Where are we headed, and where have we been?
It's a very strange feeling, being able to travel wherever you want, whenever you want, no schools governing the dates we are allowed to leave (or fining us UK), no bosses insisting you be back by a certain date, objecting to the dates or length of your intended holiday, no juggling dates with other colleagues who have kids and need the same week as your family does. It's liberating and at the same time overwhelming, the paradox of choice!
A quick note on home swapping, after learning about the site www.lovehomeswap.com back in December we posted our house in Koh Samui on the site to gauge interest from other members. Since doing that we have had swap requests from over 30 people in over 10 different countries. We urge anybody to post their home for free on the website, just to see what you might get back, it could save you thousands and send you to some of the most amazing homes in countries you may not have ever considered exploring, for more information please visit the 'HOME EXCHANGE' tab.
We will keep this page updated with intended travel plans as we make them, so please keep checking in and hopefully we can meet up if in the same area!
A quick note on home swapping, after learning about the site www.lovehomeswap.com back in December we posted our house in Koh Samui on the site to gauge interest from other members. Since doing that we have had swap requests from over 30 people in over 10 different countries. We urge anybody to post their home for free on the website, just to see what you might get back, it could save you thousands and send you to some of the most amazing homes in countries you may not have ever considered exploring, for more information please visit the 'HOME EXCHANGE' tab.
We will keep this page updated with intended travel plans as we make them, so please keep checking in and hopefully we can meet up if in the same area!
Siem reap, Cambodia 19th - 23rd May 2014
We have booked our tickets from Singapore to Siem Reap (you have no idea how hard and expensive it is to get there from Samui, considering it's so much closer!) So looking forward to showing the kids the temples. Hoping we can all squeeze into a room at the Pavillon Indochine hotel
Paris and Eurodisney 24th - 28th June 2014
The kids are all very excited about spending a few days at Eurodisney and Paris. It will be a very rushed and exhausting trip, but it'll be so worth it to see the kids with Mickey Mouse! Somehow, I think that the Disney Princesses will be the most popular!
Italy, Lake Como 5th - 22nd July 2014
We were lucky enough to get a great deal on a wonderful house in Lake Como which is owned by our friends family, a great big thank you to them! We can't wait to get there and explore the wonders of Italy, spend time with them, eat the amazing food and of course drink the wonderful wine!
Canterbury- Kent - England 10th - 15th August 2014
Again lovehomeswap.com has come through for us, using some of our swap points we have secured a lovely house just 10 minutes outside of the historic town of Canterbury. We can't wait to explore the city and catch up with a load of friends who live in Kent!
Hove, Brighton- England 17th - 24th August 2014
Yup, you guessed it, lovehomeswap.com again, this time we were approached by a couple who own a cool little cottage in Hove, the house once featured on the TV programme Grand Designs, check it out here www.gorgeousbrunswick.com
Basel, Switzerland 25th August - 8th September 2014
Clair's cousin Jeff and his wife Lea have kindly offered us their home in Basel whilst they take their holiday. We are looking forward to exploring the area.
Croatian Island of Vis - Komiza 10th - 24th September 2014
The home swapping site has scored for us again! This time we took advantage of the point system that www.lovehomeswap.com run and have managed to secure 2 weeks in a beautiful house in the coastal town of
Komiza. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Komiža
The day we arrive coincides with Sophia's 7th birthday…..not a bad present!
Komiza. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Komiža
The day we arrive coincides with Sophia's 7th birthday…..not a bad present!
Dubai - 1st - 15th October 2014
After completing our European leg we will be heading back to Asia, via Dubai, where we have swapped houses with a couple who live on the Jumeira Islands. It will be great to explore Dubai as we have never been before and catch up with some old friends who live and work there too!
Singapore, 16th - 26th October 2014
We are heading back to Singapore to catch up with loads of friends!
Thailand, Koh Samui 26th October - 2nd November 2014
Back to where it all began, it will be a strange and welcome feeling to be back on the island, we can't wait for some awesome Thai food again!
