I recently wrote about how living by the beach all year round has made me less inclined to go on beach vacations. Even though I live by a lake now, beach holidays by the sea don’t appeal to me much anymore. Places like Belize, Honduras, with their incredible reefs, and Cancún’s Riviera Maya with its beautiful white sand just don’t have the kind of holiday vibe I’m after.
At the end of that post, I casually mentioned the idea of house swapping with someone in the US, as I now dream of a cool city break. Initially, it was a half-serious thought, but the more I think about it, the more I love the idea. I’m pretty flexible about where and when, so who knows, maybe someone out there would like to spend a week or two in Northern Guatemala?
Last year, I had an Airbnb guest stay at my house for a month, which covered our flight and accommodation costs in Miami. House swapping, though, sounds even more exciting. I love the idea of bartering, so I’m ready to give it a try!
I plan to pitch this idea on my blog first and see what opportunities come up. You can check out more details about my place on my Guatemala page or Bed and Breakfast page. It’s a charming little house with three bedrooms.
In brief:
– It sleeps six people across two double rooms and one twin room. There’s also a fourth double room that stays locked unless you need space for eight, but I’d prefer to keep it locked.
– One bedroom has a private bathroom, and the other two share a bathroom.
– There’s a full kitchen and a smaller summer kitchen on a panoramic terrace.
– The open-air living room leads to another panoramic terrace, which has a bar.
– Enjoy a private beach and a private deck.
– You can hire a cleaner for $8 for half a day.
– If you don’t want to feed our hens and ducks, no worries – a handyman can do it daily, and we’ll cover the cost.
– If you’re willing to include your car in the swap, we’ll include ours too. Alternatively, we can discuss car rentals, or you can rent from Hertz 20 miles away.
– We’re close to attractions like the Tikal ruins, Yaxhá ruins, Flores Island, jungle parks, and more.
Here’s what I’m looking for:
– A city center spot, a suburban area with public transport, or a location conveniently between several interesting cities (like two hours from New York and two from Boston).
– Preferably on the East Coast, from Miami to Montreal, but open to places like the West Coast, Chicago, New Orleans, or areas near National Parks like those in Colorado or Las Vegas.
– A car would be great if it’s not in a walkable area.
– At least one bedroom or efficiency if in a city center, no shared houses or roommates.
– I’m happy to take care of your pets and plants.
– A week minimum stay to make it worthwhile for both parties, possibly up to two months if your place is really cool.
– I’m flexible on dates but would love to enjoy your city when the weather is pleasant. Essentially, this means sometime between April to October unless you are in Miami or San Diego. The swap doesn’t have to be simultaneous, so I could visit in July while you take December, for example.
If you’re interested in talking about a house swap with my place in Guatemala, please get in touch in the comments or email me at tdmpauline(at)gmail(dot)com!