House-swapping is also quite popular. You can find dozens of organisations online, meet people there, trade with the type of person you want (i.e., older singles who don't want a family of little ones in an un-safe house might trade with older singles; those with little tikes and toys trade with like, etc). The advantage is that you have the same monthly expenses (your own rent and utilities, and groceries, which you'd purchase at home), some even swap cars, and you just have travel expenses to/from the holiday home. Yes, you have to be careful, but it's quite a good deal. Teachers like to radce with other teacers, since we have lots of extra breaks, but only teachers pay(!), which doesn't stretch through all those holidays!