Thailand, phuket, 2nd - 10th November 2014
Looking forward to another stay in Phuket and spending time with friends Greg and Alison who have booked the same week! This place is a kids paradise and always have a great time here!
Thailand, Chiang Mai 10th - 16th November 2014
We are really looking forward to discovering Chiang Mai, with a lack of homeswap opportunities we have managed to find a great guest house run by a French and Thai couple, sounds like awesome food to us!
Thailand, koh Samui 16th - 24th November 2014
Our last week in Samui will be a sad, but exciting one!
Singapore, 24th - 28th November 2014
A quick hop into Singapore before heading off on our Australia and New Zealand trips!
Western Australia Peppermint Grove Beach, 28th November - 12th December 2014
Before you ask, no we are not making any money from lovehomeswap.com for advertising, however, it has come up trumps again! You little ripper (that's aussie talk), we have secured an amazing beach house south of Perth for 2 weeks and are over the moon to now be spending over 7 weeks in Australia over the summer, all for free accommodation!
Australia, Melbourne 12th - 19th December 2014
Another homeswap arranged through Love home swap, we will be staying in a beautiful home overlooking a lake. We have never been to Melbourne, so looking forward to exploring this city.
Australia, Sydney 19th Dec 2014 - 6th Jan 2015
Our first successful homeswap! We were approached by a family from Sydney that wanted to swap with our place in Koh Samui for Christmas and New year. They have a wonderful house very close to Oxford street and we were delighted to accept. It will be a great time to be in Sydney to celebrate the holiday season with some old friends and experience some new adventures!
Australia, Gold Coast Queensland 6th - 20th January 2015
We are home swapping with a family who live in Elanora Queensland. Their house is very close to Surfers Paradise beach and all the great theme parks and zoos in the Gold Coast! It will be an awesome way to start the new year!
New Zealand, Christchurch 20th - 31st january 2015
The start of our New Zealand adventure will be spent in a beautiful house in Christchurch, we will also have the chance to catch up with old friends that we grew up with in Essex too, as they live nearby. And yes, this is another homeswap.
New Zealand, Fairly, Cromwell, Balcutha, Lake Manapouri, Te Anau, Queenstown and Hokkitika 1st February - 9th March 2015.
Due to lack of home exchange opportunities we used a mix of the popular site Airbnb, Helpx and paid for some B&b's for our accommodation.
New Zealand, Carter's Beach 9th - 23rd March 2015.
A beach house on the North West of the south island will be a great base to carry on exploring the wonderful country of New Zealand, another successful homeswap!
New Zealand, Takaka Tasman 23rd - 31st March 2015.
A homeswap with a wonderful couple who have the same aspirations of traveling all next year, their house looks amazing, including private beach!
New Zealand, Picton 1st April 2015.
One nights stay in the ferry port town of Picton before we board the boat for the North island!
New Zealand, New Plymouth Taranaki 2-6th April 2015.
A homeswap with fellow members who also have a lake house in Lake Tarawera, so we are splitting 2 weeks between both properties!
New Zealand, Lake Taupo 6th-15th April 2015.
A homeswap in a beautiful house overlooking Lake Taupo!
New Zealand, Lake Tarawera, Bay Of Plenty 15th-25th April 2015.
This is the second part of our split homeswap with the New Plymouth members, there house overlooks Lake Tarawera, starting to think we might like NZ!
New Zealand Northland, 25th April - 5th May 2015.
Right at the North tip of the North Island a homeswap in a beautiful house overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
New Zealand, Auckland 5th -7th May 2015.
We found an amazing Airbnb property just seconds from some old friends and in an awesome suburb.
USA, California San Francisco 7th May -22nd May 2015.
Our flight out of Auckland takes us state side, first stop San Francisco! We will be staying with old friends Rich and Dev for a few nights before they jet off to Spain. They will be able to show us all their favourite spots before leaving their apartment and dog Bertie in our trusted care!
USA, California Truckee (Lake Tahoe) 22nd May - 27th May 2015.
Another homeswap has been arranged with a fellow member who has a great place just outside of Lake Tahoe!
