"Q" Is for the Questions You Might Ask

Your exchange website will make it easy for you to send preliminary inquiries to see who might be interested in swapping with you. When they tell you they are interested, you will need to start the "second interview process". By that I mean you will be emailing them to learn if this is the correct place for you and your family to be for an exchange.
If you want to check out the site I use, you can go to www.HomeforExchange.com
I've drafted some questions that might work for you. You'll want to make changes and additions, but these are a start!

1.       How many Vacation Home Exchanges have you done? Could I contact your previous exchange partners about your exchange for references?

2.       What do you like best about Vacation Home Exchanges?

3.       How close to public transportation are you? Would you tell me about it?

4.       What is the nearest airport? What is the best way to get to your place from the airport, train station, etc., if I do not rent a car?

5.       How near to your house are walking paths? Grocery stores? Etc. (Or whatever is relevant to your interests.)

6.       Do you have neighbors or people that I can call on for help if I cannot reach you easily?

7.       ANYTHING ELSE THAT IS RELEVANT TO THE NEEDS/INTERESTS OF YOU AND YOUR FAMILY…. You will add your own questions to this list, but this will give you a start....

"P" for Pharmacies, Other Health-related Issues, and People Watching!

I've probably talked previously more about health-related issues than you care about....However, recently I was talking with a friend who is planning a trip to France. She has some health issues, so she wondered what she might do to plan for them, in case something health-related occurred to disrupt her trip. She could ask her doctor if he/she knew anyone or had any suggestions about the right doctor where she is going. Your host might have an idea....You could see if you could find an English-speaking organization who could help you. An example would be the American Cathedral in Paris. A local Tourist Information office might help you know who to contact. There are many resources. Check your tour guide, or an online site such as www.fodor.com Planning ahead will help!
I know I also mentioned www.medjetassist.com  However, I just learned that they give an 18% discount for their annual or short-term  membership. So check that out also!

People watching....is this something you enjoy? I don't think there is anyplace this isn't fun...a vaporetto(I was doing a serious shoe study!)  in Venice or a crowded square in Arles or Monaco or___________! Do you have  favorite place where you have watched people? Share it with us!
Next post will address "Questions to Ask"....
Thanks for reading! DO send questions or comments!

"O" Reviews Other Points to Prepare for Your Exchange

In addition to preparing the manual about your house and neighborhood, as discussed in http://atozofvacationhomeexchanges.blogspot.com/2011/03/m-includes-medical-money-exchange-and.html I recommend you have a list of questions you want to ask your prospective exchange host.  
Some to help you get started include:

SAMPLE QUESTIONNAIRE FOR Vacation Home Exchanges CONTACT       

You’ll want to add to this based on what is important to you and your family as you plan your Vacation Home Exchange!

1.       How many Vacation Home Exchanges have you done? Could I contact your previous exchange partners about your exchange for references?

2.       What do you like best about Vacation Home Exchanges?

3.       How close to public transportation are you? Would you tell me about it?

4.       What is the nearest airport? What is the best way to get to your place from the airport, train station, etc., if I do not rent a car?

5.       How near to your house are walking paths? Grocery stores? Etc. (Or whatever is relevant to your interests.)

6.       Do you have neighbors or people that I can call on for help if I cannot reach you easily?

7.       ANYTHING ELSE THAT IS RELEVANT TO THE NEEDS/INTERESTS OF YOU AND YOUR FAMILY….

      This process is really like interviewing. (Think back to those interviews you have had.) You really don't want to rush into an exchange. You will feel much more comfortable if you feel you have established a good rapport with your exchange host. (And even once you have agreed upon your exchange, and prior to buying your tickets, you could back out. People always confirm with me before they buy their tickets that we are all set! Here again, it is the TRUST issue! If we were doing this in person, the proverbial "gentlemen's handshake" would seal the deal.)

Every exchange, of course, will be different. So you will always have new ideas abut what you want to learn from your exchange host.

Some people have mentioned in the adult ed programs I've done that it seems like a big (AKA overwhelming) task to get their house ready for people to come for an exchange. If you are one of those people, you might want to start now planing what you will need to do to get your house ready...even if it is six months away!

Please bear with the variety in the format here....Apparently blogger.com doesn't really like it when one cuts and pastes as I did with the suggested list above!

Next post will review pharmacies and other health-related issues and people watching!