Our previous exchanges

From 2004 to 2009 we experienced 9 great home exchange vacations to different parts of Europe and even to other parts of Norway. Each home exchange was distinctively different from the others, but every single one was a a nice experience, gave us lots of nice memories and experiences and we got to meet so many nice people this way. We still keep in touch with some of our home exchange partners. And every time we came back to find our home clean and tidy and with some nice words from our guests. Here you can see some of the homes we have exchanged to:

All our previous exchanges:
2004: Bad Laasphe, North-Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
2004: Hommersåk (second home) and Sandnes (home), Rogaland, Norway
2005: Hamburg, Germany
2006: Bergen, Norway
2007: Bad Nauheim, Hesse, Germany
2008: Stockholm, Sweden
2009: Enniscrone, Co. Sligo, Ireland (second home)
2010: Rijnsburg, South Holland, The Netherlands
2010: Trebeurden, Brittany, France (second home)

Both our 2010 exchanges were with our second home in Vrådal, the others with our former house in Oslo (we moved this year).

About us

We are a Norwegian family with three children (17, 12 and 9) living in Oslo, capital of Norway. In addition to our home in Oslo, we also have a second home in beautiful Telemark county. We are non smokers and have no pets. Like most home exchangers, we like to see the world and get to know other countries, places, cultures - and as far as Mom is concerned - languages as well!

As experienced and passionate home exchangers, we take our pride in doing our best to ensure that our home exchange guests have a great stay in our home and equally in taking good care of their home while on home exchange vacation.

Would you like to exchange homes with us or do you have any questions abour home exchange or any comments to this blog? You may write to us in English, German, French, Norwegian, Swedish or Danish. For exchange enquiries, please contact us through your home exchange organization. Our Membership IDs are:
HomeExchange.com: #149317 (home in Oslo) and #189245 (second home in Telemark)
HomeLink International: NOA4715
Intervac: NO7733.
For questions or comments, send an e-mail to trikve(AT)online.no

Home exchange - a great way to see the world!

This is a blog about home exchange, based on our experiences with this great way of vacationing. We have done 10 home exchanges so far, the 11th is coming up very soon, and we already look forward to start planning ahead for next summer. Home exchange has lots of advantages; it provides you with free accommodation so that you can spend your money on something else instead (or save it...), it's comfortable and convenient, you see much more than other tourists get to see, you live like the locals, you have a home away from home to unwind and last, but not least; when doing simultaneous home exchange somebody is looking after your home while you look after theirs. They will water your plants, take in the mail etc, like you will do for them.

For families with children, home exchange is even more great. Instead of staying in a small, cramped hotel room, you have a spacious home with everything you need, a kitchen, washing machine, bikes, television, toys and often a graden to play in as well. If you have small children and swap wih a family in the same situation, you have access to baby equipment as well.

For pet owners, home exchange also is very convenient. While you are away, your home exchange partners will feed and look after your pets.

For senior citizens, home exchange is a great way to see the world without spending a lot of money. You are free to travel at any time and can combine several exchanges in a row. If you have a home loaded with antiques, a not secured pool or not "child proof furniture", you can exchange with other adults only or families with older children/teenagers.

If you are the lucky owner of a second home / holiday home, you can exchange your second home only, or both homes. This makes non simultaneous exchange possible, and you are a lot more flexible and have more options.

Home exchange is also a great way to get to know so many nice people and even make new friends. Our impression is that home exchangers are open minded, friendly, hospitable and reliable people. We have so many great experiences with home exchange behind us and look forward to even more!