they’re heading south…
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Hi Susan. I forgot to add where I live. I’m in San Francisco.
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Thanks for your response…
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Uk has only 5,000 members, which is really low.
To give you an idea :
80,000 in France
50,000 on Spain
20,000 in US
15,000 in Canada
4,800 in Netherlands
Etc
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Makes sense.
Oh, good to know. Thanks.
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Ahh I find this all super interesting because I am from the UK 
There are indeed not that many UK members. Earlier this year I decided to try and find more swaps within the UK (to reduce travel costs). I did manage to find a couple, but it wasn’t easy. I think the issue here could also be that it is not cheap to fly to San Francisco. I have been there many years ago, but that was before I had children and when I only had to pay for 1 flight and not 4 We are very fortunate to live close to so many European countries where flights are cheaper and more frequent (with low cost airlines such as Ryanair and Easyjet), so I think these destinations are probably more popular amoungst Brits.
Ah. That makes perfect sense. Too bad, though, for me. My dad grew up in London. You’re “my people.”
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Don’t give up though! I think that for a long haul flight/trip you might need to plan further ahead maybe?
Hello Melissa,
Any idea why there is a few Brittons interested in swapping homes?
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No - but i’m trying my best to spread the word! I think perhaps the British can be quite reserved and wary although we are also super friendly so I think it’s just a case of it not being a very well known way of travelling here.
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Hello everyone. I’m very interested in this article because I’ve been trying to arrange an exchange with London next fall, and I’m not getting a response to all my messages (a lot). I mean, not a single response, not even a negative one. I’m very flexible with dates and I’m offering the option to do it for Gp’s. Any problem with exchanges with London? Anyone can help me? Thanks in advance
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There are just far less members in London than in some other cities, for example Paris - so it may take longer to find a match. Now that it will effect members more if they don’t reply within 4 days, hopefully you will get a better response rate.
I wish I had known this earlier! I’m in Scotland and get many guest requests, but struggling to find UK exchanges. Allegedly our membership (£180) is dearer than the continent, too, which might put people off. But I also think most Brits just find the idea of swapping homes crazy (at least they seem to think that’s what I am, for doing this) 
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I’m in the UK too 
But down in North Devon, so just about as far away from Scotland as you can get! The pricing structure is very similar worldwide for membership - there are slight variations to account for the different currencies. In England for example to fee for new members is £180, the fee in France is 175€. I have to admit that when I told my friends and family I was joining HomeExchange they did think I was slightly crazy - but now when they see all of the amazing places and homes we go to and the people we have met along the way then they are quickly changing their minds. I think the issue here is that HomeExchange has been a more familiar name and concept on the continent for longer than here in the UK. Having said this, I have has some really great exchanges in the past year with members in South Devon, Bristol, London and the Cotswolds so please don’t give up yet!
Hello, I’m a relatively new exchanger from London and I get around 30 requests per week. I live very centrally and the (nice but not super-luxe) hotel next door charges £400 a night! This is my main home and although I do have second home & travel for work it just means it’s not practically possible to accommodate everyone who wants to visit. One if the other problems is the hugely high price of property in the London - my 850sq foot apartment with 2 bedrooms & 2 bathrooms is a crazy £1 million. Despite this, HE sets my Guestpoints at £125 a night… I have increased it slightly (£140) but it seems quite off to me compared to the properties I am offered elsewhere.
Hello AnnetteS
GPs are based on the size of the property.
So a big house in the middle of nowhere have more GP than an appartment in a very touristic place.
To avoid to lose at this game, it is better for members like us to do reciprocical exchanges (simultaneous or non simultaneous).
New yorkers, Londoners, venicians and parisians have no interest to exchange for GPs.
We can always find a reciprocical exchange anywhere in the world.
To do so, the calendar must be opened in choosing reciprocical exchanges and to be contacted only for opened dates.
It allows to have a filter to avoid unsuitable requests.
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Thanks, that helps me to understand and also makes me realise that I will likely then change my listing to become a reciprocal only property. That clearly doesn’t help people looking for a London swap as it will greatly reduce the availability of my property.
Actually, Annette, the points value is based only partly on the size of your home. They also take into account how many beds you have and amenties, among other factors. I have a small studio in San Francisco with a beautiful, expandsive view and get well over 200 points…and I get several requests every week (though not quite as many as you) And do you know you can increase the points that are assigned by 30 additional points if you want to?
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