USA, Washington State, Seattle 27th May - 6th June 2015.
We will be staying in a penthouse apartment with views of the space needle in Seattle, home of crap, overpriced coffee and legend Kurt Cobain! Yes, another homeswap!
Canada, Bowen Island, British Columbia 6th June - 16th June 2015.
A beautiful Island, recommended from a friend of ours. Hopefully, we will get a chance to explore Vancouver and all that the area has to offer too. Another home exchange.
Canada, Rosseau, Ontario 16th to 22nd June 2015.
Another home exchange which sees us move to the East side of Canada.
Canada, Stratford, Ontario 22nd June - 30th June 2015.
A second part of our home exchange with our host from Rosseau. Looking forward to being close to Toronto, Niagara falls and visiting with our close friends Scott and Stacey.
USA, New York City 30th June - 12th July 2015.
Can't wait to visit the city that never sleeps and also to visit good friends James and Mezh and catch up with the Luedeke family too!
USA, Virginia 12th - 26th July 2015.
We have booked 2 separate a home exchanges with a families from Virginia, we will get a great chance to learn about the American Civil War and also visit the Nations Capital Washington DC!
USA, New York 26th - 28th July 2015.
Back to NYC to stop in James and Mezh's place before leaving the USA to head to their wedding!
England, Essex 28th July - 1st August 2015.
A quick fly by the homeland before getting straight back on a plane!
France, Tolouse 1st - 3rd August 2015.
The big wedding weekend! Mezh and James have booked an amazing castle/village in France for their big celebration, can't wait to catch up with loads of friends and enjoy a marvellous weekend.
France, St Paul De Vence 3rd - 18th August 2015.
Friends Anna and Nick own a house in this beautiful part of the world and are over the moon to get a chance to stay here during the height of the French summer!
Italy, Rome 18th - 28th August 2015.
An unbelievable home exchange which we couldn't say no to. A beautiful modern apartment right in the city centre, just a short walk from the Vatican City!
England, 28th August - 1st October 2015.
The month of September sees us celebrate 5 different extended family birthdays, we will be present for all of them!
Thailand, 1st October - 1st December 2015.
We will return to Asia for 2 months to spend time in Koh Samui, Phuket, maybe Singapore and hopefully get the chance to 'squeeze in' Vietnam, open to options!
England, Weymouth 1st - 21st Dec 2015.
We accepted a home exchange request from a wonderful family in Weymouth, this will see us celebrate Christmas in England for the first time in 14 years!
England, Suffolk 21st - 26th Dec 2015.
Christmas spent with Dan's parents, looking forward to the Turkey, log fires and of course good cheer!
England, Essex 26th Dec 2015 - 2 Jan 2016.
Seeing in the New Year with Clair's parents, before starting an exciting 2016 experiment.
Amsterdam 2nd - 9th January 2016.
We will be homeswapping with a couple from Amsterdam whose parents went to school with Anne Frank! We will also be meeting up with old friends Scott and Stacey and really look forward to spending the 1st week of the New Year in such an amazing city.
England, Essex 9th - 29th January 2016.
We have set up a homeswap in an old converted barn on a farm in St Osyth.
England, Norfolk February 2016.
Another homeswap, this time in an amazing house on the Norfolk Broads in Horning!
Spain, 16th March -30th April 2016.
We are headed off to discover Spain for a few months, first in the south and then in the North. Clair will turn 40 here and what better way than to celebrate with some cold Sangria and wonderful Spanish wine and food?
France, Dordogne 30th April - 4th June 2016
We have managed to organise a 5 week long swap in the wonderful region of the Dordogne in South West France. Can't wait to taste the wine, food, immerse ourselves in the countryside and culture and practice our cockney French again!
France, Central and South June - September 2016.
Homeswapping into Chateaux and Rock Star's homes, oh what a life!
France, Dordogne September 2016 -
Ok, we were knackered from all the travel over the last 3 years and have been bitten and smitten by the Dordogne. Time to rest up and learn a language!